Part 2

4. Our gospel, as it knows no other foundation of good works than faith, or of faith than _Christ_, so it clearly informs us, we are not his disciples, while we either deny him to be the author, or his Spirit to be the inspirer and perfecter both of our faith and works. _If any man have not the Spirit of_ Christ, _he is none of his_. He alone can quicken those who are dead unto God, can breathe into them the breath of Christian life, and so prevent, accompany, and follow them with his grace, as to bring their good desires to good effect. And _as many as are thus led, by the Spirit of_ God, _they are the sons of_ God. This is God’s short and plain account of true religion and virtue; and _other foundation can no man lay_.

5. *From what has been said we may, thirdly, learn, That none is truly _led by the Spirit_, unless that _Spirit bear witness with his spirit, that he is a child of_ God: unless he sees the prize and the crown before him, and _rejoices in hope of the glory of_ God: so greatly have they erred, who have taught that in serving God, we ought not to have a view to our own happiness. Nay, but we are often and expresly taught of God, to have respect _unto the recompence of reward_; to balance the toil with the _joy set before us_, these _light afflictions_ with that _exceeding weight of glory_. Yea, we are _aliens to the covenant of promise_, we are _without_ God _in the world_, until God _of his abundant mercy, hath begotten us again, unto a living hope, of the inheritance incorruptible, undefiled, and that fadeth not away_.

6. But if these things are so, ’tis high time for those persons to deal faithfully with their own souls, who are so far from finding in themselves this joyful assurance, that they fulfil the terms and shall obtain the promises of that covenant, as to quarrel with the covenant itself, and blaspheme the terms of it: to complain, “They are too severe, and that no man ever did, or shall live up to them!” What is this, but to reproach God, as if he were an hard master, requiring of his servants more than he enables them to perform; as if he had mocked the helpless works of his hands, by binding them to impossibilities; by commanding them to overcome, where neither their own strength, nor his grace was sufficient for them?

7. *These blasphemers might almost persuade those, to imagine themselves guiltless, who in the contrary extreme, hope to fulfil the commands of God, without taking any pains at all. Vain hope! that a child of _Adam_ should ever expect, to see the kingdom of _Christ_ and of God, without striving, without _agonizing_ first, _to enter in at the strait gate_! That one who was _conceived and born in sin_, and whose _inward parts are very wickedness_, should once entertain a thought, of being _purified as his_ Lord _is pure_, unless he _tread in his steps_, and _take up his cross daily_; unless he _cut off his right-hand_, and _pluck out the right-eye and cast it from_ him; that he should ever dream of shaking off his old opinions, passions, tempers, of being _sanctified throughout in spirit, soul, and body_, without a constant and continued course of general self-denial!

8. What less than this can we possibly infer from the above cited words of St. _Paul_? Who “living in _infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses_ for _Christ_’s sake, who being full of _signs and wonders and mighty deeds_, who having been _caught up into the third heaven_;” yet reckoned (as a late author strongly expresses it) that all his virtues would be unsecure, and even his salvation in danger, without this constant self-denial. _So run I_, says he, _not as uncertainly, so fight I, not as one that beateth the air_. By which he plainly teaches us, That he who does not thus run, who does not thus deny himself daily, does _run uncertainly_, and fighteth to as little purpose as he that _beateth the air_.

9. To as little purpose does he talk of _fighting the fight of faith_, as vainly hope to attain the crown of incorruption (as we may, lastly, infer from the preceding observations) whose heart is not circumcised by love. Love cutting off both the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eye, and the pride of life, engaging the whole man, body, soul and spirit, in the ardent pursuit of that one object, is so essential to a child of God, that “without it, whosoever liveth is counted dead before him.” _Though I speak with the tongue of men and angels, and have not love, I am as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. Though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith so as to remove mountains, and have not love, I am nothing. Nay, though I give all my goods to feed the poor, and my body to be burned, and have not love, it profiteth me nothing._

10. Here then is the sum of the perfect law, this is the true _circumcision of the heart_. Let the spirit return to God that gave it, with the whole train of its affections. _Unto the place from whence all the rivers came, thither_ let them flow again. Other sacrifices from us he would not; but the living sacrifice of the heart he hath chosen. Let it be continually offered up to God through _Christ_, in flames of holy love. And let no creature be suffered to share with him: for he is a jealous God. His throne will he not divide with another: he will reign without a rival. Be no design, no desire admitted there, but what has him for its ultimate object. This is the way wherein those children of God once walked, who being dead, still speak to us, “Desire not to live but to praise his name; let all your thoughts, words and works, tend to his glory. Set your heart firm on him, and on other things, only as they are in and from him.” “Let your soul be filled with so entire a love of him, that you may love nothing but for his sake.” “Have a pure intention of heart, a stedfast regard to his glory in all your actions.” “Fix your eye upon the blessed hope of your calling, and make all the things of the world minister unto it.” For then, and not till then, is that _mind in us which was also in_ Christ Jesus, when in every motion of our heart, in every word of our tongue, in every work of our hands, we “pursue nothing but in relation to him, and in subordination to his pleasure:” when we too, neither think, nor speak, nor act, to fulfil our own _will, but the will of him that sent_ us: when whether we _eat or drink, or whatever we do, we do all to the glory of_ God.

SERMON XVIII.

THE MARKS OF THE NEW BIRTH. JOHN iii. 8.

_So is every one that is born of the Spirit._

1. HOW is every one that is _born of the Spirit_? That is _born again_? _Born of_ God? What is meant by the being _born again_? The being _born of_ God? Or, being _born of the Spirit_? What is implied in, The being a _son_ or a _child of_ God? Or, having the _Spirit of adoption_? That these privileges, by the free mercy of God, are ordinarily annexed to baptism, (which is thence termed by our Lord in the preceding verse, the being _born of water and of the Spirit_) we know: but we would know what these privileges are? What is _The New Birth_?

2. Perhaps it is not needful to give a definition of this, seeing the scripture gives none. But as the question is of the deepest concern, to every child of man, (since _except a man be born again, born of the Spirit_, he _cannot see the kingdom of_ God) I propose to lay down the marks of it in the plainest manner, just as I find them laid down in scripture.

I. 1. The first of these (and the foundation of all the rest) is faith. So St. _Paul, [3]Ye are all the children of_ God _by faith in_ Christ Jesus. So St. _John, [4]To them gave he power_ (♦ἐξουσίαν· right or privilege, it might rather be translated) _to become the sons of_ God, _even to them that believe on his name: which were born_, when they believed, (_not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh_, not by natural generation, _nor of the will of man_, like those children adopted by men, in whom no inward change is thereby wrought,) _but of_ God. And again in his general epistle [5]_Whosoever believeth that_ Jesus _is the_ Christ, _is born of_ God.

2. But it is not a barely notional or speculative faith, that is here spoken of by the apostles. It is not a bare assent to this proposition, “_Jesus_ is the _Christ_;” nor indeed to all the propositions contained in our creed, or in the Old and New Testament. It is not merely “an assent, to any, or all these credible things, as credible.” To say this, were to say (which who could hear?) that the devils were born of God. For they have this faith. They trembling believe, both that _Jesus_ is the _Christ_, and that all scripture having been given by inspiration of God, is true as God is true. It is not only “an assent to divine truth, upon the testimony of God,” or “upon the evidence of miracles.” For they also heard the words of his mouth, and knew him to be a faithful and true witness. They could not but receive the testimony he gave, both of himself, and of the Father which sent him. They saw likewise the mighty works which he did, and thence believed that he _came forth from_ God. Yet notwithstanding this faith, they are still _reserved in chains of darkness, unto the judgment of the great day_.

3. For all this is no more than a dead faith. The true, living, Christian faith, which whosoever hath, is _born of_ God, is not only an assent, an act of the understanding, but a disposition which God hath wrought in his heart; “a sure trust and confidence in God, that through the merits of _Christ_, his sins are forgiven, and he reconciled to the favour of God.” This implies, that a man first _renounce himself_; that in order to be _found in_ Christ, to be accepted through him, he totally reject all _confidence in the flesh_; that _having nothing to pay_, having no trust in his own works or righteousness of any kind, he come to God, as a lost, miserable, self-destroyed, self-condemned, undone, helpless sinner; as one whose _mouth_ is utterly _stopped_, and who is altogether _guilty before_ God. Such a sense of sin commonly called _despair_, (by those who speak evil of the things they know not) together with a full conviction, such as no words can express, that of _Christ_ only cometh our salvation, and an earnest desire of that salvation, must precede a living faith: a trust in him, who “for us paid ransom by his death, and fulfilled the law in his life.” This faith then, whereby we are born of God, is “not only a belief of all the articles of our faith, but also a true confidence of the mercy of God, through our _Lord Jesus Christ_.”

4. An immediate and constant fruit of this faith, whereby we are born of God, a fruit which can in no wise be separated from it, no not for an hour, is power over sin: power over outward sin, of every kind; over every evil word and work; for wheresoever the blood of _Christ_ is thus applied, it _purgeth the conscience from dead works_: and over inward sin; for it _purifieth the heart_ from every unholy desire and temper. This fruit of faith, St. _Paul_ has largely described, in the sixth chapter of his epistle to the _Romans. [6]How shall we_ (saith he) _who_ by faith _are dead to sin, live any longer therein? Our old man is crucified with_ Christ, _that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.――Likewise reckon ye yourselves to be dead unto sin, but alive unto_ God, _through_ Jesus Christ _our_ Lord.――_Let not sin therefore reign_, even _in your mortal body, but yield yourselves unto_ God, _as those that are alive from the dead. For sin shall not have dominion over you._――God _be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin――but being made free_――the plain meaning is, God be thanked, that though ye were in time past the servants of sin, yet now _being free from sin, ye are become the servants of righteousness_.

5. The same invaluable privilege of the sons of God, is as strongly asserted by St. _John_; particularly, with regard to the former branch of it, namely, power over outward sin. After he had been crying out, as one astonished at the depth of the riches of the goodness of God, [7]_Behold what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of_ God! _Beloved, now are we the sons of_ God; _and it doth not yet appear what we shall be; but we know, that when he shall appear we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is_: he soon adds, _Whosoever is born of God, doth not commit sin, for his seed remaineth in him, and he cannot sin, because he is born of God_. But some men will say, “True; whosoever is born of God, doth not commit sin _habitually_.” _Habitually!_ Whence is that? I read it not. It is not written in the book. God plainly saith, _He doth not commit sin_. And thou addest, _habitually_! Who art thou that _mendest_ the oracles of God? That _addest to the words of this book_? Beware I beseech thee, lest God _add to thee, all the plagues that are written therein_! Especially when the comment thou addest is such, as quite swallows up the text: so that by this ♦μεθοδεία πλάνης, this artful method of deceiving, the precious promise is utterly lost: by this κυβεία ανθρώπων, this tricking and shuffling of men, the word of God is made of none effect. O beware thou that thus takest from the words of this book, that taking away the whole meaning and spirit from them, leavest only what may indeed be termed a dead letter, lest God take away thy part out of the book of life!

6. Suffer we the apostle to interpret his own words, by the whole tenor of his discourse. In the fifth verse of this chapter he had said, _Ye know that he_ (Christ) _was manifested, to take away our sins; and in him is no sin_. What is the inference he draws from this? [8]_Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him._ To his inforcement of this important doctrine, he promises an highly necessary caution: [9]_Little children, let no man deceive you_, (for many will endeavour so to do; to persuade you that you may be unrighteous, that you may commit sin, and yet be children of God.) _He that doth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous. He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning._ Then follows, _Whosoever is born of_ God, _doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him, and he cannot sin, because he is born of_ God. _In this_, adds the apostle, _the children of_ God _are manifest, and the children of the devil_. By this plain mark (the committing or not committing sin) are they distinguished from each other. To the same effect are those words in his fifth chapter, [10]_We know that whosoever is born of_ God, _sinneth not; but he that is begotten of_ God _keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not_.

7. Another fruit of this living faith is peace. For [11]_being justified by faith_, having all our sins blotted out, _we have peace with_ God, _through our_ Lord Jesus Christ. This indeed our Lord himself, the night before his death, solemnly bequeathed to all his followers. [12]_Peace_, saith he, _I leave with you_; (you who _believe in_ God, and _believe also in me_) _my peace I give unto you. Not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid._ And again, [13]_These things have I spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace_. This is that _peace of_ God, _which passeth all understanding_, that serenity of soul, which it hath not entered into the heart of a natural man to conceive, and which it is not possible for even the spiritual man to utter. And it is a peace which all the powers of earth and hell are unable to take from him. Waves and storms beat upon it, but they shake it not; for it is founded upon a rock. It keepeth the hearts and minds of the children of God, at all times and in all places. Whether they are in ease or in pain, in sickness or health, in abundance or want, they are happy in God. In every state they have learned to be content, yea, to give thanks unto God through _Christ Jesus_: being well assured, that “Whatsoever is, is best;” because it is his will, concerning them. So that in all the vicissitudes of life, their _heart standeth fast, believing in the_ Lord.

II. 1. A second scriptural mark of those who are born of God is hope. Thus St. _Peter_, speaking to all the children of God, who were then _scattered abroad_, saith, [14]_Blessed be the_ God _and father of our_ Lord Jesus Christ, _who according to his abundant mercy, hath begotten us again unto a lively hope_. Ἐλπίδα ζῶσαν, A _lively_ or _living_ hope, saith the apostle: because there is also a _dead_ hope (as well as a dead faith) a hope which is not from God, but from the enemy of God and man; as evidently appears by its fruits; for, as it is the offspring of pride, so it is the parent of every evil word and work, whereas every man that hath in him this living hope, is _holy as he that calleth him is holy_: every man that can truly say to his ♦brethren in _Christ, Beloved, now are we the sons of_ God, _and we shall see him as he is, purifieth himself, even as he is pure_.

2. This hope implies, 1. The testimony of our own spirit or conscience, that we walk _in simplicity and godly sincerity_; secondly, the testimony of the Spirit of God, _bearing witness with_, or to, _our spirit, that we are the children of_ God, _and if children, then heirs, heirs of_ God and _joint-heirs with_ Christ.

3. Let us well observe, what is here taught us by God himself, touching the glorious privilege of his children. Who is it, that is here said to _bear witness_? Not our Spirit only, but another; even the Spirit of God: he it is who _beareth witness with our spirit_. What is it, he beareth witness of? _That we are the children of_ God; _and if children, then heirs; heirs of_ God, _and joint-heirs with_ Christ:――――_if so be that we suffer with him_ (if we deny ourselves, if we take up our cross daily, if we chearfully indure persecution or reproach for his sake) _that we may also be glorified together_, And in whom doth the Spirit of God bear this witness? In all who are the children of God. By this very argument does the apostle prove in the preceding verses that they are so: [15]_As many_, saith he, _as are led by the Spirit of_ God, _they are the sons of_ God. _For ye have not received the Spirit of bondage again, to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father!_ It follows, _The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of_ God.

4. The variation of the phrase in the 15th verse, is worthy our observation. Ye _have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby_ we _cry, Abba, Father_! _Ye_, as many as are the sons of God, have in virtue of your sonship, received that self-same Spirit of adoption, whereby _we_ cry, Abba, Father. _We_, the apostles, prophets, teachers, (for so the word may not improperly be understood) we through whom you have believed, the _ministers of_ Christ, _and stewards of the mysteries of_ God. As _we_ and _you_ have one Lord, so we have one spirit: as we have one faith, so we have one hope also. We and you are sealed with one _Spirit of promise_, the earnest of _yours_ and of _our_ inheritance: the same Spirit, bearing witness with yours and with our spirit, _that we are the children of_ God.

5. And thus is the scripture fulfilled, _Blessed are they that mourn, for they shall be comforted_. For ’tis easy to believe, that though sorrow may precede this witness of God’s Spirit with our spirit, (indeed _must_, in some degree, while we groan under fear, and a sense of the wrath of God abiding on us) yet as soon as any man feeleth it in himself, his _sorrow is turned into joy_. Whatsoever his pain may have been before, yet as soon as that _hour is come, he remembereth the anguish no more, for joy_ that he is born of God. It may be, many of _you_ have now sorrow, because you are _aliens from the common-wealth of_ Israel; because you are conscious to yourselves that you have not this Spirit, that you are _without hope and without_ God _in the world_. But when the Comforter is come, [16]_then your heart shall rejoice; yea, your joy shall be full_, and _that joy no man taketh from you_. [17]_We joy in_ God, will ye say, _through our_ Lord Jesus Christ, _by whom we have now received the atonement: by whom we have access into this grace_, this state of grace, of favour, of reconciliation with God, _wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of_ God. Ye, saith St. _Peter_, whom [18]God _hath begotten again unto a lively hope, are kept by the power of_ God _unto salvation――wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: that the trial of your faith――may be found unto praise, and honour, and glory, at the appearing of_ Jesus Christ――_In whom, though now ye see him not, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory_. Unspeakable indeed! It is not for the tongue of man to describe this joy in the Holy Ghost. It is _hidden manna, which no man knoweth, save he that receiveth it_. But this we know, it not only remains, but overflows in the depth of affliction. _Are the consolations of_ God _small_ with his children, when all earthly comforts fail? Not so. But when sufferings most abound, the consolations of his Spirit do much more abound: insomuch that the sons of God _laugh at destruction when it cometh_; at want, pain, hell, and the grave; as knowing him who _hath the keys of death and hell_, and will shortly _cast them into the bottomless pit_: As hearing even now the _great voice out of heaven, saying_, [19]_Behold the tabernacle of_ God _is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and_ God _himself shall be with them, and be their_ God. _And_ God _shall wipe away all tears from their eyes, and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying: neither shall there be any more pain; for the former things are past away_.

III. 1. A third scriptural mark of those who are born of God, and the greatest of all, is love: even [20]_the love of_ God _shed abroad in their hearts, by the Holy Ghost which is given unto them_. [21]_Because they are sons_, God _hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into their hearts, crying Abba, Father_! by this Spirit, continually looking up to God, as their reconciled and loving Father, they cry to him for their daily bread, for all things needful whether for their souls or bodies. They continually pour out their hearts before him, knowing [22]_they have the petitions which they ask of him_. Their delight is in him. He is the joy of their heart; their _shield_, and their _exceeding great reward_. The desire of their soul is toward Him: it is their _meat and drink to do his will_: And they are [23]_satisfied as with marrow and fatness, while their mouth praiseth him with joyful lips_.

2. And, in this sense also, [24]_every one who loveth him that begat, loveth him that is begotten of him_. His spirit rejoiceth in God his Saviour. He _loveth the_ Lord Jesus Christ _in sincerity_: he is so _joined unto the_ Lord, as to be _one spirit_. His soul hangeth upon him, and chuseth him as altogether lovely, _the chiefest among ten thousand_. He knoweth, he feeleth what that means, [25]_My beloved is mine, and I am his_, [26]_Thou art fairer than the children of men; full of grace are thy lips, because_ God _hath anointed thee for ever_!