A47542:957
A golden mine opened, or, The glory of God's rich grace displayed in the mediator to believers, and his direful wrath against impenitent sinners containing the substance of near forty sermons upon several subjects / by Benjamin Keach.
London: printed by the author, 1694
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Infer. 2. This may also therefore inform all Believers, that they are in a most happy and safe Condition, because they are born of God, and brought by Grace and Regeneration into an unchangeable State.
Infer. 2. This may also therefore inform all Believers, that they are in a most happy and safe Condition, because they are born of God, and brought by Grace and Regeneration into an unchangeble State.
Exhort. O see that you are the Children of God, begotten of God; for if so, though you are but Babes, yet you are out of Eternal Danger.
Let me give you, Brethren, here a few Marks or Characters of Babes in Christ, or of a Child of God.
1. Babes have all the Parts and Lineaments of a Man, if it be a perfect Birth: So a Babe in Christ hath all the Essentials of a true Christian; he hath all the Parts and Lineaments of the New Creature. There is a Formation of God's Image, or a gracious Work of the Spirit in every Faculty of the Soul, and a partaking of every Grace; though at the first forming it is not come to full Growth and Perfection: there is not only Light in the Understanding, Convictions in the Conscience, but the Will is subjected to the Will of God, and Power ⟨p. 220⟩of Divine Grace; and the Affections are renewed and changed also to love, as God loves; and to hate, as God hates.
1. Babes have all the Parts and Lineaments of a Man, if it be a perfect Birth: So a Babe in Christ hath all the Essentials of a true Christian; he hath all the Parts and Lineaments of the New Creature. There is a Formation of God's Image, or a gracious Work of the Spirit in every Faculty of the Soul, and a partaking of every Grace; though at the first forming it is not come to full Growth and Perfection: there is not only Light in the Vnderstanding, Convictions in the Conscience, but the Will is subjected to the Will of God, and Power ⟨p. 220⟩of Divine Grace; and the Affections are renewed and changed also to love, as God loves; and to hate, as God hates.
2. A Babe partakes of the Nature of the Father that begot him: So does a Child of God partake of his Divine Nature; he is after God created in Righteousness and true Holiness. That which is 1born of the Flesh, is Flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit, is Spirit.
4. A Babe or Child new-born, desires the Milk of its Mother's Breast: So such who are born of God, desire after the sincere Milk of the Word, or the heavenly and pure Doctrine of the Gospel, that they 1may grow thereby.
6. A Child is grieved when the Father is offended, and will take care that he doth not displease him, if a dear Child: So doth every Child of God mourn when God is offended; and also takes special care and heed he displeases him not.
7. A dear Child loves all his Brethren and Sisters: So every one that is born of God, doth not only love him that begat, but also all those 1who are begotten of him.
8. A dear Child will strive to follow and imitate his Father in all his Virtues: So a Child of God follows God, imitates God in all his imitable Perfections; Be ye followers of God as dear Children.1
8. A dear Child will strive to follow and imitate his Father in all his Vertues: So a Child of God follows God, imitates God in all his imitable Perfections; Be ye followers of God as dear Children.1
3. Reproof. How doth this tend to reprehend the Enemies of God's People, who abuse, reproach, backbite, nay, persecute them? How will they stand in the Judgment-Day, when Christ will say, what ye did to this and that Child of mine, you did it unto me? He that toucheth you, (saith Jehovah) toucheth the Apple 1of my Eye.
4. This greatly raiseth the Honour of Believers: What greater Dignity can be conferred on us, than to be begotten and born of God? This is more than to be Adopted Sons, we are born of God, partake of his Divine Nature: Behold what manner of Love the Father ⟨p. 221⟩hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the Sons of God— 1Beloved, now are we the Sons of God, &c. If David thought it no small Honour to be the Son-in-Law to an Earthly King; what an Honour hath God conferred upon his Saints!
5. And lastly, You that are Saints, read your Privilege, If Children, then Heirs.
But no more at this Time.
