(1.) The new creature is a work of di- vine power ; so much it imports, because it is a creation. The same power which raised Christ from the grave, goes to the production of the new creature, Eph. i. 20. It is a work of greater power to produce the new creature, than to make a Avorld. It is true, in respect to God, all things are alike possible to him; but, as to our appre- hension, it requires a greater power to make a new creature, than to make a world, for,
1. When God made the world, he met with nc opposition ; but when God is about to make a new creature, he meets with op- position ; Satan opposeth him, and the heart opposeth him.
2. It cost God nothing to make the world, but to make the new creature costs him something ; Christ himself was fain to be- come man. In making the world, it was but speaking a word ; but in making of the new creature, it cost Christ the shedding of his blood.
3. God made the world in six days ; but he is carrying on the new creature in us all our lives long. The new creature is but begun here, it is not perfected or drawn
in all its orient colours till it come to hea yen.
(2.) The new creature is a work of free- grace. There is nothing in us to move God to make us anew ; by nature we are full of pollution and enmity, yet now God forms the new creature. Behold the ban- ner of love displayed ! The new creature may say, " By tiie grace of God I am what I am." In the creation we may see the strength of God's arm ; in the new crea- ture we may see the working of God's how- els. Tiiat God should consecrate any heart, and anoint it with grace, is an act of pure love; that he should pluck one out of the state of nature, and not another, must be resolved into free-grace. Mat. xi. 26., " E- ven so, Father, for so it seemed good in thy sight." This will increase tlie saint's tri- umphs in heaven, that the lot of free-grace should fall upon them, and not on others.
(3.) The new creature is a work of rare excellency. A natural man is a lump of earth and sin, God loathes him, Zech. xi. 8., but upon the new creature is a spiritual glory, as if we should see a piece of clay turned into a sparkling diamond, Cant. iii. 6., " Who is this that cometh out of tJie wilderness, like pillars of smoke perfumed with 'myrrh and frankincense ?" That is the natural man coming out of the wilder- ness of sin, perfumed with all the graces of the Spirit. The new creature must needs be glorious, for it partakes of the divine na- ture, 2 Pet. i. 4. A soul beautified with holiness, is like the firmament bespangled with glittering stars ; it is God's lesser hea- A'en, Isa. Ivii. 15. In the incarnation, God made himself in the image of man, — in the new creation, man is made in the image of God; by our being creatures, we are the sons of Adam, — by being new creatures, we are the members of Christ. Reason makes one live the life of a man, — the new creature makes him live the life of God ; a new creature excels the rational nature, and equals the angelical. It is excellent to hear of Christ's being crucified for us, but more excellent to have Christ formed in us.
Concerning the new creatui'e, I shall lay down two positions.
Vst Position. That it is not in the powef of a natural man to convert himself; be-
ON BECOMING A NEW CREATURE.
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cause it is a new croatioii. As we cannot make ourselves creatures, so not new crea- tures.
Qi;i:sT. But why doth God command us to convert ourselves, if we hove no power ? Ezok. xviii. 31., Make you a new heart.
Aus. 1. ^^'e onee liad ])ower. God pave us a stock of liolincss, Imt we lost it. If a master pve liis servant money to employ in his service, and he waste and embezzle it, may not the master require his money of him ? Though we have lost our power to obey, God hath not lost his rij^ht to com- mand.
A. 2. Thou(jh men cannot convert them- selves, and make themselves new creatures, vet tliey mav do more than tliev do in a tendency to it ; they may avoid temptations, they may read the word; the same feet that carry them to a l)lay, will carry them to a sermon ; they may implore divine grace. But they do not what they are a- ble ; they do not im])rove the jwwer of na- tui-e to the utmost, and put God to the trial whether he will give grace.
A. 3. God is not wanting to them who seek to him for grace. Deus volentihus non deest. He is willing to put to his helping liand. With his command there goes a pro- mise, Ezek. xviii. 31., " Make you a new heart ;" and there is a promise, Ezek. xxxvi. 26., " A new heart also will I give you.