[2.] It is a knowledge that obscureth the splendour of all outward excellences in our opinion, estimation, and affec'uion : 1 Cor. ii. 2, 'For I determined not to know anything among you, save Jesus Christ and him crucified ; ' Phil. iii. 8, ' Yea, doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus- my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung that I may win Christ.' All is nothing to this.
[3.] It weaneth the heart from outward observances and bodily exercises to solid godliness, or looking after the life and power of them. The ordinances of the law, though of God's own institution, are called carnal : Heb. vii. 16, ' Not after the law of a carnal commandment ; ' the worship of the gospel, spiiit and truth : John iv. 23, 24. ' The hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth ; for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a spirit, and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.' The more true knowledge of the gospel, the more of this. As the apostle distinguisheth the Treptro/xr} from the KaraTofir], Phil. iii. 2, 3 ; and the apostle speaketh of the Jew, Pvom. ii. 28, 29, 'For he is not a Jew which is one outwardly, neither is that circumcision which is outward in the flesh ; but he is a Jew which is one inwardly, and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter,
VeK. 17.] SERMONS UPON 2 CORINTHIANS V. 231
whose praise is not of men but of God.' So it is with better reason true of the christian, the worship of the gospel consisting' little of externals, but being rational spiritual worship: 1 Peter iii. 21, ' The like figure whereuiito even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the tilth of the flesh, but the answer of a good con- science towards God), by the resurrection of Jesus Christ ;' Col. ii. 6, * As ye have received the Lord Jesus Christ, so walk ye in him ' — we receive his Spirit. That is a sorry zeal, and hath little of a christian spirit, that runneth altogether upon outward things. Christianity first degenerated by this means, and the life and power of it was extinguished when it began to run out altogether in form, and men out of a natural devotion grew excessive that way. A christian, in obedience to God, is to use his instituted externals, but his heart is upon the' spirit and. soul of duties. Multiplying rites and ceremonies has eaten out the life and heart of religion. The more spiritual and substantial worship is the better, if there be humble and affectionate reverence, a ready subjection and submission to him flowing from grace, engaging the heart to God, and animated by the influence and breathing of his Spirit.
SERMON XXXII.
Therefore if any man he in Christ, he is a neiu creature ; old tilings are 'passed away ; behold, all things are become new. — 2 CoR. V. 17.
This is an inference out of the former doctrine. Two things the apostle had said — ' Henceforth we no more live to ourselves,' vei*. 15, and, ' Henceforth know we him no more,' ver. 16. There is a change wrought in us — a change of life, and a change of judgment ; a new life, because there is a new judgment. Now in the text he showeth a reason why he changed his judgment and lif^e, and lived and judged otherwise than he did before, because there is such a change wrought in all that belong to Christ, that they are, as it were, other persons than they were. As when Saul prophesied : 1 Kings x. 6, ' The Spirit of the Lord shall come upon thee, and thou shalt be turned into another man,' not in respect of person, or in regard of substance, but some gifts and graces. So these should be as other creatures, as new creatures. Now these things should only be in esteem with, christians which belong to the new creature or regeneration. ' Therefore if any man be in Christ,' &c.
In the words we have a proposition — (1.) Asserted ; (2) Explained.
1. The proposition asserted is hypothetical, in which there is — (1.) An hypothesis or proposition — If any man be in Christ ; (2.) The assertion built thereon — He is a new creature — Kaivrj KTiai'?, a new creation. The act of creation is signified by this form of speech, as well as the thing created.
2. The proposition explained ; for there is — (1.) A destructive work, or a pulling down of the old house — Old things are passed aivay ;
232 SERMONS UPON 2 CORINTHIANS V, [SeR. XXXII.
(2.) An adstructive work, or raising of the new fabric — All tilings are become neiv. The words are originally taken out of Isa. Ixv. 17, and Isa. Ixvi. 22, where God pronnseth a new heaven and a new earth ; that is, a new world or a new state of things. Wliich promises had a threefold accomplishment.