383 SERMON LV. Of the Nature of Regeneration, and its Neceffi- ty, in order to Juftification and Salvation. The Fourth Semin on Text. GAL AT. 6. Is. For in Chrif 5efus, neither Circumcilion availeth any thing, nor Vncircumcifion ; but a new Creature. IN Difcourfing on thefe Words, that which I was Taft upon was to chew, that this Mátaphor of a New Creature doth not import what Come would extend to it, and that fo as to found Do&tines of great Confequence upon the tingleftrength of this, and other like Metaphors, viz. fuch Do&tines as thefe three. Firfi, That as the Creationwas by an irreffible a& of the Divine Power, fo is this new Creation, or the Converfionofa Sinner. Secondly, That as Creatures were meerly pfffive in their being made, and contributed nothing at all thereto, no more do we to our Converfion and Re- generation. Thirdly, That as the Creation was in an infant, onlyby the powerful Word of God, fo this new Creation is in an infant, and admits of no degrees. The two tir(t of thefe I have fpoken to, and (hewed, that as they had no necef- fary Foundation in this and the like Metaphors of Scripture, fo they are con- trary to R,eafon and Experience, and the plain and confiant tenour. of Scrip. ture, which is the Rule and Meafure of Chrift's Do&rine. I proceed now to confider the Third Dofárine, which is grounded upon this Metaphor, namely, That as the Creation of the feveral Ranks and Ordersof Creatures was in an infant, and effe- &ed by thepowerful Word ofGod, Paying let fuch and filch things be, and im- mediately they were ; fo this new Creation is an infant, and admits of nofleps and degrees. And this Do&rine is nothing elfe but a farther purfuit of the Me- taphor ; and admitting the two former Do&rines tobe true, and well grounded upon this Metaphor, this third Do&rine follows well enough from them ; for it is agreeable enough, that that which is effe&ed by an irreffiible a& of Omni- potence, without any concurrence or operation on our part, should be done in an infant and all at once. Nor that this is neceffary, but that it is ,reafonable ; for why ( hould Omnipotence ufe delays, and take time and proceed by degrees in thedoingof that, which with the fame eafe it can do at once, and in an in- fant; efpecially confidering how well this faits with the other Metaphors of Scripture, as well as with this of a new Creation, viz. the Metaphor of Regene- ration and Referreaion. AChild is born at once, and the Dead {hall be railed in a moment, in the twinkling of an Eye. But notwithftanding all this plaufible appearance and Confpiracy of Meta- phors, I (hall flte,.v that this Do&rine of the Converfion and Regeneration of a Sinner beingeffe&ed in an infant, and all at once, is not well grounded either up- on Scripture, or Experience. Not but that God can do fo if he pleafeth, and works this Change in forne much fooner and quicker than in others ; but there is nothing either in Scripture or Experience to perfwade us that this is the ufual,
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