4. With respect to the use for which this new creation serveth. One is mentioned in the text : ' Created unto good works ;' but other things must be taken in.
[1.] In order to our present communion with God. Till we are created anew, we are not fit to converse Avith a holy and invisible God earnestly, frequently, reverently, and delightfully, which is our daily work and business. The effects of the new creature are life and like- ness ; those that do not live the life of God are estranged from him, Eph. iv. 18. Trees cannot converse with beasts, because they do not live their life ; nor beasts with men, for they have sense only, but no reason ; nor men with God, till they have somewhat of the same nature and life. If one had power to put the spirit of man into a brute beast, that beast would discourse reasonably. God hath power to put a divine Spirit into his people, to sanctify their souls, that fits them for converse with God. Look, as in innocency Adam was alone, though compassed about with a multitude of creatures, beasts, birds, and plants, yet there was none, till Eve was made, fit to converse with him, because they did not live his life ; therefore the Lord God said, Gen. ii. 18, ' It is not good that man should be alone ; I will make him an help meet for him.' The man was alone, because he had none like himself that he might converse withal as a man in the exer- cise of speech and reason ; the beasts of the field and fowls of the air were no fit companions for him ; they wanted the means of conver.se, reason and speech : so without grace we are not meet for communion with God, till we have faith and love to admire, reverence, and delight
392 THE NINETEENTH SERMON. [EPH. II. 10.
in him. So for likeness. Conformity is the ground of communion : Amos iii. 3, ' How can two walk together except they be agreed ? ' Our state of sin is a state of enmity, and our state of holiness a state of love. Our old course made the breach between us and God, Isa. lix. 2 ; but the new life and likeness qualifies us for communion with him: 1 John i. G, 7, ' An holy creature may sweetly come and con- verse with the holy God.'
[2.] In order to our service and obedience to God. Man is unfit for God's use till he be new moulded and framed again : In the text, ■we must be ' created in Christ Jesus to good works.' Every creature liath faculties suitable to the operations that belong to that creature ; so man must be new created, new formed, that he may be prepared and made ready for the Lord. You cannot expect new operations till there be a new nature and life. When a man is turned from sin, he is ' made meet for the Master's use, and prepared unto every good work,' 2 Tim. ii. 21. Our first care must be to get the heart renewed. Many are troubled about this or that duty, or particular brandies of the spiritual life ; first get life itself. There must be principles before there can be operations. In vain do we expect strengthening grace before we have received renewing grace. This is like little children, who attempt to run before they can go or stand. Many complain of this or that corruption, but they do not groan under the burden of a corrupt nature ; as suppose wandering thoughts in prayer, when at the same time the heart is habitually averse and estranged from God : as if a man should complain of an aching tooth when a mortal disease hath seized upon his vitals, or of a cut finger when at the same time he is wounded at the heart, — of deadncss in duty and want of quicken- ing grace when they want converting grace. This is like blowing to a dead coal, to complain of infirmities and incident weakness when our habitual aversion from and enmity to God is not yet cured, and of unfitness for service, when we are not come out of the carnal state.
[3.] In order to our future enjoyment of God, and that glory and blessedness which we expect in his heavenly kingdom ; none but new creatures can enter into tlie new Jerusalem. It is said, John iii. 3, 'Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of Cod.' Seeing is put for enjoying ; yet the expression is emphatical, as if he should not be suftered so nuich as to peep or look within the veil ; therefore the mere carnal man neither knoweth his true happiness, nor careth for it, but followeth after his own lusts, till he be new moulded and framed. By natuie men are opposite to the kingdom of God, it being invisible, future, spiritual, mostly for the soul ; and by nature men are for things seen, present, and bodily. The interest of the flesh governeth all their choices and inclinations ; and how unmeet are these for heaven ! In short, our frail bodies must be changed before they can be brought to heaven : * We shall not all die, but we shall all be changed,' saith the apostle. If the body must be changed, liow much more the soul ? if that wliich is frail, nuich m(»re that which is filthy; if flesh and blood cannot enter into heaven till it be freed from its corruptible qualities, certainly a guilty, coirupted soul cannot enter into heaven till it be freed from its sinful qualities.