Because he does not accept of Christ as a teacher and instructer, 56. He is not interested in Christ's He is not capable of submitting to Christ's dominion Hence it follows; that the performance of religious duties, by the formalist, are not sufficient to make him a real christian, 61. Because he has no suit- able attention, nor affection, 61. Nor will he per- severe, 62. The receiving of sacraments will not make such men really christians, 62. Therefore they are not entitled to the present privileges of II. No man can go to heaven except he be born again, Our Lord has most expressly declared this, and his faithfulness stands engaged to make it good, 65, 66. God's being true to his word, the foundation It is also utterly disagreeable to the pure and holy Which gives occasion to infer, that there are but CHAP. III. Means of attaining the New Birth. PAGE. 74, 75, The desire of being directed in this matter includes several things, Directions laid down for such as have a sincere desire to be born again. I. Be careful and constant in attending upon the preaching of God's word, 77. No need of one from the dead to bring men to repentance, where the ordinary means of grace are rightly attended to, 77, 78. Be sure not to stifle conviction, 78. Not to neglect public worship, 79. Nor yet to expect a sudden and miraculous change by one sermon; but give a regular and stated attendance, II. There must be time allowed and set apart for retirement, and serious thoughtfulness, 80. This is necessary to improve sermons, and also to improve afflic tive providences, 80, 81. The chief subject of consideration should be our latter end, 76 79, 80 81, 82 III. There must be a frequent and diligent reading the holy scriptures, 82. And other divine writings, that may instruct us in the nature of conversion, and true piety, 83. It is necessary that we should have regular thoughts of our apostacy, and the consequences of it, that we may understand the method of our recovery, 83 to 86 IV. We should endeavour hereupon to affect our souls with a sense of the corruption of our nature, 86. And the many sins that we have actually committed in our lives, 87. Several heads of enquiry by which we may find out our sins, 87, 88, 89. And the aggravations of them, 89. By considering of which, our resentments and affections should be excited, V. Another prescribed mean of regeneration, is humble, fervent prayer, 90. The objections, against putting men in a state of sin upon prayer, answered, 90, 91. How such ought to pray, VI. The next step is to make a solemn dedication of ourselves to God, through Jesus Christ, as those that are desirous to be his in an everlasting covenant, 93. This should be done in writing, 93. The form of a covenant dedication drawn up, PAGE. 90 91, 92 94, 95, 96 VII. What remains after this, is only to abide by what is done; and to try how far we can go in amending our lives and actions, 96. We may possibly find greater conflicts after we have surrendered ourselves to God, than before, 96, 97. But we must yet continue praying, 97. And we must use our best endeavours to reform our lives, 98 Here it is desired of those who are in a safe state themselves, to pray earnestly for such as may 99 CHAP. IV. The evidences of being born again, 100 I. Wherever a saving change is wrought, it will discover itself in the mind and temper, 101 The spirit of him that is born again, is very lowly and humble, 101, 102 PAGE. 102, 103 It is also very sincere and upright, The understanding is enlightened to discern those things of which it was ignorant, or at least to which it shewed no just regard, This considered with reference to those that have The will of him that is born again, is brought to an en- With what allowances this is to be understood, 103 105 107 107, 108 The conscience of him that is born again, is tender and faithful, 108. Four things in which the natural and renewed conscience differ, 108. A caution to be observed, in our judging of the impressiveness of conscience, The affections of him that is born again, are prevailingly spiritual and heavenly, 109. Very great differences, however, are to be found among good people in this respect, 109 109, 110 II. There are other evidences of the new birth, in the outward behaviour and conversation, 110 He that is born again is careful to avoid all sin, Four things instanced in, 111 He has a constant regard to every duty, 111. The heads of duty instanced in, 112 He is particularly careful of his words, 112. Several instances of this, 113 He manages his common affairs so as to serve some religious end, 114. Converting grace does not oblige men to quit their callings, 114. Nor to give up their estates, 114. But it teaches them in all things, even in their hospitalities, and recreations, to aim at a religious end, He that is born again, will abound in all proper instances of love and charity toward his brethren, 115. Selflove, which in a natural state hinders the love of our neighbour, in a renewed state promotes it, 115, 116. Almsgiving considered as an evidence of being born again, The Application to four sorts of Persons. 1. To those that are at ease, and think will of themselves, although their tempers and lives are quite contrary to the foregoing account, 2. To those that are content in being able to pick out here and there, an evidence for themselves, when yet many things are wanting to prove that they are savingly renewed, PAGE. 115 116 117, 118 118 to 120 3. To those that are truly renewed, but yet uneasy, and perplexed about their state and condition, because they cannot discover all the aforementioned evidences in themselves, 120, 121 THE CONCLUSION. To those few, that may have the comfort of discovering such marks in themselves, as to know that they are born again, 121, 122 |