3. We say that this real change passes upon the whole man : he is changed in sonl^ body, and pi'actice: all things are become new. (1.) This change appears in his soul : For by it, (1.) His understanding is strangely altered, and receive things in another way than formerly. It did look at Christ and things eternal as uncertain and light matters; the things that are seen and present do mostly affect, and appeared great and excellent : It admired riches and honour, whilst Christ and glory were overlooked and despised. But now all these temporals are esteemed dung, dross, vanity, Phil. iii. 8, 11. Rom. viii. 18. And Jesus Christ is now esteemed the wisdom and the power of God, 1 Cor. i. 23, 24. It did look on the saints as despicable persons, but now as the excellent of' the earth, PsaL xvi. 3. Strictness and duty was once esteemed a needless thing, but now the only thing desi- rable, Psal. cxix. 14. " Oh, saith the renewed soul, where were mine " eyes, that I could see no more excellency in Christ, his ways and " people.?'' (2.) It stops not there (as it doth in hypocrites) but passes on further, and reduces the will; that strong hold is taken, and delivered up to Christ. It did rebel against God, and could not be subject, but now it submits, Acts ix. 6. Lord, what wilt thou have me to do ? In the day of Christ's power he presents himself in all his drawing glory and loveliness before the will, and cries to that stubborn faculty. Open to me, open to me ; with which word there goes forth an opening and subduing power, which the will no sooner feels, but it spontaneously moves towards him, and saith, Stand open ye everlasting gates, that the King of glory may come in. Henceforth it votes for God, subscribes and submits to his will as its only rule and law ; and indeed it becomes the principal seat where grace makes its residence; and where, for the most part, it is more visible than in any other faculty. For after a man hath search- ed for it in all other faculties, and cannot discern it, yet here he or- dinarily finds it ; to will is present, Horn. vii. 18. (3.) The will being thus gained to Christ, love comes in of course; it, feeling the power of grace also, presently changeth its object : It seizeth not so greedily on earthly objects as before, but is strangely cooled and deadened to them, by the appearance of a far greater glory in Jesus Christ; which hath so captivated the soul, and strongly attracted their affection, that it is now become very remiss in all its actings towards them ; and olten (especially at first) it is so weaned from all things on earth, that the teniptation seems to lie on the other extreme, even in too great neglect of our lawful employments and comforts. Now Jesus Christ, Cant. i. 3. his ordinances, Psal cxix. 97. and his saints, 1 John iii. 14. are the only delights and sweetest companions; h.e could sit from morning till night, to hear discourses of Christ his be- loved, and could hve and die in the company of his people, whose
S4 PREPARATIONS FOR SUFFERINGS; OR,
company is now most delightful and sweet, Psal. cxix. 63. (4.) The desires ai'e aUered, they pant no more after the dust of the earth, Psal. iv. 6. but pant for God, as the hart after the xoater-hrooks^ Psal. xlii. 1. Yea, so big is the soul with them, that it is sometimes ready to faint, yea, to break with the longing it hath after him, Psal. cxix. 20. (5.) The thoughts are changed, Psal. cxix. 113. and the thoughts of God are now most precious, Psal. cxxxix. 47. musing when alone of him; and in its solitudes the soul entertains itself with a delightful feast, which its thoughts of God bring in to refresh it, Psal. Ixili. 5, 6. (6.) The designs and projects of the soul are changed ; all are now swallowed up in one grand design, even to approve himself to God, and be accepted of him, 2 Cor. v. 9. and if he fail not there, it will not much trouble him, if all his other designs should be dashed. It were easy to instance in the rest of the affec- tions, and shew how grace spreads and diffuses itself into them all, as light in the air, or leaven in the lump ; but this may suffice, to shew how it passes upon the whole soul, and enters the several faculties and affections thereof.
And the soul being thus possest for God, the body with all its members is consequently resigned up to him also : For the will hath the empire of the members of the body, as well as of the passions and affections of the soul. These are not any more delivered up to execute the lusts of Satan, but arc yielded up to God for his ends and uses, Rom. vi. 19. And thus you have the third thing in the description made out also, that it is an universal, as well as a real change. But then,
4. Lastly, You must knov/ that by this change God prepares a man for choice and excellent services ; and this indeed is the main thing designed in this chapter, and is the result and issue of all that hath hitherto been said about this work of grace.
Beloved, can 3-ou imagine that God could employ his infinite and glorious power to produce this new creature in such an excellent nature, it being the master-piece of all his worlds of wonder v.-rought upon man, and not aim at some singular use and excellent end ? Every wise agent designs some end ; and what God aims at he hath told us, Isa. xliii. 21. Eph. ii. 20. And accordingly he expects singular things from such persons. Mat. v. 47. If God had not aimed at some new service, he need not have made a new creature : the old creature was fit enough for the old use and service it was employed in. But God hath some choice service to be done wherein he will be glorified. He will have his name glorified, even in this world, by the active and j^assive obedience of his people. But this being far above all the power of nature, God therefore brings them forth in a new and heavenly nature, endowed with rare, supernatural, and divine qualities, by which it is fitted and excellently prepared for any service of God, by doing or by suffering, which before he had no fitness or ability for.
THE BEST OF WOllK VA THE WORST TIMES. 6 J
The very make and constitution of this new creature speaks its use and end : As now, if a man look upon a sword or knife, (supposing he had never seen either before) yet, I say, by viewing the shape and properties of it, he will say, this was made to cut. Even so here, this new creature was formed for some glorious and singular service for God, to which it is exceedingly advantaged, whether God put you upon doing or suffering. If you ask wherein this advantage of the new creature to honour God either way lies ; I answer, it principally consists in its heavenly/ inclination, or natural tendency to God. This is its great advantage ; for, by virtue of .this,