377 SERMON LIV. The Third Sermon on obi, Text. Of the Nature of Regeneration, and its Necef- Pity, in order to Juftification and Salvation. GALAT. 6. 15. For in Chrifi Jefui, neither Circumcton availeth any thing, nor Vncircumcion ; but a new Creature. TH E Point which I amupon from thefe words is, that according to the termsof the Gofpel, nothing will avail to ouryxfiification, bast the red reno- vationofour Hearts and Lives. F'ur the full explication of this, I propounded to thew; Firfi, What is implied in thisexprefiìon ofthe new Creature. Secondly, That this is the great Condition of our juftification and acceptance with God. Thirdly, That it is highly Reafonable that this fhould be the Conditionof our Juftification. In (peaking to the &rít of thefe, I have (hewed, a ft, What this Metaphor doth certainly import; and zdly, That it doth not import what force would extend it to, whereon to found fuch Doctrines as thefe. Firfl, That as the Creation was an irrefifiible aft of the Divine Power, fo is this new Creation, or the Converfion ofa Sinner. Secondly, As Creatures were meerly pave in their beingmade, and contributed nothing at all to it, nomore do we in our Converfion and Regeneration. Thirdly, That as the Creation of the feveral Kinds and Ranks of Creatures was effeftedinaninflant, by the powerful Word of God, faying, let fuch and fuch things be, and immediately they were ; fo this new Creation is in an infiant, and admits of no degrees. Thefirll of there I have confider'd, and enter'd upon the fecond ; namely, that as the Creatures were meerly pave in their beingmade, and contributed nothing at all thereto, no more do we in our Converfion and Regeneration. This I told youdoes plainly make void all the Precepts and Exhortations, and all the Promifes and Threatnings of Scripture, to argueand perfwade Men to Re- pentance. That which remains to be done upon this Argument, is, Firfi, Toanfwer an Obje&ion or two, which are commonly urged by the Affertors of this Doctrine; that we are meerly pave in thework of Converfion. Secondly, To give a clearfrateof this Matter, fo as is molt agreeable to Scrip- ture, and the Attributes and Perfe&ionsof God. For the Firfi, The Obje&ions ate thefe three. I. That if we be not meerly pave in the work of Regeneration and Convert,. on, we afcribe the whole gloryof this work to our felves, and not to God. Or, zdly, Wedo however extenuate or leffen theGrace of God, if there be any a&ive Concurrence and Endeavours of our own towards this Change. idly, They ask St. Paul's queftion, who maketh thee to differ? and think it im' poflìble to be anfwer'd, if theefficacy of God's Grace do depend upon our con- currence and compliance with it. Thefe are all the Material Obje&ions I know; to every one of which I hope to give a very clear and fufficient Anfwer. C c c I.Ob-
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=