the eyes, as is said of Abraham to Sarah, Gen. xx. 16.; they still hold fast somewhat of their own, at least to help to procure God's favour and salvation; their heart doth still speak, as that young man's speech, Luke xviii. 18. 21. doth insinuate, "what shall I do to inherit eternal life?" Beside that, they do still retain their former lovers, and will not break their covenants with hell and death, imagining they may have Christ with these things equally sharing in their heart; contrary to that, "a man cannot serve two masters, Matth. vi. 24. Either Christ must be judged absolute Lord, and worthy to be so, or nothing at all: and so it is clear their heart is not shapen out for that device of salvation by Christ, whom God hath alone made Lord here, in whom all fulness shall dwell. But where justifying faith is the soul of a man, and his heart doth close with Christ, and him alone, having no confidence in the flesh, Philip. iii. Psal. lvi. 4. he trusted only in God. Also the man here giveth up with other lovers; as they are rivals to Christ, he resolves "not to be for another," Hosea iii. 3. He calls him Lord, "which a man can only do by "the spirit of Christ," 1 Cor. xii. 3.

2dly. As hypocrites and reprobates do never close with Christ alone, so they do never close with full Christ, as he is anointed to be a king, to rule over a man in all things; as a priest to procure a pardon, and to make peace for man upon all occasions; a prophet, to be wisdom, and a teacher and counsellor in all cases to man; so they do not receive Christ, especially in the first and third office. But where true justi

fying faith is, a man closeth with whole Christ in all his offices, judging all his "will good, holy, just, and spiritual," Rom. vii. 12. 14. and "right concerning all things," Psal. cxix. 128. making mention of this righteousness only," Psal. lxxi. 16.

The man also giveth up himself to be taught of him; Matth. xi. 29. "Learn of me." So that "Christ is made," to the true believer, with his own consent, "wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and complete redemption," 1 Cor. i. 30. And although he hath not all these things formally in exercise when his heart goeth out after Christ, yet, upon search and trial, it will be found with him, as I have said.

3dly. Hypocrites and reprobates do never close with Christ, and all the inconveniences that may follow him; they stick at that with the Scribe, Matth. viii. 19, 20. but where true justifying. faith is, a man doth close with him on all hazards; he resolveth to forego all rather than to forego Christ. "We have left all, and have followed thee," Mark x. 28.; "he reckoneth all to be loss and dung for the excellency of Christ Jesus, as his Lord, and to be found in him, Phillip. iii. 8.

We might give other differences also; as that true faith is operative, "purifying the heart," Acts xv. 9. "working by love," Gal. v. 6. whilst "hypocrites do only cleanse the outside of the platter," Matth. xxiii. 25. and "do all to be seen of men," Matth. vi. 5. not seeking the honour that is of God only, and so cannot believe," John v. 44. We might also shew that true faith is never alone in a man, but attended with.

other saving graces. But because these things will coincide with what followeth, and here we are shewing that a man may take up his gracious state by his faith, and the acting thereof on Christ, we pass these things.

CHAP. V.

Of the New Creature.

THE second great mark of a gracious state, and true saving interest in Jesus Christ, is the new creature; 2 Cor. v. 17. "If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature." This new creation, or renovation, of that man, is a very sensible change; although not in those who are effectually called from the womb, or in their younger years (because those have had this new creature from that time in them, so as this change in after periods of time is not discernible,) yet in those who have been regenerated and brought in to Christ after they were come to greater age, and so have more palpably been under the “ power of darkness," before they were "translated into the kingdom of Christ," Col. i. 13. But in all who do warrantably pretend to Christ, this new creature must be; although some do not know experimentally the contraries of every part of it so as others do; because they have not been equally in regard of practice under the power of darkness. This new creature is called the new man, Col. iii. 10. which doth hold out the extent of it. It is not simply a new tongue, or new hand, but a new man. There is a principle of new life and motion put in the man, which is the new heart; which new principle of life sen

deth forth acts of life, or of" conformity to the image of him who created it," Col. iii. 10. so as the party is renewed in some measure every way. This renovation of the man who is in Christ may be reduced into these two great heads.

First, There is a renovation of the man's-person, soul and body, in some measure.

1st, His understanding is renewed, so as he judgeth" Christ preached," in the gospel to be "the wisdom and power of God," a wise and strong device beseeming God, 1 Cor. i. 23, 24. He knoweth the things of God really and solidly, not to be yea and nay, and uncertain fancies; but all to be yea and amen, solid, certain substantial things, having a desirable accomplishment in Christ, and resolving much in him; 1 Cor. il. 14, 15. "The natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God; for they are foolishness unto him; neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned: but he that is spiritual, judgeth all things." 2 Cor. i. 18, 19, 20. "As God is true, our word toward you was not yea and nay. For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us, even by me, and Silvanus, and Timotheus," was not yea and nay, but in him was yea. For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him amen, unto the glory of God by us." Nat-' ural men, educated under gospel ordinances, although they have some notional knowledge of God, Christ, the promises, the motions of the Holy Spirit, &c. so as they may confer, preach, and dispute of these things; yet they look on

"

them as common received maxims of christianity, from which to recede were a singularity and disgrace: but not as real, solid, substantial truths, so as to adventure their souls and everlasting being on them. The understanding is renewed also, to take up somewhat of God in the creatures, as bearing sparks of his glorious attributes; Psal. xix. 1. they see "the heavens declaring his glory and power;" and somewhat of God in providence, and dispensations that fall "His wondrous works declare that his name is near," Psal. lxxv. 1. The understanding also taketh up the conditions and cases of the soul otherwise than it was wont to do; as we find the saints usually speaking in scripture, "O my soul, thou hast said unto the Lord, thou art my Lord," Psal. xvi. 2. "My soul said, thy face will I seek," Psal. xxvii. 8. "Why art thou cast down, O my soul," Psal. xlii. 5. and xliii. 5. "Return unto thy rest, Ο my soul,"

out:

Psal. cxvi. 7.

2dly, The heart and affections are renewed. The heart is made "a new heart, a heart of flesh," capable of impressions, having a copy of his law stamped on it, and the fear of God put into it, whereby the man's duty becometh in a manner native and kindly to the man, Jer. xxxii. 39, 40. Ezek. xxxvi. 26. It was before a heart of stone void of the fear of God. The affections are renewed now: the love is renewed in some good measure; it goeth out after God; "I will love the Lord," Psal. xviii. 1.; after his law, “O how love I thy law!" Psal. cxix. 97.; after those who have God's image in them, John xiii. 35. "By this shall all men know that ye are my