A commentary upon the three first chapters of the first Epistle general of St.…A commentary upon the three first chapters of the first Epistle generall of St.…

3. Now for the signs of new birth: amongst many, I instance in four.¹ The first is the washing of mortification, by which I mean a serious, secret, and unfeigned voluntary godly sorrow for all sin, striving in particular to bewail those sins, unto which they have been most prone, or in which they have most corrupted themselves. This is to be borne of water and of the holy Ghost^p: This is the washing of the new birth^q.

3. Now for the signes of new birth: amongst many, I instance in foure.¹ The first is the washing of mortification, by which I meane a serious, secret, and unfeigned voluntary godly sorow for all sin, striving in particular to bewaile those sinnes, unto which they have been most prone, or in which they have most corrupted themselves. This is to be borne of water and of the holy Ghost^p: This is the washing of the new birth^q.

1. 1Four signs of new birth.Foure signes of new birth.
2. pJohn 3.5.Iohn 3.5.
3. qTi•. 3.5.

The second is the imitation of Christ, by which we ^rfollow him in the regeneration. Now this imitation of Christ must have in it three things. First a willingness to deny our ease, profit, credit, will, or what else can be, taking up any cross, that ^swe may show our desires to be like him in sufferings: secondly, humility and ^tlowliness, which will show it self, not only in a continued base opinion of our selves, by reason of our corruptions; but also in the meekness and quietness of our affections, and in readiness to do the meanest office in the service of Christ, or his members: thirdly, innocency of life, or a constant care to be holy as he is holy, hungering after righteousness, and loving purity, and seeking the contentment of all well-doing.

The second is the imitation of Christ, by which we ^rfollow him in the regeneration. Now this imitation of Christ must have in it three things. First a willingnesse to deny our ease, profit, credit, will, or what else can be, taking up any crosse, that ^swe may shew our desires to be like him in sufferings: secondly, humility and ^tlowlinesse, which will shew it selfe, not onely in a continued base opinion of our selves, by reason of our corruptions; but also in the meeknesse and quietnesse of our affections, and in readinesse to doe the meanest office in the service of Christ, or his members: thirdly, innocency of life, or a constant care to be holy as he is holy, hungring after righteousnesse, and loving purity, and seeking the contentment of all wel-doing.

1. rMat. 19.28.
2. sLuke 9.24. John 15.18. Rom. 8.29.

The third sign is the love of all such▪ as are ^ubegotten again of God: For whosoever is borne of God, loves all those, that are borne of God: but this love of Gods children is such a love, as shows it self: first by a desire to love God and keep […] ^*godly do: secondly, by a willing and ready Apology for such as fear God: thirdly, by fellowship with them ^xin the Gospel: fourthly, by sympathy or compassion in ^ytheir joys, or sorrows: and fifthly, by an estimation of them, as ^zthe only excellent ones.

The third signe is the love of all such▪ as are ^ubegotten againe of God: For whosoever is borne of God, loves all those, that are borne of God: but this love of Gods children is such a love, as shewes it selfe: first by a desire to love God and keep 〈…〉 ^*godly doe: secondly, by a willing and ready Apology for such as feare God: thirdly, by fellowship with them ^xin the Gospell: fourthly, by sympathy or compassion in ^ytheir joyes, or sorowes: and fifthly, by an estimation of them, as ^zthe onely excellent ones.

1. u

1. a

Thus much of the signs.

Thus much of the signes.

The consideration of the glory and necessity of the work of our new¹ birth, may exceedingly reprove the wretched, and wilful neglect of it in thousands of people, especially of such, as be continual hearers, and cannot be ignorant of the doctrine of it; how many are the souls, that like the blackamoors will not be made white? the spots of whose sins are like the spots of the Leopard, which will not be gotten out. These have had promises to ⟨p. 36⟩allure them, and precepts to divert them, and threatenings to humble them, and yet are never a whit the better: woe unto them, they have not sought their peace in the day of peace: yea are there not many, who hear their own lets opened, and yet go away unreformed? Oh the depth of the deceitfulness and wickedness of mans heart!

The consideration of the glory and necessity of the worke of our new¹ birth, may exceedingly reprove the wretched, and wilfull neglect of it in thousands of people, especially of such, as be continuall hearers, and cannot be ignorant of the doctrine of it; how many are the souls, that like the blackamoores will not be made white? the spots of whose sinnes are like the spots of the Leopard, which will not be gotten out. These have had promises to ⟨p. 36⟩allure them, and precepts to divert them, and threatnings to humble them, and yet are never a whit the better: woe unto them, they have not sought their peace in the day of peace: yea are there not many, who heare their own lets opened, and yet goe away unreformed? Oh the depth of the deceitfulnesse and wickednesse of mans heart!

1. 1The Use.The Vse.

Unto a lively hope, &c.

Vnto a lively hope, &c.

Four things may be here noted: three of them I will but touch.

Foure things may be here noted: three of them I will but touch.

First, that there is hope unto the righteous: He can be in no such estate, or distress, but there is hope, the poorest Christian hath^a, his hope, and if he were enclosed with crosses, yet he is ^ba prisoner of hope: and therefore we should pray God to show us the ^chope of our calling, and should the more willingly suffer afflictions, ^drejoicing in hope.

First, that there is hope unto the righteous: He can be in no such estate, or distresse, but there is hope, the poorest Christian hath^a, his hope, and if hee were inclosed with crosses, yet he is ^ba prisoner of hope: and therefore wee should pray God to shew us the ^chope of our calling, and should the more willingly suffer afflictions, ^drejoycing in hope.

1. aJob 5.16.Iob 5.16.
2. bZach. 9.11.
3. cEphes. 1.18.
4. d

Secondly, none have hope, but converted Christians▪ For all carnal men are ^ewithout hope in the world; I mean without true hope. For the hope that wicked men have, though they lean upon it, is but ^fas the house of a spider, and therefore woe unto them; for their hope, when they shall most need it, will be, as the giving up of the ghost^g.

Secondly, none have hope, but converted Christians▪ For all carnall men are ^ewithout hope in the world; I meane without true hope. For the hope that wicked men have, though they leane upon it, is but ^fas the house of a spider, and therefore woe unto them; for their hope, when they shall most need it, will be, as the giving up of the ghost^g.

1. eEphes. 2.12.
2. fJob 8.13.Iob 8.13.
3. gJob 11. ult.Iob 11. ult.

Thirdly, there is one hope unto all Gods children: they hope for the same glory, as they have the same faith, and therefore we should live, and love so together, as they that hope to reign together in heaven^h.

Thirdly, there is one hope unto all Gods children: they hope for the same glory, as they have the same faith, and therefore we should live, and love so together, as they that hope to raigne together in heaven^h.

1. hEph. 4.3, 4, 5.

But the fourth thing is the chief, and that is, that there is a lively hope, and a dead hope. For the one is expressed, and the other is manifestly implied: There is in godly men a lively hope; there is in wicked men, but a d•ll and a dead hope.¹ Now if any ask, what difference there is between a lively hope, and a dead hope; or between the true hope, and the false: I answer, that they differ in six things. First, in the use of the means: for a lively hope will use all the means, that are appointed of God, and not that only, but it seeketh and expresseth the ⁱaffections requisite to the right use of the §1means, and it will be painful and patient: Now the common hope of carnal men betrays it self in this, that they think to g•e to heaven, though they never use the […], or […], nor with any §2pains or patience. Secondly, in adversity a lively hope plainly shows it self: For it will make a man to run to God, and pour out his heart before him,³ resting satisfied if it can get comfort, and a promise from God; whereas the dead hope is of no use, when miseries and adversity comes: It delights not in prayer, and will not brook to come in Gods sight; it runs to carnal and devilish helps, and if it fail in them, it excites impatient murmuring, or despair. Thirdly, a lively hope is attended with lively joys: §3when God works the hope of heaven, he works also at some time or other, more or less the joys of heaven, which he utterly denies to wicked §4men. Fourthly, mans hopes may be tried by •he object: A•ke a wicked man, what is the thing he would have in heaven, and he must answer, it is the joys and happiness of heaven: But ask a godly man, what he would have in heaven, and he soon answers, it is the holiness of heaven, he would be there, because he would sin no more: but the wicked would be there, because they would suffer no more: it

¹The use of all this may be to instruct both carnal men, and godly men: Carnal men should take notice of this difference, that so they might address themselves to seek this true and lively hope, which that they may obtain, ⟨p. 37⟩or attain; they must shun hypocrisy, and deny all ungodliness, and worldly lusts, and labour for true grace: for the ⁿhypocrites hope shall perish, and we can never attain unto the blessed hope, unless we resolve to ^olive soberly, and righteously, and religiously in this present world; and this everlasting consolation and good hope ^pis had only by grace: and the godly should here learn to hold fast their lively hope, as one of the excellentest fruits of their regeneration, and their daily refuge should be to nourish ^qand strengthen themselves in it, and to that end acquaint themselves constantly with the comforts of the scripture, which were penned especially to that end, that they ^rmight have hope.

¹The use of all this may be to instruct both carnall men, and godly men: Carnall men should take notice of this difference, that so they might addresse themselves to seeke this true and lively hope, which that they may obtaine, ⟨p. 37⟩or attaine; they must shun hypocrisie, and deny all ungodlinesse, and worldly lusts, and labour for true grace: for the ⁿhypocrites hope shall perish, and we can never attaine unto the blessed hope, unlesse we resolve to ^o

And thus much of the third thing.

By the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.

By the resurrection of Iesus Christ from the dead.

Concerning the resurrection of Christ, as it may here be considered of, • propound four things. 1. In what sense it is here to be understood. 2. How his resurrection hath relation to us, in that our new birth is here ha••ed upon it. 3. I answer a question or two, which here may be moved: and then I make use of all.

Concerning the resurrection of Christ, as it may here be considered of, • propound foure things. 1. In what sense it is here to be understood. 2. How his resurrection hath relation to us, in that our new birth is here ha••ed upon it. 3. I answer a question or two, which here may be moved: and then I make use of all.