NEW CREATION BY REGENERATION. HD' men to look after enthusiastic inspirations, or unaccount- able raptures, and to esteem then for conversion unto God, although, in the mean time, they live in a neglect of holinessand righteousness of conversation. 1 answer, if there be those who do so, we doubt not, but, that without their repentance, the wrath of God will come upon them as upon other children of disobedience. And yet, in the mean time, we cannot but call aloud, that others- would discover their diligence in attendance unto these things, who,, as far as 'l. can discern, do-cry up the names of virtue and righteousness, in opposition to the grace of Jesus Christ, and that holiness which is a fruit thereof. Bat, for the reproach now under con- sideration, it is as applied, no other but a.calumny and false accusation. And that it is so, the writings and preachingsof those who' have most diligently.laboured in the declaration of'the work of the Holy Spirit in our regeneration, will bear testimony at the great day of the Lord. We may therefore, as unto this negative prin- ciple, observethcee things: (1.) That the Holy Spirit, in this work, doth ordinarily put forth his power in and by the use of means. He worketh also on mensuitably unto their natures, even as the faculties of their souls, their minds,. wills, and affections, are meet to be affect ed and wrought upon. He doth not come upon them with involuntary raptures, using their faculties- and powers, as the evil spirit wrests the bodies of them whom he possesseth;. hiswhole work therefore, is ration- ally to be accounted for,. by and unto them who believe the scripture, and have received the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive. The formal efficiency of the Spirit indeed, in the-putting forth the exceeding greatness of his power, in our quickening; which the ancientchurch constantlycalleth his inspiration-ofgrace, both in private writing, and canons of councils, is no otherwise to be comprehended by, us, thanany other creating act of divine power:- for as we hear the wind, . but know not from whence it cometh, nor whither it goeth, so is every one that is born of God; yet these two things are certain herein: First, that he worketh nothing, nor any other way, nor by any other means, than what are determined and declared in. the word. By that therefore may, and must every thing, really belonging, or pretended to belong unto this work of regeneration, be tried and examined. Secondly; That he acts nothing contrary unto, puts no force uponany of the faculties of our souls, but works in them and by them suitably to their natures; and being more intimate unto them, as Austin speaks, than they are unto them- selves, by an almighty facility he produceth the effect which he intendeth. Sect. 26. This great work, therefore, neither in part nor whole, consists in raptures, ecstasies, visions, en thusiastic inspirations, but in the effect of the power of the Spirit of God on the souls of men, by and accord- ing. to. his word, both of the law and the gospel. And those who charge these things on them, who have as- serted, declared, and preached it according to the scrip. tures, do it, probably tocountenance themselves in their hatred of them, and of the work itself. Wherefore). idly, Where by reason of distempers of mind, disorder of fancy, or long- continuance of distressing fears and sorrows, in and under such preparatory works of the Spirit, which- sometimes cut men to their hearts in the sense of their sin, and sinful lost condition, any do fall into apprehensions or imaginations of any thing extra- ordinary in the ways before mentioned, if it be not quickly and, strictly brought unto-the rule, and discard. ed thereby, it may be of great danger unto their souls,, and is never of any solid use or advantage.. Such ap. prehensions, for the most part, are either conceptions - of distempered minds, and discomposed fancies, or de- lusions of Satan transforming himself into an angel of light, which the doctrine of regeneration ought not to be accountable for.. Yet 1 must say, idly,. That so it is come to pass, that many of those whohavebeen real. ly made partakers of this gracious work of the Holy Spirit, have been looked on in the world, which knows- them not, as mad, enthusiastic and fanatical. So the captains of the host esteemed the prophet that came to anoint Jehu, 2: Kings-ix. 11. And the kindred of our Saviour, when he began to preach the gospel, said, he was besides himself, orecstatical, Murk iii. 21. and they went, out to layhold of him. So Festus judged of Paul,. Acts.xxvi. 25, 25.. And the author of the book of wis- dom-gives us an account what acknowledgments some will make when -it shall be too late, as to their own ad- vantage;' chap. v. 3, 4, i.-" They shall say, crying out, " because of the trouble of their minds; this-is he whom " we accounted a scorn, and a common reproach; we " fools esteemed his life madness, and his latter end to have been shameful; but how is he reckoned among;
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=