304 SERMONS UPON 1 PETEK I. 23. [SeR. L
fis if we would have the Sph-it blow to a dead coal. They confess only the infirmities of soul, when they should bewail the misery of an unre- generate and carnal estate. They complain of incident weakness, when we should first see that our habitual aversion from God be cured.
[2.J As to the privileges of grace, you have no interest and title to them till you are born again. Nothing avails to establish your interest in Christ but a new creatiu-e: Gal. vi. 15, ' For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature.' It is not being of this or that party or opinion, though some more strict than others ; not doing this or that particular thing, submitting to this or that ordinance, praying or hearing the word. This is only an evi- dence in our consciences of our justified estate and union with Christ : 2 Cor. V. 17, 'If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature ; old things are passed away, and all things are become new.' Every one that is an adopted son of God must have a new birth and a spiritual being : John i. 12, 13, ' But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe in his name ; which are born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.' A change of disposition. God adopts otherwise than men ; they take as they find, they cannot put in new qualities. To be the people of God without regeneration is as impossible as to be the children of men without generation ; for we are born God's enemies, and must be new-born his sons, or else remain enemies still. No hope of glory : 1 Peter i. 3, ' Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again to a lively hope by the resurrection of Christ from the dead.' Children only can look for a child's portion.
2. As to glory. It is said, John iii. 3, ' Except a man be born again, be cannot see the kingdom of God.' I know ' seeing' is put for 'enjoj'- ing ; ' j^et the phrase is emphatical : lie shall not have a glimpse, or be suffered to look within the veil. A stranger cannot lay claim to the inheritance, but a son ; and sons we are not till we be regenerated. As I said before, we are incapable of blessedness ; there is no suitable- ness between us and it. The apostle speaketh of being 'made meet,' Col. i. 12, meet for the enjoyment of God. Man neither knoweth his true happiness, nor careth for it, but followeth his own lusts. By nature man is opposite to the kingdom of God, being corrupt (ind fleshly in all the faculties of soul and body; hath no spiritual sense, disposition, motion, and inclination towards heavenly things. In short, our frail bodies must be changed before they can be brought to heaven : ' We shall not all die, but we shall be changed.' If the body must be changed, how much more the soul ? If that which is frail, much more that which is filthy ; if bare flesh and blood cannot enter into heaven till it be free from its corruptible qualities, certainly not a guilty soul till it be freed from its sinful qualities. Think again and again of the necessity of this.
Use 1. To exhort you all to look after this work, to be new-born. And let me direct it to all sorts of men, young men and old.
1. You that are young, you have been born in sin: Ps. li. 5, 'Behold, I was shapen in iniquity, and in sin did ray mother conceive me ; ' Gen. V. 3, 'Adam begat a son in his own likeness, after his own image.'
VeR. 23.] SERMONS UPON 1 PETER I. 23. 305
Sinful man begets a sinful child. You must be born again. God provided a laver for us as soon as we were born. Baptism is the laver of regeneration, Titus iii. 5 ; and little ones were circumcised, Deut. XXX. 6. There is filthiness in you, and it is lusty and strong. It is good to begin with God betimes ; they glorify God more, and enjoy him sooner. They glorify him more : Eph. i. 12, ' That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.' They that get into Christ before others bring more honour to God than they that are brought in after : Kom. xvi. 7, ' Who also were in Christ before me.' Old men may be ashamed when little ones get the start of them. The sooner you close with Christ, the work is done the more easily, before you are accustomed to a slavery to Satan, and your lusts are rooted in you. You enjoy him more. Christ calleth little children : Mark x. 14, ' Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not, for of such is the kingdom of God.' He is willing to take tlrem into his arms. You cannot come before you are welcome. The great God will deign to dwell in the hearts of little ones.