GRACE and peace be with you. I thought it needful to drop you another
Letter on a subject of infinite importance to you, to myself and to the
whole church of God. The Saviour, in a conversation with a learned and
polite Doctor of Divinity, positively declared the necessity of another,
a New, a second _Birth_. Blessed be God, the salvation of the children
of God is completed without this, but we must be born again to know this
salvation is ours; and to pretend to lay claim to such Salvation, without
being born again, is most daring presumption! This _new Birth_ is a
change of heart and life; the formation of a new man; an infusion of holy
principles—all new—every thing; that is, every principle which the Holy
Spirit inspires is new; new views, new sensations, new ideas, new
pursuits; and new trials; all is become new. _If any man be in Christ
Jesus he is become new_. This birth goes by various names in
scripture—it is stiled _a Calling_; _The master is come and calleth for
thee_. It is represented as an _implanting_ or _engrafting—Cut off from
the old stock_: Our souls cleave to Jesus as our all in all. It is a
_Conquest_; by the power of the Holy Spirit our enmity is slain, our
wills subdued, and our affections set on heavenly objects. It is called
an _heavenly Birth_—Of the seed of God’s word we are said to be begotten
to a lively hope. A new man is formed; for this the Redeemer travailed
in spirit; for this ministers labour and toil; and to enjoy God in Christ
Jesus, no small portion of spiritual labour falls to the share of the
happy possessor. The Saviour enters the soul; this must create a stir
there. He comes into, and by the door of the heart; all that come in any
other way, as sin and Satan did, are thieves and robbers. Upon his
entrance we, by his light, see our lost state—feel our guilt—conscience
is quickened, as well as the mind enlightened; and here, my brother, you
may discover the vast disparity between the Possessor and the mere
nominal Professor; it is not to be seen either in their light, or
conduct, for a man destitute of the grace of God, may be clear in his
head, and upright in his moral deportment. This is the snare that is
come upon the Churches: these are the false evidences by which thousands
are deceived—it is not enough, the main spring is wanting, which is LIFE.
This is the genuine work of God: this proves our union with the Living
Vine. By this life I feel myself condemned by the Law. I feel a spirit
of bondage to fear. I feel the sting of death. I feel the workings of
corruption, which I knew nothing of before. I feel dreadful
apprehensions of God’s wrath; and while my conscience feels these things,
I see, in the light of the word, and by the Spirit, the exact
suitableness of the dear Saviour. I am enabled by the same Spirit to
believe he lived, obeyed, suffered, died, and is risen again, and
receives poor sinners—the lost, the helpless, the guilty, and the vile.
This begets a hope in my mind that he will save me. The Promises
encourage me—the freeness of grace—the Lord delighting in mercy, through
the satisfaction of Jesus—the scriptural account of poor sinners as vile
as me being saved. These things encourage me to hope; while my faith,
small as it is, argues at times, as Manoah’s wife did, If the Lord had
meant to have destroyed me, would he have shewed me what I see?—or told
me what he has? No, no!
But while I thank God, and am taking courage, perhaps sin again overcomes
me—the Law still works wrath; Satan then takes the advantage, and down I
sink again, and must there lay till the dear Father of Mercies draw me to
Christ again. Thus the spiritual life, at this time, hangs in doubt, and
there is no assurance of life, either spiritual or eternal. This is
travailing in spirit, coming to the birth, and no strength to bring
forth. This is tarrying long in the place of the breaking forth of
children; panting, breathing, looking, thirsting, longing for the
knowledge of the pardon of sin, the clear witness of the Spirit, and the
sweet, smiting, kind, loving approbation of God. Such souls are already
pronounced blessed, and what God has promised he will surely perform.
Such long to come forth; are afraid of peace and comfort, ease and
quietness, lest it should not be God’s work; and such would rather be
always in bondage than in carnal ease, or false peace or confidence.
Beautiful that Promise, _Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after
righteousness_, _for they shall be filled_. Such are represented as
waiting upon God. Those that wait upon the Lord shall renew their
strength—and they shall not be ashamed that wait for me. At the Pool of
Bethesda they lay till Jesus appears—at the posts of God’s Doors they
wait till favour is shewed them—they are admitted to the Inner Court,
till faith gathers strength enough to believe in the love of God towards
them; and till they can receive into their souls the Atonement this gives
peace to the conscience, and joy in God, and this honor have all the
saints. This is the New Birth, which you, I trust, know something of
experimentally; but darkness will sometimes hide it from you. I must
recommend you a sweet text in Job. _Thine age shall be clearer than the
noon day—thou shalt shine forth_, _thou shall be clear as the morning_.
But this new-making second Birth, and new Creation, is the joint work of
the adorable Trinity, and is, of course, property ascribed to each
Person, _Remember therefore thy new Creators_. Let Israel rejoice in
_them_ that made him. God the Father is called the Father of Christ, the
Father of Lights. Of his own will begat he us, with the Word of Truth.
He sheds the dew of the Spirit upon us abundantly, through Jesus Christ
our Lord. This Work is also attributed to Jesus; he is the Resurrection
and the Life—he raiseth up and quickeneth whom he will; and it is by
virtue of his Resurrection from the dead that we are begotten again to a
lively hope.
The blessed and eternal Spirit, the Lord and giver of Life, is also the
Author of this New Creation—_Except a man be born of water and the Spirit
he cannot enter into the kingdom of heaven_. It is the Spirit that
quickens; he it is prepares the mind for Christ, then testifies of Christ
to the soul. May you, my dear Friend, enjoy much of his testimony, and
set to your seal, that _God is true_—and, if I have not tired your
patience, let me remind you of another great act of your CREATORS, the
completing the Work in a manifestative way, in the glorious Resurrection
of the Body, to enjoy endless felicity with the soul. This is what we
have in lively hope and earnest expectation; for this we groan—this is
the redemption of the purchased Possession. God our covenant Father
loved our bodies as well as our souls—the dear Redeemer bought the one as
well as the other—he suffered in the body for sins done by the body. The
Holy Spirit graciously takes up his abode in the soul, as the earnest of
the future inheritance.
This Doctrine has been denied by many—this has been ridiculed as contrary
to sense and reason; but why should it be thought a thing incredible
_that God should raise the Dead_? it can easily be accomplished by the
infinite power and wisdom of God, as well as the first formation of it;
the one will be as easy to him as the other—the sacred scriptures assure
us of it, our faith gives credit to it; and this faith is not in vain,
the Redeemer would lose a part of his purchase if the dead rise not;
besides, he has redeemed them to God, and from the grave; and the general
judgment requires that those who sleep in the dust should come forth.
There is a necessity of the body rising, else we should lose part of our
bliss; for we shall want some of our members in heaven, as the eye, to
see Christ in the flesh, and one another; and the ear, to hear the
everlasting songs of praise; and the tongue, to sing them.—Nor is this
contrary to reason; hence the dear Redeemer, and his servant Paul, has
set it forth by the figure of a corn of wheat, which, being sown, alters,
corrupts, and then springs up a very different figure, yet it is the same
corn of wheat that was sown, though now it appears with a stalk, a blade,
and an ear: so our bodies will be sown; and spring up again with
additional circumstances. Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the
first Resurrection. What heart can conceive the joyful meeting of soul
and body again? This is most affectingly described by Blair:
—Nor shall the conscious soul
Mistake its partner, but amidst the crowd,
Singling its other half, into its arms
Shall rush, with all the impatience of a man
That’s new come home, and having long been absent,
With haste runs over every different room,
In pain to see the whole. Thrice happy meeting!
Nor time, nor death shall ever part them more.
This Resurrection to eternal life, is the joint work of our glorious
_Makers_.—_Knowing that he which raised up Jesus from the dead_, _shall
raise us up also by him_, _and shall present us with you_. So this great
act is ascribed to the dear Saviour; he shall change our vile bodies.
The Holy Spirit will have an hand in this momentous affair, he shall also
quicken our mortal bodies. And it is a charming thought, my Brother,
that as sure as we have been quickened in the soul we shall be in the
body—certain as we hear the voice of Jesus in the Gospel, we shall hear
it in the Resurrection, calling us forth to eternal life. And as sure as
the Gospel trumpet proclaims liberty to our souls, the last trumpets
sound shall bring liberty to our bodies. Let this thought comfort you,
nor shall you be ashamed of your hope, for the mouth of the Lord hath
spoken it.
It is time I proceed to speak of the third particular, the Wise Man’s
exhortation—_Remember_.—We meet with many such fatherly admonitions in
scripture, and in fact, God promises we shall remember. _Thou shalt
remember all the way the Lord thy God hath led thee in the
Wilderness_.—And one of the blessed Offices of the Holy Ghost is that of
a Remembrancer. This influence over the mind we often need in our state
of pilgrimage: we have, naturally, bad memories—besides, Satan is a
thief, and he is secretly watching to steal all the good he can from us,
and to leave us all the dregs. Our inbred sins, and many outward foes,
also hurt our memories—they are Foxes that spoil the Vines, that have
tender grapes. It is an unspeakable mercy that our Salvation does not
depend upon our memories, but in God’s remembering of us. Hence he has
said, _If I forget thee_, _O Jerusalem_, _let my tongue cleave to the
roof of my mouth_. He remembered his Covenant, he remembered his mercy.
_I will remember my Covenant with thee_. Then he appeals to parental
affections, and asks, _Can a woman forget her sucking child_? _Yea_,
_she may forget_, (perhaps, my Brother, I am an instance of it) _yet will
I not forget thee_. _My kindness shall not depart from thee_, _nor the
Covenant of my peace be removed_, _saith the Lord_, _that hath mercy on_
THEE, _O thou afflicted_, _tossed with tempest_, _and not
comforted_.—Here is our security, though we are so forgetful, so
ungrateful—forever we dwell in his heart, forever in his mind; and he has
graciously intimated there are some things which he can never do,
consistently with his Nature, his Perfections, and Covenant. It was
impossible for God to lie: he cannot forget his people, he will not
remember their sins; he will never leave nor forsake those he once has
loved.
But we are exhorted to _Remember him_. This act, in scripture, signifies
to keep in mind somewhat future and important, that we may notice it when
it comes again. _Remember thou keep holy the Sabbath day_: it signifies
to think of, and deeply consider. _When I remember thee on my bed and
meditate on thee in the night watches_: it signifies to love and esteem.
_No man remembered that same poor man_: to praise or mention the great
acts of covenant love, in a way of gratitude. _Remember his marvellous
works which he hath done_: it signifies to call to mind. _Remember that
ye were Gentiles in the flesh_: so that we remember God, when we think
of, believe in, and depend on him for help and strength. _Some put their
trust in horses_, _some in chariots_, _but we will remember the Lord our
God_. To remember, in scripture, also signifies to make a collection.
Hence the Apostle speaking of christian alms giving, says, _That we
should remember the poor_; _the same which I was always forward to do_.
Here, then, clearly appears our privilege, to think deeply of the great
things of God—often to call them to mind; his everlasting love, its
freeness and power; his everlasting covenant, that cannot be broken—his
everlasting purposes to save the ruined, the helpless, and the vile. The
everlasting righteousness of the dear God Man Mediator—the everlasting
salvation with which all the elect shall be saved—the value, the
efficacy, and unspeakable worth of the Atonement—the preciousness of the
offices, glory, titles, and characters of the adorable Trinity in Unity.
These things must be deeply learnt and kept in mind—the knowledge of them
will surely do us good in the days of evil. To make a collection of the
good things the Spirit has shewn to us—every token for good, every sermon
he has blest with power, every sweet view of Jesus, every precious
promise that has been applied, every ray of comfort, every season of
access and nearness to God, every good word and kind hint he has given
us, every deliverance he has wrought for us, every clear answer to
prayer, whether of things temporal or spiritual. These we ought to
notice, keep in mind, and often think over, with humility, with
gratitude, with joy, with wonder; and ask, with the humble Ruth, _Why
have I found grace in thy sight_, _that thou shouldest take knowledge of
me_, _seeing I am but a stranger_?
Remember, with _diligence_; for as we abound in faith the Apostle says,
We are to abound in all diligence. The pious Psalmist declares, His
heart and spirit made a diligent search. The woman who had lost her
piece of silver, is said, To sweep the house, and search diligently till
she found it—and the Lord is sure to bless the diligent remembrance of
himself; take the following texts: _The hand of the diligent maketh
rich_. _The hand of the diligent shall bear rule_. _The substance of
the diligent man is precious_. _The soul of the diligent shall be made
fat_. _The thought of the diligent tends only to plenty_. _He that
diligently seeketh good procureth favour_.—Thus we see what God has
promised to the _diligent_. Say not this is _legal_, No!—I am exhorting
a believer, a quickened soul, one that has light, life, and love. All
spiritual actions, acceptable to God, must spring from this quarter. Do
you attend while you can to these important things, nor shall you fail of
your reward. Be not deceived, God is not mocked, for whatever a man
soweth that shall he also reap; and sure I am, every man shall find this
text true in his experience, 2 Cor. ix, 6, _He that soweth sparingly
shall reap sparingly_: _He which soweth bountifully shall reap
bountifully_. So the scriptures affirm: I have found it and so shall
you.
Thus while you are in health of body, peace of mind, furnished with the
Spirit’s influence as a Remembrancer—do call to mind, collect together
and highly esteem these things, in meditation and prayer, and bless him
for what he has done for you and in you. Turn down those pages in your
Bible which you have found precious. Tell the dear people of God what
Christ has done for you, that they may help you to praise him; for it is
written, _They shall come and declare the Work of God in Zion_.—Nor would
you lose any thing by it, should you keep a Diary of the Lord’s dealings
with you; it would be blessed to read it over another day, especially in
the days of evil. Hence the exhortation, _Set thee up way marks_: _set
thee up high heaps_—for, being like poor Jacob, we want reminding of our
vows, and of God’s goodness. Hence the command, _Arise_, _go to Bethel_,
_where thou anointedst the Pillar_, _and make thee an altar to God_, _who
appeared for thee when thou fleddest from the face of Esau_. It is well
to remember what God has done for us, it encourages us in prayer and
sweet confidence another day, as may be seen in this good man’s History,
Genesis xxxii, when pleading with God for his safety. He acknowledges
past mercies, when he only possessed a staff twenty years before, and
with it came over that very place where he then stood with two hands! He
confesses his utter unworthiness, and pleads with God upon the ground of
his promises he had applied to him in times pest. Presents his prayer,
mixed with thanksgiving, and obtains an answer. To feel gratitude is a
mercy for it well becomes the just to be thankful.
I’ll speak the honors of thy name,
With my last lab’ring breath;
And, speechless, clasp thee in my arms,
My joy in life and death.
This leads me to notice the reasons Why Solomon urges this point;
_because the evil days and years are coming on_, _in which you will truly
say_, _I have no pleasure in them_. And as you have a little pleasure at
times, and have had a good deal of pleasure in the Bible, in the House of
God, at the Table of the Lord, in company with the saints, in private
retirement, in doing good to some, in pitying and in praying for others,
and could understand something of this text, _They meetest him that
rejoicest in thee—those that remember thee in thy ways_. In which things
you have had pleasure, and could rejoice in these youthful days. But as
some of these days are gone, and the rest may fly, let me advise you
against such seasons as you will say, You have no pleasure in. But may
the Lord water you every moment, and keep you night and day, to final
salvation—maintain his own work, and bear testimony to your spirit, what
is his work, and what is not. This you have prayed for many a time, and
by terrible things in righteousness God is pleased often to answer us.