[2.] Not some sudden turn into a religious frame, and as soon worn off. A man may have some devout pangs and fits, such as Ahab had in his humiliations, when he went mournfully and softly, 1 Kings xxi. 27 ; or as those that howled upon their beds for corn and wine and oil, and wei-e frightened into a little religiousness in their straits and neces- sities, Hos. vii. 14 ; or those whom the prophet speaketh of : Jer. xxxiv.
15, ' And ye were now turned, and had done right in my sight ; but ye returned again, and polluted my name.' A people may be changed from evil to good, but then they may change again from good to evil. This change doth not amount to the new creature, for that is a durable thing : 1 John iii. 9, airep/xa fxivov, ' Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin ; for his seed remaiueth in him, and he cannot sin. because he is born of God,' To be good for a day, a week, oj- month, is but a violent enforcing themselves into a religious frame, on some great judgment, distress, powerful conviction, or solemn covenanting with God : Deut. v. 29, ' Oh that there were an heart in them, that they would fear me, and keep my commandments.'
234 SERMONS UPON 2 CORINTHIANS Y. [SeR. XXXII,
[3.] A chano;e of outward form without a change of heart ; as when a man changeth ])arties in religion, and from an opposer becoraeth a professor of a stricter way. No, the scriprnre opposeth this to the new creature : Gal. vi. 15, ' For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth anything nor uncircumcision, but a new creature.' A chiistian is not to be esteemed by any prerogative in the flesh, but by a real regeneration ; if we have not the effect and power of our profession, it will do us no good to come under the form of it. The new creature lieth more in a new mind, new will, and new affections, than in a new tongue, or a new form, or a new name. And usually in the regenerate there is a change, as from profaneness to profession, so from pi'ofes- sion and formality to a deep reality and godly sincerity. Sometimes they may go together, but that is in those that are religiously bred up. Commonly it is otherwise; and therefore when converted there is a new faith and a new repentance, and they serve Grod after a new manner, and pray and hear otherwise than they were wont to do. Therefore certfiinly it is not being of this or that party or opinion, though some more strict than others, or doing this or that particular thing, or submitting to this or that particular ordinance, nor a bare praying or hearing, or some kind of repenting or believing, that will evidence our being in Chiist, but the doing all these things in a new state and nature, and with that life and seriousness which becometh new creatures.
[4] Not a partial change. It is not enough to be altered in this or that particular, but the whole nature must be turned. Men from pas- sionate may grow meek, from negligent they may be more frequent in duties of religion ; but the old nature still continueth. There may be some transient acts of holiness which the Holy Ghost worketh in us as a passenger, not as an inhabitant ; some good inclinations in some few things, like a new piece in an old garment, there is no suitableness; and so their returning to sinning is worse than their first sinning, and for the present one part of their lives is a contradiction and a reproach to another. In the text ' all old things are passed away, and all things are become new ; ' not a few only. There are new thoughts, new affections, new desires, new hopes, nev?' loves, new delights, new pas- sions, new discourses, new conversations. This work new mouldeth the heart, and stampeth all our actions, so that we drive a new trade for another world, and set up another work to which we were utter strangers before, and have new solaces, new comforts, new motives. The new creature is entire, not half new and half old. This is the difference between the new birth and the old : in the natural birth a creature may come forth maimed, wanting an arm, a leg or a hand ; but in the new creation there is a perfection of parts, though not of degrees, for a defect of parts cannot be supplied by an after-growth. A new creatui-e is made all new ; there is a universality in the change. God worketh not his work by halves ; no man had ever his heart half new and half old. No, though his work be not perfect, yet it is growing to its perfection. If any one corruption remain unmortified, or unbroken or allowed in the soul, it keepeth afoot the devil's interest, and will in time spoil all tlie good qualities we have.
3. No change amounteth to the new creature but what introduceth the life of God and likeness to God.
VeR. 17.] SERMONS UPON 2 CORINTHrANS V. 235
[1.] Where the new creation obtaineth, there is life, called sometimes "the lite of God, Eph. iv. IS, because it came from God, and teudeth to him ; sometimes spiritual life, Gal. v. 25, and 1 Peter, iv. 6, because the Spirit is the author of this change ; sometimes a scriptural life, be- cause the word of God is the rule and food of it, Phil ii. 16, ' Holding forth the word of life;' sometimes a heavenly Ufe, because of its end and tendency : Phil, iii. 20, ' But our conversation is in heaven.' But call it wliat you will, a life there is : the soul that was dead in sin be- cometli alive to God, yea, the Spirit itself becometh a principle of life in us; so that they are really alive to God, and dead to sin and the world. Now would you know whether a man be alive or dead? Observe him in his desires and endeavours after God, and there you shall see by his actions and earnestness that he is alive. But if you would try whether a carnal man be alive or dead, you must see by his desires and endea- vours after the flesh that he is alive, for by any that he hath atter God you cannot see it. Sense, motion, and affection are the fruits of life. Stirrings, and activity, and sensible feelings are uncertain things to judge by ; but the scope, tendency, and drift of our endeavours will more certainly discover it. He that is regenerated by the power and Spirit of Christ doth no more seek his happiness in carnal things , but the bent, drift and stream of his life and love doth carry his love another way.