Eternal glorification begun in regeneration, or, A discourse of regeneration intended for the profit of all, both regenerate and unregenerate persons / by Stephen Ford.

CHAP. VI. Of the Priviledges and Happiness of Regenerate Men.

Q. WHat are the singular priviledges and peculiar happinesses of regenerate per∣sons. For if they differ so much in their frames of ••eart, carriages, and walkings in their principles, and endeavours from other men that are not regene∣rated; then surely they have some special privi∣ledges and blessednesses beyond other men? shew us therefore what they are, that we may know them.

Ans. Regenerat persons are possessed of, have right unto, and Interest in many and singular Priviledges and happinesses, is most certain. And indeed they are the only priviledged and happy men and women in the world. Others have not, neither can, or may they claim any at all, whilst they continue in their Unregenerate states. Regenerate persons have all the Spiri∣tual, Divine, and Heavenly priviledges given and granted to them, and likewise eternal happiness: but the truth is, others have none at all. For they are not, neither will they be in∣cluded in the great Charter, in and by which new creatures do receive and hold their privi∣ledges. They will not be of, nor come into the holy and Spiritual Corporation of regenerate men; neither will they own, value and accept their priviledges, in the way that the great

Lord and King hath appointed and command∣ed. But all are regenerate persons right and due. All (such the Apostle) is yours, 1 Cor. 3.22 Some of them I shall present unto you; to comfort and incourage you in your walking with God unto all well-pleasing, as now you are bound to do.

1. You that are Regenerated, must call and ac∣count all whatever was said of you before, namely, wherein you are by Grace made to differ from othermen, your priviledges; for they are great and real privi∣ledges indeed. For is not your change of state, or your Regeneration by special Grace, a great and glorious Priviledge? Is it not an exceed∣ing great priviledge to be renewed in knowledg, after the image of God, Col. 3.10. And to be created in Christ Jesus unto good workes? Eph. 2.10. To be ho••n again of incorruptible seed, 1 Pet. 1.23. and be made partakers of the divine or hea∣venly nature? 2 Pet. 1.4. Surely it is. Oh! my bretheren, is it not an inestimable priviledge to be made Child en of light, who were Chil∣dren of darkness, 1 Pet. 2.9. And to be made the Children of God, who were the Children of the Devil? Joh. 8.44. Is it nor a great priviledge to have the Love of God shed abroad into your hearts, and been abled thereby to love God with all your hearts, as commanded? Math. 22.37. Is it not a great priviledge to have new and Spiritual Senses, Passions or Affections, and to be quickned and raised from death to life, as you are? Is it not a great priviledge to be called too, and imployed in and about Spiri∣tual and heavenly workes, and that with Spi∣rits,

Frames, and Dispositions suited to them? why, all these and many others (as you heard before) are yours, and so you ought to look upon and esteem them; to rejoice in, and bless God for them.

2. By Regeneration you are made Free-men. You are now no more Bond-men, but the Lords Free-men, Gal. 5.1. You are no more strangers and Forreigners, no, what are you then, why, you are by Christ, in your Regeneration, made fellow Citizens with the Saints, and of the Houshold of God, Eph. 2.19. The Lord Jesus hath made you Free of his Spiritual and Hea∣venly City and Corporation, and therefore you are free indeed, Joh. 8.36. hence the A∣postle tells regenerate Servants, that they are the Lords Freemen, 1 Cor. 7.22. though they were the servants of men. And he further assures such, that they are of the free Jerusalem, and Children of the free Woman, Gal. 4.36. ult. Here I shall briefly shew you what your free∣dome and liberty is. 1. what you are freed from. 2. what freed for or to.

1. You are freed from the dominion and ruledome of Sin, you were before your Regeneration the Servants of Sin, and in subjection to your Lust, But now you are fully delivered from the dominion of that Lord, by Christ, in your Regeneration, Rom. 6.14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 22. your sin and lusts may now disturb and afflict you, and they may and will distract, and trouble you. They will assault and delude you, and they will dwell in you and pursue you, obstruct and hinder you of, and in your good

works and duties, yea, pollute and defile them. But now for your comfort, that they shall no more reign over you, rule and command you as they did, for you are called out and off from their dominion.

2. You are freed from the devils yoke and rule∣dome. He was your Prince, and your God, and ruled in and over you, 2 Cor. 4.4. Eph. 2.2. although you knew it not then, for the Scrip∣ture saith that the Devil had blinded the mindes of such as did not believe, (which you did not, until you were Regenerated) lest the light of the glorious Gospel of Christ, should shine unto them. You were his Servants, and that with your own consents; ye are of your Father the Devil (says Christ) and his lusts ye will do, Joh. 8, 44. That is, you were not forced and constrained by him to it, but you did obey and serve him as Volunteers, willingly and chearfully, his lusts ye will do. All men by nature are dilivered o∣ver (by the great God) into the Devils hand: not absolutely so, for God still keeps his do∣minion over his Creatures, but as a Judge de∣livers up a Rebel unto a Jaylor to keep, and order him. So when we had rebelled against God, transgressed his holy Law, hearkned to, and obeyed the Devil rather then God, Gen. 3. then God gave up and delivered them over to Satan (as his Jaylor) as they were condemned Rebels, that had thrown off his Authority and Government, and chosen the Devils counsel and service before his. Then says God, take them Jaylor, let them be thy servants and sub∣jects, seeing they do so well like thy service

and advice. They are weary of, and do re∣fuse my easy yoke, ••e now put them under thine; do thou rule over them. Hence the Scripture calls him their God and Prince; and tells us, that we are his Captives, and Bond-men or Servants, 2 Tim. 2. ult. Heb. 2.14.15. But from this Cruel Lord you are set at liberty, in your re∣generation. Then the Lord Christ commands the Devil to deliver you up to him, and let Prisoners go free, Isa. 61.1. 2 They are mine faith Christ, for they were given to me, Joh. 10.29. And of them which thou hast given me, I will lose none, Joh. 6.39. For although they were thine as they were Rebels against God, and therefore delivered to thee; yet now they are and shall be mine, Heb. 2.15. Rege∣nerate men are so delivered from Satan and brought out of his kingdome, as never more to return again to their old Service and bon∣dage. For when the Son makes men free, they are, and shall be free indeed, Joh 8.36. It is true that the Devil will never cease to vex and disquiet you, to tempt and disturb you, and to afflict and distract you; but be of good Chear, he shall never have the rule and dominion over you any more, but you shall prevaile against, and rule over him. For you are not his, but Christs Servants and subjects.

3. You are freed from the Law, as a Law and Covenant of works. So that as such, it shall nei∣ther Command, Condemn, or Curse you; for you are d••livered from it, and brought under the Law to Christ, 1 Cor. 9.21. That is, you are un∣der the matter and precepts of the Law, to be

a Rule of your obedience and walking with God, as it is Gospellized in the hand of the Medi∣atour, annexed to the Covenant of Grace, and made the preceptive part of it; and as it is (as it were) moulded and fitted to the state, frame, and Condition of new Creatures, or the Children of God, and to the nature of their Gospel o∣bedience. But otherwise, as was said, you are not under it, but delivered from it by Christ in your Regeneration. For being made new Creatures, and married to Christ, you are brought under the new Law and Covenant, Rom. 8.1.2. Rom. 6.14. Rom. 7.1-7. I will (Says God) Cause you to pass under the Rod, and bring you into the bond of the Covenant, Ezek. 20.37. The matter of the Law is the Rule of your o∣bedience, as it is the Revelation of the mind and will of God, and as his Authority over you, is in it, requiring your subjection and conformity thereunto; so you are under it, and it commands you: but not simply as a Law of workes, as in its first make, and pro∣mulgation, for and to men as Gods reason∣able Creatures; and by, or as respecting him as their Creator and Sovereign Lord, only or mostly: no, but as their reconciled Father and God, and respecting them as his Children, begotten by him unto Obedience, that is, Gospel filial obedience and newness of Life, 1 Pet. 1.3.4. Rom. 6.4. Rom. 7.6. For as men are cre∣ated in Christ Jesus unto good works, and made new Creatures by his Grace, so all things are become new, in, to, and for them, 2 Cor. 5.17. Their State is changed, their Relation Chang∣ed,

their obedience and some of the ends of it (in a Sense) are changed also. So that now they are dead to the Law, and are not under it, but under the Law of Grace. This is another of your Liberties and Immunities.

4. You are freed from Guilt and grounded fears. I do not say you are freed from the Just Accu∣sations of Conscience when you sin, or ground∣less distracting fears, but from guilt, as it bindes you over to Eternal punishment and wrath of God, and from grounded fears there∣of, for your Miscarriages. It is a choice mercy and a great priviledge to have our Consciences speaking to us, telling us of, and accusing us for Sinning, and to have the passion of fear in us, to affright us from, and keep or hold us back from sin. But it is a grevious bondage to be, and lye under that guilt, which binds us over to punishment, and that which makes us afraid of God, his Law and Justice; filling us with amazing, disquieting, and dreadful thoughts of God. Or else God would not have promised to give his people deliverance from them, as his great mercy and kindness to them in Christ, as he hath done, Pro. 1. ult. Luk. 1.73.74. And Christ would not have shed his pretious blood for their deliverance, as he hath done, Heb. 9.14. if the one had not been a great Judgment to them, namely, their being under such Guilt and fears; and their delive∣rance from them, their great and invaluable mercy.

5. You are freed from the curse and wrath of God. For in and by Regeneration you are enabled

to, and you do believe in, and accept of him who hath born the Curse and Wrath of God, and delivered you, 1 Thes. 1. ult. Gal. 3.13. So that now the Curse of the Law is taken off from your Souls, and you are and shall be blessed; yea, the blessing of Abraham is come on you, upon the removal of the Curs, and you are now really blessed, and so called by the great God, Gal. 3.14. Math. 5.2.12. and not onely blessed your selves, but a blessing also to others, Isa 19.24. Pro. 11.11. So likewise the Wrath of God is turned into love to them; Eph. 2.4. and they shall never fall under his wrath and curse any more, although they do fall into Sin. But if Regenerate men do care∣lesly or wilfully Sin as David and Peter did, they shall feell the effects of his fatherly dis∣pleasure, and smart for their follies, but the Curse and Wrath of God shall never return a∣gaine upon their Souls. This is another of your great and Glorious Priviledges, who are Regenerated. But all other men are under the wrath and curse of God, although they will not believe they are so; yet nevertheless they are, Joh. 3. ult. Gal. 3.10.

6, You are freed from Blindness of mind, and Hardness of heart, under which you were held, in your unregenerate states and conditions. You were then Darkness, and held fast under gross Dark∣ness, Eph. 5.8. 1 Pet. 2.9. 1 Joh. 2.11. Your Lusts and the Devil, yea, the Justice of God also, had blinded the Eies of your mindes; so that you saw not, knew not your Sin, dan∣ger or misery; now the way how to escape

and obtain deliverance. You were ready to ••••mble into Hell Flames every moment, but understood it not; and that when you thought you saw your selves in a safe and secure state, and would by no meanes believe the contrary of your selves. For you were held in the chaines of Spiritual Darkness. But now you are privi∣ledged with spiritual saving light. Now you are Light in the Lord, Children of Light, brought ••••t of darkness into marvellous Light, and you may now walk as Children of Light, in the light of Christ, Eph. 5.8. 1 Pet. 2.9. Now you are no more Fools but Wise, Eph. 5.15. For the wisdome of Christ is in you. And you are de∣livered from that hardness, and impenitency of hearts, under which you were as prisoners, ••••n. 2.4.5. Your regenerating Grace hath s••••tned and melted you, broken your hearts, and made your Consciences soft and tender; so that you who were once hard-hearted Sauls, are now mourning Pauls, and you who were hard-hearted Nabels, are now weeping Jere∣••••es. This is certainly your priviledge in your regenerate states.

7. You are freed from that pernitious self that h••••d you Captives in its Chains. Before your Re∣generation, you were enslaved to your selves. You were not onely servants to your Lusts, but to your selves also. You were kept from Christ by your carnal self and spiritual self. Your selfulness, self-righteousness, self-abi∣lities, and self-confidences, ruled and swayed you, disswaded and beguiled you from be∣lieving, repenting, and seeking after Rege∣ration.

You were wedded to your own con∣ceits and misguided apprehensions of your selves, and yielded up your selves to their counsels and delusion. Self was in the Top and Bottome of all, so as that you could not once think seriously of your selves, states, and ways, and of Regeneration, and how to be saved; but one self or other, would interpose, to draw & hold you back from prosecuting what was begun in and by you. For by and by, they would arise and appeare to you, telling you that all was well. You had enough of this and that, to make you happy, and therefore what need to trouble your selves about such matters: But eat, drink, and be merry, for you have much goods laid up in store for many yeares, Luk. 12.19. Therefore says self-ease, and self-confi∣dence, and security, thou hast Righteousness and worthiness, worldly comforts, and abili∣ties enough, to make the a happy man here, and hereafter, and that is enough for thee, for what wouldst thou have? But now you are delivered by Grace, from the power and reigning prevelency of your captivating Selfe, which is a great priviledge.

2. You are not only freed from these and many other evils and bondages, but you are set at liberty and freed to many other priviledges also. I shall name a few, 1. you are made Free-men for God. You are 'tis true, his Servants, but your condition and service is not your bondage, but your liberty, freedome and priviledge. And therefore the servants of God are called his free-men, as was shewed, 1 Cor. 7.22.

And Rom. 6.22. They are (said to be) made free from Sin, and become the Servants of God, and so have their fruit unto holiness; you are made 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to serve God without fear in holiness and Righ∣••••••sness all your dayes, Luk. 1.73.74. This is a ••••eedome or priviledge which you had not the enjoyment of, when you were unregene∣rated, but now it is yours, you are freed from ••any Bondages, and made free to and for his service; which is most easy. 2. You are made free to serve God without fear, Che••••fully, Obedi∣••••tly, Joyfully, and in Faith and Hope of pleasing God, and being assisted, accepted, and rewarded of 〈◊〉〈◊〉; which you could not do before. It was not your priviledge, neither had you where∣withal to do it, before you were Regene∣rated and made new Creatures, by his spirit and grace. But now being such, you are in a Capacity to do it, and you can and will so serve God. You are made free not onely to do God service, but so to serve him, that is freely, readily, chearfully, joyfully, thank∣fully, and in faith and hope; yea, you may now serve him obediently too, namely, with the Gospel obedience of Children, or Child like obedience, 1 Pet. 1.14.3. You are freed and priviledged to be fellow Citizens of the Saints, and of the houshold of God; Eph. 2.19. you are Incorporated with them in the heavenly Jerusa∣lem, and made partakers of their Charter, of their liberties & Immunities, and have the pri∣riledge of Trading where they Trade, and in the same heavenly commodities; which un∣til you were regenerated you could not do. 4. You are freed and priviledged to and with all

the fullness of Christ, and good of the Covenant of Grace. For by the Spirit and Grace of God in your Regeneration, you are put into Christ, and under all the Grace and Blessings of the Covenant. You are in a capacity of receiving and in a condition of claiming them. They are all yours by Gods everlasting Grant of them to Christ for you, and in your behalf, 2 Tim. 1.9. Tit. 1.2. They were given or granted to you, and Christ received them for you, when you were given to Christ in election, and Christ accepted and received you at the hand of God, Joh. 17.6. Thine they were, and thou gavest them me. This was hid from you before you were Regenerated, but now they are brought to light and entailed on you, as re∣generate persons. And the way is opened to you to find and take them, to claim and fetch them, to apply and appropriate them unto your selves. These are some of your priviled∣ges and immunities, as you are Gods freemen. I could name many more but that I may not be large, beside my intendment.

3. You are Pardoned and Justified. All your Sins and Iniquities are cross'd out of Gods Book, and cast out of his remembrance. They are all put on the head of the scape Goat, and sent away into the wilderness or land of forget∣fulness, never to return any more to you, or be layd to your Charge. And you are fully acquitted and cleared from all Guilt and Punishment, as the fruit and wages of Sin. The Righteousness of Christ is accounted and imputed to you, and your sins guilt and pu∣nishment to Christ, and so you are declared

just and righteous in Law, and you are made the lighteousness of God in him, Jer. 31, 34. Heb. 10.17. 2 Cor. 5. ult. Rom. 4.24, 25. Isa. 53.11. All such as God sanctifies, he justifies, Rom. 8.29, 30. that by the first fruits of their san∣dification, which is their Regeneration, they might be enabled to believe to justification of ••••fe, as the Apostle speaks, Rom. 5.18. and unto the saving of the Soul, Heb. 10. ult. for by the Faith they obtain in Regeneration, they do so believe, as to be justified, (not for) but through or by their believing. You may hence∣forth, all your dayes, pray for, believe, and expect the Pardon of your daily sins, of all sorts of sins; and that notwithstanding your frequent slips and failings, you shall not be laid under guilt, and be any more unjustified, or put into an unjustified state. But you may freely and constantly go to the Court of Ju∣stice and Mercy, and crave Pardon of all your sins, and take out sealed Pardons, through the Blood of the Everlasting Covenant. For Christ gave himself, to Redeem you from all Iniquity, Tit. 2.14. so that you are now in and by believing, made free from sin, and stand as clear in Christs Righteousness, and Gods Justification, as if you had never sinned. This is another of your glorious Priviledges, who are New Creatures.

4. You are Priviledged with great Interest in Christ, and God the Father by him, and have free ••ccess to him at all times in your dutiful carriages, and obedient walkings towards him. You have great interest in, and power with God, and you are priviledg'd with open ingress to him. His

doors stands always open to let you into his Presence Chamber, for the Lord Jesus hath opened them for you, and none can shut them against you. You have this great Master of Requests waiting on, or rather sitting by the great God, and waiting for you, that when you come with your Petitions, you may find him ready to attend, and prosecute your concerns in Heaven for you, Heb. 7.25. Heb. 9.24. Rom. 8.34. You have his heart, and he hath always his Fathers ear, Job. 11.42. so that you need never fear any miscarriage of, or in your businesses there. And be sure that all your greatest concerns lie in his hand, and he is engaged to you, and to his Father for you, to mind and mannage them to your advantage. For he tells us, That he would go to Heaven, and pray the Father for you, Job. 14, 16. and hath told us since he went to Heaven, that he was always attending on it, Heb. 7.25. Before he left the World, in his last Will and Testament, he bequeathing this Priviledge unto his People, and left it as a part of their Lega∣cy, to and for them, that we might have what we would of him, Joh. 14, 13, 14. And he gives us all possible assurance of it, by his Asseverations, Verily, verily, vers. 12. (says he) I say unto you, that whatsoever ye shall ask the Fa∣ther in my Name, that will I do. And then he further confirms his grant and promise, by an Argument taken from his Father, his con∣cern and interest in his so doing, namely, That the Father may be glorified in the Son; that is, by the grant he had given his people, of

power and interest in him, to make use of him, and using his Name at the Throne of Grace with his Father; as also his praying and ap∣pearing for them, to and with his Father, and carrying on his peoples concernments there, ••is Father would take it as his honour, con∣cern, and interest. This Truth is evidenced and confirmed throughout the Gospel, in in∣numerable places. As in Joh. 15.7. Joh. 16. This is another of your great and dear bought Priviledges, which are confer'd on you, and put into your possession in Regeneration. For assuredly other men have it not, neither had it you before. I pray for them, I pray not for the world, no, but for them which thou hast given me out of the world, for they are thine and mine, says Christ, Joh. 17. Other men have nothing to do with me in this matter, nor I with them; I pray for my Sheep, my Members, my Believers, my New Creatures. For such as have chosen me for their King and High Priest; to govern and interceed for them. These are the persons for whom I have shed my Blood, and for whose Souls I sacrificed my Life to Divine Justice. These are the men that I have dearly bought, and those are the persons that wear my Livery, and bear my Image, and therefore I pray for them. They lie deep in my Affecti∣ons, and so do I in theirs. They are near and dear to me, and so am I to them likewise. I have promised this priviledge to them, and they have thankfully accepted it, and kindly embraced it. They make use of me, and have their eyes and dependence on me, to appear

for them in Heaven; and therefore they may come boldly to my Throne of Grace, and find favour and Grace, to help in time of need, Heb. 4. ult. These my New Creatures may ask of me what they will, and it shall be done to them, Job. 15.7. And as they have great Interest in the ear and heart of Christ, and may be familiarly bold with him; as he doth and will pray for, and mannage their concerns in Heaven for them; so they have free access unto the Fa∣ther, and a great interest in his ear and heart also, upon Christs account. Hence the Lord Jesus tells his Disciples, when he was comfor∣ting and encouraging them, and pouring out (as it were) his heart and Bowels of Love un∣to them: I say not that I will pray the Father for you, for the Father himself loveth you, Joh. 16, 26, 27. That is, your heavenly Father hath such Love and Affection for you, and your interest is so great in him, upon my account, that if I should hold my peace, and not speak a word to him in your behalfs, yet he hath Grace and Love enough to and for you, and that he will also mind your concernments. And you may go to him in my Name, and make use of him in all your matters and businesses.

5. All the promises that are made and given, appointed and intended for the Saints and People of God in the Gospel are yours. All the promises of Grace, and to Grace and Gospel obedience, with all the good, all the marrow and fatness of them, are yours. Not a Hony-comb in all the Hive of the Gospel-Covenant, but what will yield you some drops of hony and

sweetness. And you being new Creatures, and married to Christ (in whom are all the Promises, yea and amen) 2 Cor. 1.20. all the Promises are your Dowry and Portion. They are all Intayled on, and made over to you: they are your great Pattent and Charter, for all Grace and Glory, and by which you may plead, and do hold your Right and Title to Grace, and Christ hear, and Eternall Life hereafter. For if all things be yours, as the Gospel saith they are, 1 Cor. 3.22. Then all the Promises of the new Covenant are yours likewise; And with a holy boldness, you may Claim and appro∣priate them, and all the milk and hony of them to your selves, as yours by Grant and Purchase. Are you indeed and in Truth, Re∣generate Persons? why, then rejoyce and be exceeding glad, for the great Charter of hea∣ven is yours. You are of the little, holy, and heavenly corporation and City, Citizens of the new Jerusalem, that came down from hea∣ven, and therefore you have a Right unto, and Interest in all the promises of the life that now is, and of that which is to come, 1 Tim. 4.8. You have the promises of all Grace and happiness, and for whatever you need, and much more. To instance in a few of many, and that briefly.

1. You have the Promises of pardon; of the Par∣don of all your Sins for time to come, Exod. 34.6, 7. Isa. 55.7. Jer. 31.34. hence the Lord Jesus commands and directs them, Namely, you that are Gods Children, to Pray, Our Father forgive us our Trespasses, Math. 6.12. And Paul

tells us from Christ, that there is now no con∣demnation to them, which are in Christ Jesus, Rom. 8.1. and if there be indeed no condemnation, then no Sin unpardoned. To the same pur∣pose Christ speaks in Joh. 5.24. He that is passed from Death to Life, (as all Regenerate Persons are) shall not come into Condemnation. Therefore encourage your selves in true holiness hereby.

2. You have the Promises of Cleansing and Healing you, or of Gods sanctifying and puri∣fying your hearts, Hosea. 14.4. For which end and purpose, among other, Christ gave himself, Tit. 2.14. Eph. 5.25.26. And sets o∣pen the Fountain, to flow in upon us, Zach. 13.1. And, Ezek. 36.25.26.27. I will sprinkle clean Water on them, and they shall be clean, and from all their filthiness, and from all their Idols will I cleanse them.

3. You have promises of perseverance in Godly∣ness unto the end of your race, until you have finished your course here, you shall be kept by the power of God, through faith unto salvation, 1 Pet. 1.5. And my sheep follow me, and I give to them eternal Life, and they shall never Perish, neither shall any take them out of my hand, Joh. 10.27.28.29. More∣over God tells us, that for our more certain and full assurance of our safety and security, he will keep us, water us every moment, yea, and keep us Night and Day, Isa. 27.2.3. And en∣gages himself, that whatever enemies beset us round about, and seek to devour us, that he will watch us, and be our defence; by be∣ing a wall of Fire round about us, Zach. 2.5. God hath promised, that he will put his fear into

their hearts, and they shall not depart from him, Jer. 32.40. and that his Children shall call him my Father, and shall not turn away from him, Jer. 3.19. They have underneath them the Everlasting Armes, and they are held in his hand. They are safe within the walls of their Fathers house, and are guarded with the holy Angells. Their victory over all their enemies is sure, because they are ever under the Con∣duct of their great Captain, Christ, and fight under his Banner, in his cause and quarrel, with his Armor of proof, who hath all their enemies under his feet. Their Lusts, the world and Devil are all in subjection unto your great King and Captain. And because the Victory is sure on our side, as fighting under him, he is stiled the Captain of our salvation. And there∣fore you may be sure you shall not Perish. For you have all possible security from him, and his Father, to strengthen and encourage, to fence and arme you against all your own fears, weakness, and temptations whatsoever. Even the Gates of Hell shall not be able to prevaile against you. But if you are in a state of Grace, you shall most certainly run your Race, win the Prize, and wear the Crown of Righteous∣ness. For you have their bonds for your secu∣rity, who are both able & faithful to perform and make them good, to you and to all who shall trust and rely on them for the doing of it.

4. You have promises of Peace. This is one of your husbands Legacies to you, Joh. 14.27. Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you, not as the world giveth, give I unto you. And in Joh. 16.

ult. In the world (saith Christ) ye shall have tri∣bulation, but in me ye shall have peace. And Glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh Righ∣teousness, Rom. 2.10. and as many as walk accord∣ing to this Rule, peace be to them, Gal. 6.16. So in Phil. 4.7. And the peace of God shall keep your hearts and minds. This Spiritual peace, is a fruit of Gods Love, and the mediation of Christ: of our Justification and Sincerity of heart to∣wards God and men. For he is our peace, Eph. 2.14. and being Justifyed by faith, we have peace with God, Rom. 5.1. Those that know and have experienced the great and sore Affliction and trouble of a wounded Conscience, which none can bear, Pro. 18.14. and the load and weight of guilt and fear on the Soul, can give a better account of the worth and Excellency of this peace of God. For indeed it is so great, that it passeth all understanding, Phill. 4.7.

5. Satisfaction. You have the promisses of being satisfied with good. The meaning is not, so to be satisfied with what we have, as not to desire and seek for more of that, and other mercies, no, but to be satisfied with, and in the will and disposements of God, and the measure of our present Enjoyments, untill God shall augment them, Joh. 4.14. But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him, shall never thirst, Isa. 58.10. Jer. 31.14.25. It is a great mercy to have a satisfied and con∣tented Spirit with Gods Allowance, and at the same time to endeavour after more. An unsa∣tisfied Spirit is very sinful, grievous & vexati∣ous to a mans own Soul. He enjoys not what he

hath, that is not satisfied in the will of God, ••••ith his portion and measure. God dispences ••is favours, according to his sovereign wisdom, Will and Grace; he gives two Talents to one ser∣vant, and to another five, Math. 25. to declare and make known to men his soveraignty and dominion over them; and that he doth in Heaven and Earth whatsoever pleaseth him. That he will not dispose of his favors according to our wills, but his one.

6. You have promises of Assistance in your duties, or of a supply of the Spirit of Grace, and the Grace of the Spirit, to enable you to performe them according to the will of God, even to ac∣ceptation in Heaven, Phill. 4.19. And my God shall supply all your wants, Psal. 84.11. The Lord God is a Sun and shield: he will give Grace and Glory; and no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly: as all Regenerate men may do. The holy Spirit is promised to help our Infirmities, and enable us to do the will of God acceptably, Rom. 8.26, 27. Zach. 12.10. And fear not Jacob my Servant, although thou art a worm, a poor weak Creature; yet seeing thou art a New Creature, I will help thee, yea, I will strengthen thee, yea, I will uphold thee with the Right hand of my Righteousness, Isa. 41.10, 13, 14. He giveth power to the Saint, and to them that have no might, he encreaseth strength; That they that wait on him may encrease their strength, to run and not be weary, Isa. 40.29, 31. so that whatever God calls you to, and sets you upon, be sure that he will fully enable you to do it, how weak soever you are, in and of your selves.

For God is strong and faithful, who hath pro∣mised it.

7. Joy and Consolation. God hath priviledged you with promises of rejoycing your hearts, and of causing you to Sing for joy of heart, when others shall howl for vexation of Spirit, Isa. 65.13, 14. This is also one of your Husbands Le∣gacies, which he bequearned to you, in his last Will and Testament, and therefore you may look for, and confidently expect it of him, John 15.11. These things have I spoken unto you, that my Joy may remain in you, and that your Joy might be full; so in John 16.20. But your Sorrow shall be turned into Joy. And your hearts shall re∣joyce, and your Joy no man shall take from you, vers. 22. And in verse 24. Ask and ye shall receive, that your Joy may be full. For this end he hath promised and bequeathed, not only the Con∣solations and Joys of the Spirit, but the abi∣ding presence of the Spirit himself, who is to convey and impart them unto his people, Joh. 14, 16, 17. And calls him therefore, the Com∣forter, as in that Text, so in John 14.26. and in the 15. Chapt. 26. and in the 16. Chapt. 7.

8. You have promises of being taught of God, and of being made wise unto Salvation. You are already renewed in knowledge, Col. 3.10. and now you shall be tutored up by Christ your Prophet; so that you shall be still encreasing in the knowledge of God, Christ, Duty, and heaven∣ly things, John 7.17. Eph. 4.15. 1 Cor. 2.12. Isa. 54.13. Psal. 84.7. John 6.45. Men teach by Gods Appointment, and it is his Ordinance for ever, which all men are bound to attend

unto and wait on, as it is the Ordinance of God to them for Good, in and by which God will teach men, Math. 28.19, 20. Eph. 4.11.—17. and God teaches also. God teaches, and reaches the heart with his teaching, but so cannot mens teaching do of themselves. God teaches men powerfully, convincingly, and effectually, and they only are made truly wise, whom God teaches by his Spirit. Now this is one of your Priviledges, that you are the willing Scholars of Jesus Christ. You have chosen him for your Prophet and Teacher, and he hath cho∣sen, and accepted you, for his Schollars, and it is your desire to be taught of him, all the things that do concern his Glory, and your duty and happiness: You have him engaged to you to teach you, and cause you to grow in grace, and in the knowledge of all things you are to know; and you may and ought to believe that he will do it. To make use of him, apply your selves unto him, rely on and expect it of him.

9. You have promises of a sanctifyed use of all his dispensations towards you, and that all things shall worke together for your good. Your afflictions and chastisements shall not hurt, but better you, not spoyl, but make you. God shoots not his Arrows at rovers, neither doth he lay his Corrisives beside your soars, or apply an im∣proper or ineffectual Medicine to your wounds. He is an alseeing and alsufficient Phisitian, and thorrowly discerns you maladies, and what doth aile you: and he can give you suitable Playsters, and Physick for your distempers,

Psal. 103.13.14. And what he can, that he will, (in this matter) do for you. For your profit and care, your health, prosperity and salvation, are the things that are in his Eye, and heart. All things shall work together for your good; for you are his called ones, and such as he loves, and you are such as love him, Rom. 8.28. doth your Father and Lord chastize you, and make you smart? why, the fruit of all is to humble you; to take a way Sin, which you are willing to part withal, and to make you partakers of his ho∣lyness, and the like blessed and gracious ends and disigns, are in his Eye and heart, Duter. 8.15.16. Isa. 27.7.8.9. Heb. 12.10.11,

10. You have promises of eternal Life, and e∣verlasting Blessedness with God in Heaven. You have promises of an Incorruptible Inheritance, 1 Pet. 1.4. to which you are begotten and born. You have promises of a Crown of Life, Revel. 2.10. Jam. 1.12. Of Righteousness, 2 Tim. 4.8. And of Glory, 1 Pet. 5.4. You have promises of Living and Reigning with Christ, and of being and abiding where he is, and with him, Revel. 20. Rev. 5.10. Joh. 17. And of seeing him as he is, 1 Job. 3.2. You have promises of Christ his coming in Glorious state, to fetch you home to his King∣dome, and Palace of Holiness, Glory and Joy; of Honour, Dignity, and Renown, Math. 25.32.33. Rev. 19. 1 Thes. 4.16.17. Joh. 14.3. You have an Eternal weight of Glory laid up in Heaven for you, and Christ is bound to secure it for, and give it to you. You have a blessed Hope and great Glory laid up for you, and the Lord Jesus hath engaged himself to put you

into the possession of all, in his time. It is as sure, as if you had the whole already in your own hands, and you must believe and expect it; for neither height nor depth, nor any thing shall prevent or disappoint you of it. All the great things promised you, are yours, they are your own. They are all yours by an ever∣lasting grant, of God the Father, and by the purchase of Christ; I mean, they are the Price of his Blood, and the fruits of the travail of his Soul. And therefore look for them, and live in continual expectation of them, as of certain things.

These are a few of the many great and Heavenly things that are promised to you, who are new Creatures, or Regenerate Per∣sons. I know that I have mentioned several of them before, and there promised to speak more fully of them, on this head.

6. You are the great objects of Gods love, delight and complacency. Your union with Christ, Rela∣tion to him, and the Divine nature on you, makes you most beautiful, aimable, and lovely in the sight of God; and he loves you with an exceeding great, singular and special love. It is his own loveliness that makes you lovely in his eies. You have none at all of your own, to commend you to his love and acceptance. God saith of, and to you, I have loved you with an everlasting love; Jer. 13.3. And therefore with loveing kindness have I drawn thee; namely, to accept of my Son, and become new Creatures. And in Eph. 2.4. The Apostle tells us, that God loves his quickned or Regenerate

Creatures, with a great love, and tells us, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Eph. 3.18, 19. That there are Heights, Depth•• Lengths, and Breadths, in the love of Christ t•• them; yea, that it is so great, as that it passe•• all understanding; not of Christs understanding 〈◊〉〈◊〉 but ours and Angels. When God would ex∣press his love to Regenerate men, in the mo•• Emphatical way that we are capable of con∣ceiving, or apprehending it, he words it 〈◊〉〈◊〉 indiffinite Termes. As God so loved the World (namely, the little World of new Creatures) God so loved them, Joh. 3.16. That is, he greatly, unexpressibly, and unconceivably, loved and loves them. The Apostle John ex∣presses it thus, 1 Joh. 3.1. Behold what manner of Love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that 〈◊〉〈◊〉 should be called the Children of God? Behold, what manner of love is this. I cannot conceive, much less express how great and admirable his love is to his children. God onely knows how much he loves them, but they do not know it, no, nor yet can they tell how much they do love God. For love between them and God, and God and them, is unmeasurable, innumerable, unsearchable, and past finding out. Their love to Christ is as strong as Death that many waters cannot quench; Cant. 8.6.7. O! then how great is his love to them. New creatures are sick of love to Christ, it is so fervent, strong, and working, Cant. 5.8. How much more strong and fervent is Christs love to them. 'Tis true, that Christ is a far more lovely and de∣sirable object of, and for their love and delight, than themselves are for Christs, for he is the

fairest of Ten thousands, and altogether lovely, ••••t. 5.10. ult. But then they have not so ••uch love for Christ in their hearts, as he ••••th for them. The Lord Jesus looks on his ••••w Creatures, his Spouses; like a true and ••••hement Lover indeed. Like one that is ena∣••ored and ravished with them: hence we have ••••••en such expressions falling and droping ••••om his pure Lips. How faire and how pleasant ••••t thou, O Love for delights? Cant. 7.6. And ••••ou hast ravished my heart, my Sister, my Spouse: ••••••u hast ravished my heart with own of thine eies, ••ith one chaine of thy Neck, Cant. 4.9. By all which expressions of his, he commends and sets out his exceeding great love to his peo∣ple. Oh! what a rich and invaluable privi∣ledge is this, to be so much, and lye so deep i•• the love and affections of the great God, and the Lord Jesus Christ. He loved you be∣fore your Regeneration, so as to make you truely lovely, with his Grace and Spirit, with his Righteousness and holyness. But now he loves you as most lovely and dilightful per∣sons indeed. He loves you now with the love of delight, joy and complacency, as was shew∣ed. You are his delight, and Crown of rejoy∣cing; your Countenance is comely, and your voice sweet to him, Cant. 2.14. His Love to you is true and hearty, strong and fervent, fruitful and profitable, and it is everlasting and un∣changable: he loves you, notwithstanding your many unlovely carriages towards him, and with all your personal deformities: he taketh pleasure in you, and refreshes (as it were)

himself with you; he cannot endure to see you slight and forget him, or to suffer your minds and affections to depart from him; he delights in you, and in his love to, or loving of you; and the like he doth in your love to, or loving of him. The more you love him, the more be sure, he will unbosome himself, and open unto you the hidden Treasures of his love, Prov. 8.21. For his great love to you, causes him to desire, and call for love from you.

Seventhly. You have the priviledge and great dignity of Adoption. You were Ʋagabous and Miserable Beggars, cast out to the loathing of your Persons. None pitied you, or took you in, none hearkned to you, nor cared for you, nei∣ther had you any hand stretched out to help you, until you came to the Lords door. But there you found compassion and mercy, there you found provision ready for you. You knockt but once there, before the the Lord of Glory came himself and opened the door to you, and invited you into his house. He hastned to bring the Fatted Calf, and called for his best Robes, took off your filthy Rags, and put o•• his own Garments of Grace, Righteousness and holyness on you: then he writ his own name on you, and Stampt divine nature upon you, and made you beautiful and desirable. He gave you a new name when he made you new Crea∣tures, which is your honour and glory, and the he said of, and unto you, These shall be my sons and daughters, 2 Cor. 6. ult. And hence forth he accounts and calls them so. These

are my Sons and my Daughters, which I have formed for my self and taken into my house and family; Ezek. 16.20. Isa. 43.21. For they are my first born. They were born for and un∣to me, as in that of Ezekiel, I have appointed, and ordained them to live in my house as my Sons and Daughters, and they shall go no more out, or returne to their former estate again. For they must abide with me for ever: For the Son (though not the Servant) abideth for ever, in his Fathers house or family, as the Son of such a Father, Joh. 8.35. I have (says God) put in their names, their new names, for, and intituled them unto an Eternal Inheritance, Coll. 1.12. Heb. 9.15. Eph. 1.11.14. 1 Pet. 1.4. I have made them my heirs, yea, joynt heirs with my Christ, whom I have given to be the heir of all things, Heb. 1.2. Rom. 8.17. These shall in due time be put into the possession of their Inheritance, for it is reserved in heaven for them, and I will keep them for it, 1 Pet. 1.4.5. and in the mean time, they have and shall keep in their hands (their hearts) the Earnest and first fruits of it, namely, the holy Spirit of Promise. He is the Spirit of adoption to and in them, Rom. 8.14.15. Gal. 4.5. by, and as working and fitting them for it, and the meetening them to live as Children in their heavenly Fathers house, and to demean them∣selves there as they ought to do. So likewise to Seal up and confirm their Inheritance to them, and bear witness to the reallity and Truth of it, namely, that there is such an In∣heritance reserved for them, and that they are appointed for, and chosen to it: and also to

the Truth and faithfulness of God who hath promised it, Rom. 8.16. Eph. 1.13.14. In their Scriptures, he is called a witnesser and a Sealer: Now to what doth he Seal and witness? but to the hearts and faith of the adopted, that there is such an Inheritance entailed on them that they shall possess and enjoy it, and to th•••• faithfulness, Truth, and Alsufficiency of God, who hath promised it, and must do it for them, Besides this, there is another priviledge in you adoption, which is your boldness and Intimacy with your God and Father, notwithstanding the Infinite distance that there is between you and him: which you have mentioned in Gal. 4.6. And because ye are Sons, God hath sent fo•••• the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, Crying, Ab•••• Father. And in Rom. 8.15. but ye have received 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Spirit of Adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. That is, we may now, in and by your Adoption and the Spirit thereof in our hearts, conve•••• familiarly, Intimately, and boldly with God through Jesus Christ. We may draw near to 〈◊〉〈◊〉 in full Assurance of Faith, as commanded, H•• 10.22. And boldly, Heb. 4. ult. And that be∣cause we are adopted Children in our Father house, and can come to, and converse in, wi•••• and by the Spirit of Adoption, with our Go•••• and Father. You shall forever be fed at you•• Fathers, and eat at his Table with him, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 he will make all sorts of Spiritual provisi•••• for you, because you are his adopted Ch••••∣dren, and in his house. You shall for ever 〈◊〉〈◊〉 upon no worser fare, than the Bread of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 that came down from heaven, Joh. 6. And y••••

••••all for ever Drink of the Rivers of his pleasures, ••••ely, of the Fountain of Life, Psal. 36.8. and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 shall never want. You are in an adopted ••••••e, and may expect all provisions from him 〈◊〉〈◊〉 hath Adopted you, for he will not deny you any good thing, nor fail to make ready for 〈◊〉〈◊〉 your daily bread. Therefore look on 〈◊〉〈◊〉 great dignity and Priviledge of yours, apply it to your selves, suck out all the mar∣••ow and sweetness of it, and comfort your selves with it, to the enabling and encoura∣ging you in your Wilderness Journy, work a••d condition. You know it so amongst men ••••th respect to worldly Inheritances. Such as are entayled or entitled to them, will often think on them, and comforting themselves in ••ope of possessing and enjoying the good of ••••em after a few years. Why, do you so, ••uch more. For your Inheritance, to which you are Adopted, is a much more glorious, certain, and rich Inheritance than any world∣ly one can be, and it is an Incorruptible and ••ternal Inheritance, that you are entituled to. The Lord Jesus, the Elder Brother and Heir, is gone to take possession of your Inheritances for you, who are Regenerated, and made by Adoption fellow Heirs of Salvation.

8. Ʋnion and Communion. You are Ʋnited to Christ, and made one Body with him, or you are Members of his Body, of his Flesh, and of his ••••es, Eph. 5.30. as you heard before, and therefore shall not insist on it here. This Union is exprest, and set forth unto us, by many things. As by natural Ʋnions that are

between the Head and Members in the Natural Body, Eph. 5.23. Eph. 1.22, 23. Eph. 4.15. by the natural union and oneness that is be∣tween the Vine and Branches, Joh. 15.1, 2, 4, 5. so also between Voluntary and Conjugal Relati∣ons, as Husband and Wife, Eph. 5. Friends and Friends, John 15. Now from this Union flows Communion of Persons and Estates. What the Lord Jesus hath is theirs, and whatever they have is Christs. Christ is theirs, and all his fulness and Riches theirs; he can withhold 〈◊〉〈◊〉 good thing from them, neither doth he ac∣count any thing he hath, to be so his own, but that they have a kind of propriety and Interest in it, and may claim it of him. What he hath received of his Father, it was for them; he de∣posited all their stock and Portion in his hand, that he might impart and communicate it 〈◊〉〈◊〉 them, which he doth, and will do, and th•••• most faithfully, carefully, wisely, and season∣bly. For this end he gives them free and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 access to him, and invites them not to be stra••∣gers to him, but come and apply themselve•• freely and constantly to him, and ask of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 what they will, John 14.13, 14. John 15.••. John 16. All which he holds forth to the•• in and by the hand of Promises. Ask what y•• will, and it shall be done to you, John 15.7. Jo•••• 16.24. In like manner, Regenerate Men 〈◊〉〈◊〉 open hearted to Christ (in degree) they 〈◊〉〈◊〉 willingly design and dedicate their all to 〈◊〉〈◊〉 All their love and affections; all their stren•• and abilities; and all their earnings and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 tings, They give him their service and 〈◊〉〈◊〉

age, their hearts, hands, and Souls, and the fruits of their experiences of his Grace and love to them. Christ and they do Visit one mother in the Galleries, and in their Closets. There they do unbosome themselves, and open the secrets of their hearts to each other; This is another of your great Dignities and Privi∣ledges. But having spoken something of this before, I shall say no more of it here. You should consider this Truth, and make the best of it you can.

9. You are priviledged and dignified with the holy Angels Guard and Attendance. They are by nature more noble and excellent Creatures then you, and yet they wait on you, and keep guard round about you night and day. They love and honour you, and are ready to do you any service they can; and you are greatly en∣gaged to them for the honour and service they do you. They do you much good, for they are Ministering Spirits, sent forth to Minister unto the Heirs of Salvation, such as you are: they secure you from, and guard you against Devils, and they support and uphold you in, and with their hands, Heb. 1. ult. Psal. 91 10, 11. Psal. 34.7. Math. 4. When you are Journying, they go with you, and when you lie down, they watch at your Beds-side. The holy Angels rejoyce in and with you, Luk. 15.7, 10. They are glad at your Regeneration and Salvation, and they no way envy your prosperity, or disdain your service as below them. Whatever they do for you, they do it freely, faithfully, chear∣fully, and with delight. Thus you see what

you are born to, and what Dignities and Pri∣viledges are conferred on you, and do attend your New states and conditions. Apply them to your selves, and lay them near your hearts, lodge them in your minds, and realize them to your selves, for they are yours, and do be∣long to you, as you are New Creatures, or in a state of Grace. Use them as Divine Cordials, and drink freely of them continually, to strengthen and encourage your hearts and hands in the work of the Lord. For it is your Fathers will you should so do, because he knows you need them, and gives them into your hands, for these ends and purposes. And now what follows, but that you endeavour to walk worthy of your new State, Priviledges, and Dignities: Which will be the matter of the next Chapter.