created in Righteousness and true Holiness. That there is a respect unto Man created in Innocency, wherein he was made in the Image of God, I suppose will not be denyed. It is also expressed, Col. 3. 10. You have put on the New Man, which is renewed in Knowledg, after the Image of him that created him. Look then what was, or wherein consisted the Image of God in the First Man, thereunto answers this New Man, which is created of God. Now this did not consist in Reformation of Life, no nor in a course of vertuous Actions; For he was created in the Image of God, before he had done any one good thing at all, or was capable of so doing. But this Image of God consisted principally, as we have evinced elsewhere, in the Uprightness, Rectitude, and Ability of his whole Soul, his Mind, Will, and Affections, in, unto, and for the Obedience that God required of him. This he was endowed withal antecedently unto all voluntary Actions whereby he was to live to God. Such therefore must be our Regeneration, or the Creation of this New Man in us. It is the begetting, infusing, creating, of a new saving Principle of Spiri∣tual Life, Light and Power in the Soul, antecedent unto true Evangeli∣cal Reformation of Life, in Order of Nature, enabling Men thereunto, according unto the Mind of God.
[Sect. 23] Hereunto accords that of our Saviour, Luk. 6. 43. A good Tree bring∣eth not forth corrupt Fruit, neither doth a corrupt Tree bring forth good Fruit; compared with Matth. 7. 18. The Fruit followeth the Nature of the Tree. And there is no way to change the Nature of the Fruit, but by changing the Nature of the Tree which brings it forth. Now all Amendment of Life in Reformation is but Fruit, Matth. 3. 10. But the changing of our Nature is antecedent hereunto. This is the con∣stant Course and Tenor of the Scripture, to distinguish between the
Grace of Regeneration, which it declares to be an immediate supernatural Work of God in us and upon us, and all that Obedience, Holiness, Righteousness, Vertue, or what-ever is good in us, which is the Conse∣quent, Product, and Effect of it. Yea, God hath declared this expres∣ly in his Covenant, Ezek. 36. 25, 26, 27. Jer. 31. 33. Chap. 32. 39, 40. The Method of God's proceeding with us in his Covenant is, that he first washeth and cleanseth our Natures, takes away the Heart of Stone, gives an Heart of Flesh, writes his Law in our Hearts, puts his Spirit in us, wherein as shall be evidenced the Grace of Regeneration doth consist. The Effect and Consequent hereof is, That we shall walk in his Statutes, keep his Judgments and do them; that is, reform our Lives, and yeeld all Holy Obedience unto God; wherefore these things are distinguished as
Causes and Effects. See to the same purpose, Rom. 6. 3, 4, 5, 6. Col. 3. 1, 5. Ephes. 2. 10. Chap. 4. 23, 24, 25. This I insist upon still, on supposition, that by Reformation of Life, all Actual Obedience is intend∣ed. For as to that kind of Life which is properly called a moral course of Life, in opposition to open Debaucheries and Unrighteousness, which doth not proceed from an internal Principle of Saving Grace; It is so far from being Regeneration or Grace, as that it is a thing of no accep∣tation with God absolutely, what-ever Use or Reputation it may be of in the World.
[Sect. 24] And yet further; This Work is described to consist in the Sanctifica∣tion