Secondly, Every man in Christ is renewed in his frame and con- stitution ; all the faculties and affections of his soul are renewed by regeneration : his understanding was dark, but now is light in the Lord, Eph. v. 8. his conscience was dead and secure, or full of guilt and horror, but is now become tender, watchful, and full of peace, Heb. ix. 14. his will was rebellious, stubborn, and inflexi- ble ; but is now made obedient and complying with the will of God, Psal. ex. 2. his desires did once pant and spend themselves in the pursuit of vanities, now they are set upon God, Isa. xxvi. 8. his love did fondly dote upon ensnaring earthly objects, now it is swallowed up in the infinite excellencies of God and Christ, Psal. cxix. 97. his joy was once in trifles and things of nought, now his rejoicing is in Christ Jesus, Phil. iii. 3. his fear-s once were about noxious creatures, now God is the object of the fear of reverence, Acts ix. 31. and sin the object of the fear of caution, 2 Cor. vii. 11. his hopes and expectations were only from the world present, but now from that to come, Heb. vi. 19- Thus the soul in its fa- culties and affections is renewed ; which being done, the members and senses of the body must needs be destinated and employed by it in new services ; no more to be the weapons of unrighteousness, but instruments of service to Jesus Christ, Rom. vi. 19- And thus all that are in Christ are renewed in their frame and constitu- tion.
Thirdly, The man in Christ is renewed in his practice and con- versation : the manner of operation always follows the nature of beings. Now the regenerate not being what they were, cannot walk and act as once they did ; Eph. ii. 1, 2, 3. " And you hath " he quickened, who were once dead in trespasses and sins ; " wherein ye walked according to the course of this world." They were carried away, like water by the strength of the tide, by the influence of their own corrupt natures, and the customs and examples of the world ; but the case is now altered. So in 1 Cor. vi. 11. the apostle shews believers their old companions in sin, and tells them, " Such were some of you, but ye are washed, but ye " are sanctified," &c. q. d. the world is now well altered with you, thanks be to the grace of God for it. This wonderful change of practice, which is so universal and remarkable in all the regene- rate, and immediately consequent upon their conversion, sets the world a wondering at them ; 1 Pet. iv. 4. Wherein they think it
SE11M. XXV. THE METHOD OF GRACE. 35l
strange, that you run not " with them into the same excess of riot, " speaking evil of you. They think it strange :*" * The word sig- nifies to stand and gaze, as the hen doth which hath brooded, and hatched partridge eggs, when she seeth the chickens which she hath brought forth, take the wing and fly away from her. Thus do the men of the world stand amazed to see their old companions in sin, whose language once was vain and earthly, it may be, pro- fane and filthy, now to be praying, speaking of God, heaven, and things spiritual, having no more to do with them, as to sin, exc< pt by way of reprehension and admonition : this amazes the world, and makes them look with a strange admiring eye upon the people of God.
Thirdly, In the next place let us enquire into the properties and qualities of this new creature, and shew you, as we are able, what they are ; yet, reader, expect not here an exact and accurate ac- count of that which is so great a mystery ; for if questions may be moved about a silly fly, which may puzzle the greatest philosopher to resolve them ; how much more may we conceive this great and marvellous work of God, the most mysterious and admirable of all his works, to surmount the understandings of the most illuminated Christians ? O how little do we know of the nature, properties, and operations of this new creature ! So far as God hath revealed it to our weak understandings, we may speak of it. And,
First, The scripture speaks of it as a thing of great difficulty to be conceived by man, John iii. 8. " The wind bloweth where it. " listeth, and thou nearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell " whence it cometh and whither it goeth : So is every one that is " born of the Spirit.11 The original of winds is a question of great difficulty in philosophy : We hear the voice of the wind, feel its mighty force, and behold its strange effects ; but neither know whence it comes, or whither it goes. Ask a man, Do you hear the wind blow ? Yes. Do you feel it blow ? Yes, very sensibly. Do you see the effects of it, rending and overturning the trees ? Yes, very plainly. But can you describe its nature, or declare" its original ? No, that is a mystery which I do not understand. Why just so it is with him that is born of the Spirit. The holy Spirit of God, whose nature and operations we understand but little of, comes from heaven, quickens and influences our souls, beats down and mortifies our lusts by his Almighty Power : These effects of the Spirit in us we experimentally feel, and sensibly discern : But
Ev u ^zvi^ovlcu, i. e. Then stand amazed, as at the sight of an uncommon thing. Bern. lis se trouvent toics nouveaux, et co7nme en tin autre mande, i. e. They find them- selves ell new, and as in another world.
352 THE METHOD OF GRACE. 5ERM. XXV.
how the Spirit of God first entered into, and quickened our souls, and produced this new creature in them, we understand little more of it than how the bones do grow in the womb of her that is with child, Eccles. xi. 5. Therefore is the life of the new creature called a hidden life, Col. iii. 3. The nature of that life is not only hidden totally from all carnal men, but in a very great measure it is an hidden and unknown life unto spiritual men, though them- selves be the subjects of it.