The New Creature, Continued
“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” 2 Cor. 0:17.
In the previous discourse we drew from this scripture the doctrine, that God’s creating of a new supernatural work of grace in the soul of any man, ts infallible evidence of a saving interest in Jesus Christ. We have seen why the regenerating work of the Spirit is called a new creation; in what respect every soul in Christ is renewed; what are the properties of this new creature; the necessity of this new creation; and how it evidences our interest in Christ. We now come to make a PRACTICAL IMPROVEMENT of the subject. Is the ‘new creature” the sure and infallible evidence of our saving interest in Christ? Then,
Inrerence 1. In how miserable a state are all wnrenewed souls! They can lay no claim to Christ while in that state, and therefore are under an impossibility of salvation. O reader, if this be the state of thy soul, better had it been for thee not to have been God’s natural workmanship as a roan, except thou be also his workmanship as a new man. So Christ speaks of Judas, that son of perdition, “Good were it for that man if he had never been born,” Mark 14:21; for what is being without the comfort of it; what is life without the joy and pleasure of it? A lost being is without comfort; no glimpse of light shines into that darkness: they shall indeed see the light and joy of the saints in glory; they shall see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of God, but they themselves shall be shut out. Luke 13:28. Such a sight is so far from giving comfort, that it will be the aggravation of torment.
O it is better to have no being at all, than to have a being only to capacitate a man for misery; to desire death while death flies from him. Rev. 4:6. Think on it, reader, and Jay it to thy heart: better thou hadst died from the womb, better the knees had prevented thee, and the breasts which thou hast sucked, than that thou shouldst live and die a stranger to the new birth.
2. On the contrary, we may hence learn what cause regenerate souls have to bless God for the day wherein they were born. O what a privileged state does the new birth bring men into! It is possible for the present they understand it not; for many believers are like a great heir lying in the cradle, that knows not to what an estate he is born: nevertheless, on the day wherein we become new creatures by regeneration, we have a firm title to all the privileges of the sons of God. John 1:12, 13. God becomes our Father not only by nature, but by adoption and by regeneration, a much dearer relation. In that day the image of God is restored, Eph. 4: 24, that is, both the health and beauty of the soul. In that day we are begotten again to a lively hope, 1 Pet. 1:3, a hope worth more than ten thousand worlds in life and in death. Some have kept their birthday as a day of rejoicing, but none have more cause to rejoice that ever they were born, than those that are new-born.
3. Learn from hence, that the work of grace is wholly supernatural; it is a creation, and creation-work is above the power of the creature. No power but that which gave being to the world can give being to the new creature. This creature is not born of flesh, or of blood, nor of the will of man, but of God. John 1:13. The character of this new creature speaks its origin to be above the power of nature. When God, therefore, puts the question, Who maketh thee to differ; and what hast thou that thou hast not received? let thy soul, reader, answer it with all humility and thankfulness: It is thou, Lord, thou only that hast made me to differ from another; and what I have received, I have received from thy free grace.
4. If the work of grace be a new creation, let not the parents and friends of the wnregenerate despair of their conversion, how great soever their present discowragements. If it had been possible for a man to have seen the rude chaos before the Spirit of God moved upon ‘it, would he not have said, Can such a beautiful order of beings spring out of this dark lump? Surely it would have been very hard for a man to imagine it. It may be, you see no encouraging inclinations in your friends towards God and spiritual things; nay, possibly they are filled with enmity against them; they deride serious piety wherever they behold it: this indeed is very sad; but yet remeber, the work of grace is from above. God, that commanded the light to shine out of darkness, can shine into their hearts, to give them the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. He can say to the dry bones, Live; to the proud and stubborn heart, Yield thyself to the will of God. God can yet make thee rejoice over thy most hopeless relations; to say, with the father of-the prodigal, “This my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.” Luke 15:24. Difficulties are with men, not with God: he works in conversion by a power which is able to subdue all things unto itself.
5. If none but new creatures be in Christ, how small a remnant among men belong to hm. Among the multitude of rational creatures inhabiting this world, how very few are new creatures; how few are for Jesus Christ.. Look over our cities, towns, and villages around you, and how few will you find that speak the language or do the works of new creatures. How few have ever had any awakening convictions; and how many of those that have been convinced have never come to the new birth. The more cause have they whom God has indeed regenerated, to admire the riches of his distinguishing mercy to them.
6. If the change by grace be a new creation, how marvellous a change does regeneration make wpon men! ‘The new creation denotes a change both in the state and temper of men; they come out of gross darkness into marvellous and heavenly light, 1 Peter 2:9; Eph. 5:8; their condition, disposition, and conversation are new.
And yet this marvellous change, great as it is, is not alike evident and-clearly discermible in all new creatures; for the work of grace is wrought in the people of God with much diversity of manner. Some are changed from a state of notorious profaneness to serious godliness. In these the change is very evident — all the neighborhood rings with it; while in others it is more insensibly distilled in their tender years by the blessing of God upon religious education, Though a great change be wrought, yet much natural corruption remains, which is a ground of fear and doubting; they see not how such corruptions are consistent with the new creature. In some, too, the new creature shows itself mostly in the affections, in desires after God, and but little in the clearness of the understanding and strength of the judgment; for want of which many are entangled and kept in darkness most of their days. Some Christians are also more tried by temptations from Satan than others, and these clouds darken the work of grace in them. And there is great variety in the natural temper of the regenerate: some are of a more melancholy, fearful, and suspicious temper than others, and are therefore much longer held under doubtings and trouble of spirit. Nevertheless, what differences soever these things make, the change made by grace is a marvellous change.
1. How inconsistent are carnal ways with the spirit of Christians, who being new creatures, can never delight in’ their former sinful companions and practices. Those things seem now most unsuitable and detestable, how pleasant soever they once were; that which they counted their liberty is now reckoned their greatest bondage; that which was their glory is now their shame: ‘What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death.” Romans 6:21. They will freely confess what madmen they once were. None can censure their former conversation more freely than they themselves do. 1 Tim. 1: 13, 14.
8. If none be in Christ but new creatures, and the new creation makes such a change as has been described, we may be convinced how many deceive themselves and run into dangerous and fatal mastakes.
But before [ urge this reflection, I desire none may make a perverse use of it. Let not the wicked conclude from hence that there is no such thing as true religion in the world, or that all who profess it are hypocrites; neither let the godly injure themselves by that which is designed for their benefit. Let none conclude, that.as there are so many mistakes about the new creature, assurance must be impossible, as the papists affirm it to be. The proper use of this doctrine is to undeceive pretenders, and to awaken all to a more thorough search of their own state. These cautions being remembered, let all men be convinced of the following truths:
(1.) That the reformation of the profane 1s a different thing from the new creature: moral virtue is one thing, the influence of the regenerating Spirit is quite another, however some have studied to confound them. Some of the heathen excelled in moral virtues: Plato, Aristides, Seneca, and multitudes more, outvied many professed Christians in justice, temperance, patience, etc., yet were perfect strangers to the new creation. A man may be very strict and temperate, and yet be a perfect stranger to regeneration. John 3:10.
(2.) Many strong convictions of sin may be found where the new creature is never formed. Conviction is preparative for the new creature, as the blossoms of the tree are to the fruit; but as fruit does not always follow where blossoms appear, so neither doth the new creature follow all convictions of sin. Conviction is a common work of the Spirit; but the new creature is formed only in God’s people. Convictions may vanish away, and the man under trouble for sin may return again, with the dog to his vomit, and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire, 2 Pet. 2:22; but the new creature never perishes, nor can consist with such a return to sin.
(3.) Excellent gifts, fitting men for service in the church of God, may be where the new creature is not; for these are dispensed by the Spirit both to the regenerate and unregenerate. “Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name?” Matt. 7:22. Gifts are attainable by study; prayer and preaching may be reduced to an art; but regeneration is wholly supernatural. Sin, in dominion, may consist with excellent gifts, but is wholly incompatible with the new creature. In a word, these things are so different from the new creature that they often prove the greatest obstacles to the regenerating work of the Spirit. Let no man, therefore, trust to things whereby multitudes deceive and destroy their souls. Reader, it may cost thee many an aching head to attain gifts, but thou wilt find an aching heart for sin if ever God makes thee a new creature.
(4.) Multitudes of religious duties may be performed by men in whom the new creature was never formed. Though all new creatures perform the duties of religion, all that perform those duties are not new creatures; regeneration is not the only root from which the outward duties of religion spring. ‘“‘ Yet they seek me daily, and delight to know my ways, as a nation that did righteousness, and forsook not the ordinance of their God: they ask of me the ordinances of justice; they take delight in approaching to God.” Isa, 58:2. These are but slippery foundations for men to build their hopes upon.
9. Let me, therefore, persuade every man to try the state of his heart in this matter, and closely consider this great question: Am I indeed a new creature; or am I an old creature still, in a new creature’s dress? Some light may be drawn from the following considerations:
(1.) Weigh and consider well the antecedents of the new creation: Have those things passed upon your souls which ordinarily make way for the new creature in whomsoever the Lord forms it? Has the Lord opened the eyes of your understanding in the knowledge of sin and of Christ? Has he showed you both your disease and remedy, by a light shining from heaven into your soul? Acts 26:18. Has he brought home the word with power and efficacy upon your heart to convince and humble you? Rom. 7:9; 1 Thess. 1:5. Have these convictions overthrown your vain confidences, and brought you to a great concern and inward distress of soul, making you cry, What shall I do to be saved? These are the ways of the Spirit in the formation of the new creature. Acts 16:29; 2:37. Ifno such work of the Spirit have passed upon your heart, you have no ground for confidence that the new creature is formed in you.
(2.) Consider the workings of spirit which ordinarily accompany the production of the new creature, and judge impartially between God and your own soul whether they have been the workings of your heart. Has your spirit been composed to the greatest serzousness and most solemn consideration of things eternal, as the hearts of all are whom (rod regenerates? When the Lord is about this work upon the soul of man, whatever levity was there before, it is banished; for now heaven and hell, life and death, are before a man’s eyes, and these are the most awful subjects that ever our thoughts conversed with. A man of the most airy mind, when brought to the sense of these things, ‘‘says of laughter, It is mad; and of mirth, What doeth it?” Eccl. 2:2. <A meek and humble frame of heart accompanies the new creation; the soul is weary and heavy-laden. Matt. 11:28. Convictions of sin bring down the pride of man and empty him of his vain conceits. It is with such as it was with Jerusalem, that lofty city, “Woe to Ariel, to Ariel, the city where David dwelt! Thou shalt be brought down, and shalt speak out of the ground, and thy speech shall be low out of the dust.” Isaiah 29:1, 4. Ariel signifies the lion of God: so Jerusalem was in her prosperity, other cities trembled at her voice; but when God brought her down by humbling judgments, then she whispered out of the dust. So it is in this case. A longing, thirsteng frame of spirit accompanies the new creation; the desires of the soul are ardent after Christ; never did the hireling long for the shadow as the weary soul does for Christ, and rest in him. If no such frames have accompanied that which you take for your new birth, you have the greatest reason to suspect yourself under a delusion.
(3.) Weigh well the effects and consequents of the new creature, and consider whether such fruits as these are found in your heart and life.
Wherever the new creature is formed, a man’s cowrse of life is changed. ‘That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; and be renewed in the spirit of your mind.” Eph. 4:22, 23. The new creature cannot but blush and be ashamed of the old creature’s conversation. Rom. 6:21.
The new creature continually opposes and conflicts with sin in the heart. The Spirit lusteth against the flesh. Gal. 5:17. Grace can no more mix with sin than oil with water. If there be no conflict with sin in thy soul, or if that conflict be only between the conscience and affections, light in the one struggling with lust in the other, thou wantest that fruit which should evidence thee to be a new creature.
The affections of the new creature are set upon heaven-Method. 19 ly and spiritual things. Col. 3:1, 2; Eph. 4:28; Rom. 8:5. If therefore thy heart be habitually earthly, and driving eagerly after the world as the great business of thy life, deceive not thyself, this is not the fruit of the new creature, nor consistent with it.
The new creature is prayerful, living by its daily communion with God. Zech. 12:10; Acts 9:11. If therefore thou art a prayerless soul, or if, in thy prayers, thou art a stranger to communion with God — if there be no brokenness of heart for sin in thy confessions, no melting affections for Christ and holiness in thy supplications, surely Satan does but delude thy soul in persuading thee that thou art a new creature.
The new creature is reséless, after fails into sin, until it has recovered peace and pardon; it cannot endure a state of defilement. Psa. 51:8-12. It is with the conscience of a new creature under sin, as with the eye when any thing offends it, it cannot cease weeping till it has wept it out; and in the same restless state is the soul under the hiding of God’s face. If therefore thou canst sin and sin again without a burdensome sense of sin or solicitude to recover purity and peace, with the light of God’s countenance shining, as in days past, upon thy soul, thou hast not the signs of a new creature in thee.
10. If the new creation be evidence of our interest in Christ, let me persuade all that are im Christ to prove themselves such by walking as becomes new creatures. The new creature is born from above, all its tendencies are heavenward; set your affections then on things that are above, and let your conversation be in heaven. If you live earthly and sensual lives as others do, you must oppose your new nature therein: and can those actions be pleasant to you which are done with so much regret; wherein you must offer a kind of violence to your own hearts? Earthly delights and sorrows are expected in the unregenerate and sensual, but exceedingly contrary to that Spirit by whom you are renovated.. If ever you would act becoming the nature of new creatures, seek earthly things with submission, enjoy them with caution, resign them with cheerfulness; and thus “let your moderation be known unto all men.” Philemon 4, 5. Let your hearts daily meditate and your tongues discourse about heavenly things; be exceeding tender of sin, punctual in duty, and convince the world that you are of another spirit.
11. Let every new creature be cheerful and thankful: if God has renewed you, and thus changed the frame and temper of your hearts, he has bestowed the richest mercy upon you that heaven or earth affords. A new creature may be called one among a thousand: it is also an everlasting work never to be destroyed, as all natural works of God must be. It is carried on by almighty power, through unspeakable opposition. Eph. 1:19. The exceeding greatness of God’s power produces it; indeed, no less is required to enlighten the mind, break the heart, and bow the will of man; and the same almighty power which at first created it, is necessary to be continued every moment to preserve it. 1 Pet. 1:5. The new creature is a mercy which draws a train of invaluable mercies after it. Eph. 2:13, 14; 1 Cor.3:20. When God has given us a new nature, he dignifies us with a new name, Rev. 2:17; brings us into a new covenant, Jer. 31:33; begets us again to a new hope, 1 Pet. 1:3; and entitles us to a new inheritance. John 1:12,13. The new creature, through Christ, makes our persons and duties acceptable with God. Gal.6:15. Ina word, it is the wonderful work of God, of which we may say, “This is the Lord’s doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes.” There are unsearchable wonders in its generation, operation, and preservation. Let all therefore whom the Lord has thus renewed, fall down at his feet in humble admiration of the unsearchable riches of free grace, and never open their mouths to complain under any adverse providences of God