SERMON LVI. Of the Nature of Regeneration, and its Necefii- ty, in order to Juftification and Salvation. GALAT. 6. Is. For in Chriji Pius, neither Circumcilion availeth any thing, nor Vncircumcifon ; but a new Creature. TH EObfervation I am ffill upon from thefe Words is this, viz. That in the Chriffian Religion nothing will avail to our Juftification, but the Reno- vation of our Hearts and Lives, exprett here by a New Creature. In treating of which, I propos'd the doing ofthree things. Firfi, To thew the true import of this Metaphor of a new Creature. Secondly, To thew that this is the great Condition of our Juftification; And, Thirdly, That it is highly Reafonable that it Ihould be fo. In treatingof thefir.tl of thefe Particulars, I have confider'd fome Do&rines as founded upon this Metaphor, which I have Ihewn at large not only to have no Foundation in Scripture, or Reafon, or Experience ; but alto to be very unrea- fonable in themfelves, and contrary to the plain andconflant tenourof Scripture, and to the ordinary Methodof God's Grace in the Regeneration of Men, whe- ther by a Religious and Virtuous Education, or in thofe who are reclaim'd from a notorious wicked Courfe of Life. And that 1 have fo long infrfled upon this Argument, and handled it in a more contentious way than is ufual with me, did not proceed from any love to Controverfre, which I am lefs fond of every day than other; but from a great delire to put an end to thefe Controverfies, and quarrellings in thedark, by bringing them to a clear (late and plain iffue, and likewife to undeceive good Menconcerning fome current Notions and Doârines, which I do really believe to be dithonourable to God, and contrary to the plain declarations of Scripture, and a caufe of great perplexity and difcomfort to the Mindsof Men, and a real difcouragement to the Refolutions and Endeavouts of becoming better. Upon which Confiderations I was tfrongly urgent to fearch thefe Dolfrines to the bottom, and to contribute what in me lay, to the refcuing ofgood Men from the difquiet and entanglement of them. I will conclude this Matter with a few Cautions not unworthy to be remem- bred by us ; That we would be careful fo to afcribe all Good to God ; that we be fore we afcribe nothing to him that is Evil, or any ways unworthy of him ; That we do not make him the foie Author of our Salvation, in fuch a way, as will unavoidably charge upon him the final impenitency and ruine of a great part of Mankind ; That wedo not fo magnifie the Grace of God, as to make his Pre- ceptsand Exhortations fignifienothing. Such as thefe, Makeye new Hearts, and new Spirits ; firive to enter in at thefirait gate ; Where, if by the (irait gate be meant thedifficulty of ourfirft entrance upon a Religious Courfe, that is of our Converton and Regeneration, I cannotimagine how it is pofïìbleto reconcileour being, meetly pave in this work, and doing nothing at all in it, with our Savi- our's Preceptoffiriving to enter in at the /trait gate; unlefs to be very alive, and to be meetly pafsive about the fame thing be all one, and an earned contention and endeavour be the fame thing with doing nothing. Again, that we do not make the 389 rve rip Sermon on this Tes:.
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