and employ his Members as instruments of righteousness*. But then, 3. His resolutions are more modest and humble, than they have ever been before. And this indeed is the great circumstance, that renders them more effectual.-When an awakened sinner feels himself most inslaved to his vices, he pleases himself with this thought, that there is a secret kind of spring in his mind, which when he pleases to exert, he can break through all at once, and commence, whenever that unhappy necessity comes upon him, a very religious man in a moment. And when conscience presses him with the memory of past guilt, and the representation of future danger, he cuts off these remonstrances with a hasty resolve, "I will do so no more:" But then perhaps, the effect of this may not last a day; though possibly, it may at other times continue a few weeks or months, where the grosser acts of sin are concerned And indeed his resolutions seldom reach farther than these; for the necessity of a sanctified heart is a mystery, which he has never yet learnt.—But a truly regenerate man has learnt wisdom from this experience of his own, and the observation of other men's frailty. He feels his own weakness, and is so thoroughly aware of the treachery of his own heart, that he is almost afraid to express in words the purpose which his very soul is forming: He is almost afraid to turn that purpose into a vow before God, lest the breach of that vow should increase his guilt: But this he can say, with repenting Ephraim, Lord, Turn thou me, and I shall be turned† ; and with David, Hold up my goings in thy paths, that my foot-steps may not slip‡. “I am exceeding frail; but, Lord, Be thou surety for thy servant for goods, and then I shall be safe! Do thou rescue me from temptations, and I shall be delivered! Do thou fill my heart with holy sentiments, and I will breathe them out before thee! Do thou excite and maintain a zeal for thy service, and then I will exert myself in it!" And when once a man is come to such a distrust of himself; when like a little child, he stretches out his hand to be led by his heavenly Father, and trusts in his guardian care alone for his security and comfort; then Out of weakness he is made strong, and goes on safe, though perhaps trembling; and sees those that made the loudest boasts, and placed the greatest confidence in themselves, falling on the Rom. vi. 13. † Jer. xxxi. 18. Psal. xvii. 5. § Psal. cxix. 122. || Heb. xi, 34. 3 G VOL. II. what I said under a former head, when I was speaking of the new joys, which the christian feels, in consequence of the great change that regeneration makes in his soul; And therefore omitting what I then observed, concerning the pleasure of communion with God through Christ, and of perceiving a work of divine grace upon the soul, I shall now touch upon some other sources of exalted entertainment, which did not so directly fall under that head. 1. The christian finds new pleasures in the word of God. You know, with what relish the saints of old spake of it. Thy words were found, says the prophet, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart*. Thy statutes, says the Psalmist, Are more to be desired than gold, yea, than much fine gold; they are sweeter also than honey, and the honey-comb+.-The apostle Peter beautifully represents this, when he exhorts the saints to whom he wrote, As new-born babes to desire the sincere milk of the word, that they might grow thereby. And the infant, that smiles on the breast, and with such eagerness and delight draws its nourishment from it, seems an amiable image of the humble christian, who receives the kingdom of God, and the word of that Kingdom as a little child §; who lays up scripture in his heart, and draws forth the sweetness of it, with a firm persuasion, that it is indeed the Word of God, and was appointed by him for the food of his soul. 2. He also finds new pleasures in the ordinances of divine worship. He is Glad, when it is said unto him, let us go into the house of the Lord¶. He indeed esteems the Tabernacles of the Lord as amiable, and regards a day in his courts as better than a thousand elsewhere**. And this pleasure arises, not merely from any thing peculiar in the administrations of this or that man, who officiates in holy things; but from the nature of the exercise in general, and from a regard to the divine authority of those institutions, which are there observed. He feels a sacred delight, in an intercourse with God in those solemnities; in comparison of which all the graces of composition and delivery appear as little, as the harmony of instruments, or the perfume of incense, to one of the Old Testament saints, when * Jer. xv. 16. + Psal. xix. 10. § Mark x. 15. 1 Pet. ii. 2. known by some inward inexplicable sensation to be divine; we could not wonder, if calm and prudent men were slow to admit the pretension to it, and were fearful it might end in the most dangerous enthusiasm, made impious by excessive appearances of piety. But when it is delineated by such fair and bright characters, as those that have now been drawn; when these divine lineaments on the soul, by which it bears the image of its Maker's rectitude and sanctity, are considered as its necessary consequence, or rather as its very essence; one would imagine, that every rational creature, instead of cavilling at it, should pay an immediate homage to it, and earnestly desire, and labour, and pray, to experience the change: Especially as it is a change so desirable for itself; as we acknowledge health to be, though a man were not to be rewarded, for being well; nor punished, any farther than with the malady he contracts, for any negligence in this respect. Where is there any thing can be more ornamental to our natures, than to have all the powers of the mind thus changed by grace, and our pursuits directed to such objects, as are worthy of the best attention and regard?-To have our apprehensions of divine and spiritual things enlarged, and to have right conceptions of the most important matters;-to have the stream of our affections turned from empty vanities, to objects that are proper to excite and fix them;-to have our resolutions set against all sin, and a full purpose formed within us of an immediate reformation and return to God, with a dependance on his grace to help us both to will and to do ;-to have our labours stedfastly applied, to conquer sin, and to promote religion in ourselves and others ;-to have our entertainments founded in a religious life, and flowing in upon us from the sweet intercourse we have with God in his word and ordinances, and the delightful conversation that we sometimes have with christian friends; -and finally, to have our hopes drawn off from earthly things, and fixed upon eternity?-Where is there any thing can be more honourable to us, than thus to be Renewed after the image of him that created us*, and to Put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness+?—And where is any thing that can be more desirable, than thus to have the darkness of our understandings cured, and the disorders rectified, that sin had brought upon our nature? Who is there that is so insensible of his depravity, as that he would not long for such a happy change? Or who is there that knows how excellent a work it is, to be Transformed by the renewing of the mind*, that would not with the greatest thankfulness adore the riches of divine grace, if it appear that he is thus become a new creature; that old things are passed away, and behold, all things are become new ? But I shall quickly shew you, that regeneration is not only ornamental, honourable, and desirable; but absolutely necessary, as ever we would hope to share the blessings of God's heavenly kingdom, and to escape the horror of those, that are finally, and irrevocably excluded from it. This argument will employ several succeeding discourses: But I would dismiss you at present with an earnest request, that you would in the mean time renew your enquiries, as to the truth of regeneration in your own souls; which, after all that I have been saying, it will be very inexcusable for you to neglect, as probably you will hear few discourses in the whole course of your lives, which centre more directly in this point, or are more industriously calculated to give you the safest and clearest assistance in it. May God abase the arrogance and presumption of every selfdeceiving sinner, and awaken the confidence and joy of the feeblest soul, in whom this new creation is begun! * Rom. xii. 2. known by some inward inexplicable sensation to be divine; we could not wonder, if calm and prudent men were slow to adinit the pretension to it, and were fearful it might end in the most dangerous enthusiasm, made impious by excessive appearances of piety. But when it is delineated by such fair and bright characters, as those that have now been drawn ; when these divine lineaments on the soul, by which it bears the image of its Maker's rectitude and sanctity, are considered as its necessary conse quence, or rather as its very essence; one would imagine, that every rational creature, instead of cavilling at it, should pay an immediate homage to it, and earnestly desire, and la bour, and pray, to experience the change: Especially as it is a change so desirable for itself; as we acknowledge health to be, though a man were not to be rewarded, for being well; nor punished, any farther than with the malady he contracts, for any negligence in this respect. Where is there any thing can be more ornamental to our natures, than to have all the powers of the mind thus changed by grace, and our pursuits directed to such objects, as are worthy of the best attention and regard?-To have our apprehensions of divine and spiritual things enlarged, and to have right conceptions of the most important matters;-to have the stream of our affections turned from empty vanities, to objects that are proper to excite and fix them;-to have our resolutions set against all sin, and a full purpose formed within us of an immediate reformation and return to God, with a dependance on his grace to help us both to will and to do ;-to have our labours stedfastly applied, to conquer sin, and to promote religion in ourselves and others ;-to have our entertainments founded in a religious life, and flowing in upon us from the sweet intercourse we have with God in his word and ordinances, and the delightful conversation that we sometimes have with christian friends; -and finally, to have our hopes drawn off from earthly things, and fixed upon eternity?-Where is there any thing can be more honourable to us, than thus to be Renewed after the image of him that created us*, and to Put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness+?—And where is any thing that can be more desirable, than thus to have the darkness of our understandings cured, and the disorders rectified, that sin had brought upon our nature? Who is there that is so insensible of his depravity, as that he would not long for such a happy change? Or who is there that knows how excellent |