In the words are two things : —
I. The state of believers : for lue are his luorhmansJiip, created in Christ Jesus.
II. The end why we are brought into this estate : unto good ivorks, ichich, &c.
I begin with the former, and there note : —
1. God's efficiency : Troirnxa avrov, his luorkmansMp.
2. The manner of his efficiency : KTia6evTe<i, created ; all proceedeth from the infinite creating power of God.
3. The meritorious cause : iv Xpicrro), created in Christ Jesus. From the whole observe : —
Doct. That those that are renewed and recovered out of the apos- tasy of mankind, are, as it were, created anew through the power of God and grace of the Kedeemer.
I. Let us explain the words of the text.
II. Prove it.
I. For explication of what is here asserted, three things must be explained : —
1. Our relation to God.
2. His way of concurrence to establish this relation,
3. How far the mediation of Christ is concerned in this effect. First, Our relation to God : ' We are his workmanship.' We arc so
two ways: — (1.) By natural creation; (2.) By supernatural renovation.
1. By natural creation, which giveth us some kind of interest in him, and hope of grace from him. As Ps. cxix. 73, ' Thy hands have made me and fashioned me ; give me understanding that I may learn thy commandments.' God is our Creator, and the end of our creation is to serve God ; therefore he gives some kind of encourage- ment to ask the grace whereby we may serve him. But the apostle speaketh here not of the first creation, but —
2. Of regeneration or renovation, which is called a second or new creation. As 2 Cor. v. 17, ' If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature,' Kalvr) ktIctl^;; a new creation hath passed upon him. By the first creation we are made men ; by the second, holy men. Holiness is a thing of God's making ; we are regenerated and sanctified by his grace, and made capable of doing good by his Spirit. Now this new workmanship bestowed on us implieth : —
[1.] A change wrought in us, so that we are other persons than we were before, as if another kind of soul came to dwell in our bodies. This change is represented in scripture in such terms as do imply a broad and sensible difference between the two states — that wherein we were before, and that into which we are translated ; such a difference as is between light and darkness, Eph, v. 8 ; life and death, 1 John iii. 14 ; the new man and the old, Eph. iv. 22, 24. We seem to be, as it were, creatures transformed out of beasts into men. Instead of being governed by sense and appetite, we are led by reason ; and reason is not only put into dominion, but grace, which is reason sanctified, direct- ing and inclining us to live unto God.
VOL. II. 2 B
386 THE NINETEENTH SERMON. [EpH. II. 10.
[2.] This cliange is such as must amount to a new creation. There are some changes which go not so far, as —
(1.) A moral change, from proiancness and gross sins to a more sober course of life ; for there are some sins which nature discovereth, and may be prevented by such reasons and arguments as nature sug- gesteth, Rom. ii. 14. This may be done by ordinary discretion and advisement. But the new creature signifies such a change, whereby not only of vicious we become virtuous, but of carnal we become spiritual, John iii. 6. Man naturally inclineth to things pleasing to the flesh, and only seeketh, savoureth, and affecteth these things ; but in this cliange the Spirit interposeth and maketh him spirit. Before, man only lived as a nobler and bettcr-natured animal or living creature, and pleased himself, that is, his flesh, either in a grosser or more cleanly manner, being ignorant, mindless of God and another world ; but new creatures become spirit, have a spiritual inclination, cannot content themselves with a happiness on this side God and heaven. Mere human nature can never bring men to this, but only the power of God.
(2.) A temporary change, as to fall into a sudden religious frame, which is soon worn off; as Ahab's humiliation, 1 Kings xxi. 27 ; or those that howled on their beds, &c., Hosea vii. 14, frighted into a little religiousness in their straits and deep necessities, like ice in thawing weather, soft at top and hard at bottom ; or those the prophet speaketli of, Jer. xxxiv. 15, ' Ye were turned to-day and had done right, but ye returned again and polluted my name.' They seemed to be changed awhile from evil to good, and then they change again from good to evil. This will not amount to the new creature, for that is a durable thing : 1 John iii. 9, ^Trepixa fievei, ' His seed remains.'
(3.) A change of outward form, without a change of heart ; as when a man changeth parties in religion, and from an oppressor becomes a professor of a stricter way. No ; the scripture opposeth this to the new creature, Gal. vi. 15. The new creature lieth more in a new mind, new will and affection, than in a new form of religion. Lead is lead still, whatever stamp it beareth.