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Tit. 3. 5.

John 3. 5.

ver. 6.

SERM. His Word raised the Heavens out of nothing, giving them a being or existence in general; then by His Spirit, He made all the hosts of them, that is, all things wherewith they were to be furnished and adorned, bringing them all into their proper place and order, that every thing might be, and act, and move, as He designed it should; so here, when any are created in Christ Jesus, His Spirit moves upon their souls, and reduces all their powers and faculties into a right John 6. 63. order and disposition again, "so as to quicken,” “renew,” regenerate,” and make them another sort of creatures than they were before; before they were natural, now supernatural; before carnal, now spiritual creatures; "For that which is born of the flesh, is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit, is spirit." As they were at first born, they were all flesh; by this new birth, they are all over spirit, of the same pure and spiritual nature with Him of whom they are Rom. 8. 14. born again; and therefore as before "they were the offspring of Adam, they are now made the children of God;"" and if children, then heirs, heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ, in whom they are thus created." Such a wonderful change is wrought in those who are created in Christ Jesus, in all respects as much to be admired as the first creation of all things out of nothing.

ver. 17.

Gen. 1. 3.

ver. 2.

Moreover, as in the first creation, the first particular thing that God made was "light;" so it is in this new creation: before God made light, it is said, "That darkness was upon the face of the abyss or deep." And so it is in this case, darkness is upon the face of all mankind by nature; the worst sort of darkness, even spiritual darkness, covers them all over; so that although they have eyes to see other things, they cannot see the things that belong to their everlasting peace, nor discern so much as the true difference between good and evil; much less can they see God, though His glory shines continually about them, no more than a man that is stark blind can see the sun at noon-day; and as for the Gospel of Christ, they are so far from seeing any thing of that, that they laugh at those who profess to see any thing 1 Cor. 1. 23. in it, as the Apostle observes, "The preaching of Christ

crucified is to the Jews a stumbling-block, and to the Greeks foolishness." And all because the natural man re

ceiveth not the things of the Spirit of God, "For they are 1 Cor. 2.14. foolishness unto him, neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned."

4.

26.]

There are many such natural men in the world; indeed the far greatest part of men are such, but the condition of all such is very sad and deplorable; for however they may flatter themselves at present, they will find the Apostle's words to be true, "If our Gospel be hid, it is hid to them 2 Cor. 4. 3, that are lost; in whom the god of this world hath blinded *. the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious Gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them." If they believed, the god of this world could have no power over them; but seeing they will not believe, he "carrieth them captive at his will," keeps them [2 Tim. 2. in the dark, and leads them blindfold to the place allotted for unbelievers. Netiher is it possible to be avoided without having their eyes opened: they must first be turned from Acts 26. 18. darkness to light, before they can be turned from the power of Satan unto God. But "God who commanded the light 2 Cor. 4. 6. to shine out of darkness, shines in the hearts" of those who are created anew, "to give them the light of the knowledge of the Glory of God, in the face of Jesus Christ," "who is John 8. 12. the Light of the World," "the true Light which lighteth ch. 1. 9. every man that cometh into the world." So that no man ever had or can have any light but from Him. Who therefore saith that He "came a Light into the world, that ch. 12. 46. whosoever believeth on Him should not abide in darkness." And therefore all who believe, and so are created in Him, are so far from abiding any longer in darkness, that they are immediately enlightened by Him, with such a light, whereby they both see and feel the wondrous things of His law and Gospel, and all things relating to their eternal happiness and Salvation, which lie hid to all other mortals; for He the Sun of Righteousness shines, not only about them and upon them, but in them; spreading His bright beams all over their hearts, so as not only to open the eyes of their understanding, but to fill their whole souls with so clear a sight, and so quick a sense of what He would have them to believe and do, that their wills also are wholly inclined to it. There is no need of any force; for when they so plainly see it to be

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SERM. for their own benefit and advantage, they cannot but of their own accord choose to believe and live as He would have them. This is that marvellous light to which they are called,

1 Pet. 2. 9. "who are created in Jesus Christ."

ver. 1.

ver. 2.

ver. 3.

Passing over the other parts of the creation, let us in the next place consider, how man himself was at first made. Gen. 1. 26. God said, "Let Us make man in Our image, after Our likeness." Here we see several Persons were pleased to manifest themselves as concerned and agreeing in making man, which could be no other, than those who are before mentioned or implied in the rest of the creation, even God Himself," the Spirit of God, and the Word," "by whom John 1.3; all things were made." So it was when the second man was Eph. 3. 9; "The Word was then made flesh." He was made so Col. 1. 16. made; by the Spirit of God coming upon the Blessed Virgin, and Luke 1. 35. by the power of the Highest over-shadowing her. “And was therefore called the Son of God, even of God the Father." And so it is also when any particular men are created in Christ Jesus. They are created by the Father, the Creator of all things: He creates them in His Son, Christ, and by His Spirit moving upon them, as we before shewed.

John 1. 14.

2 Cor. 4. 4;

Col. 1. 15.

Heb. 1.3.

But that which is chiefly to be observed in our present case, is, "That God created man in His Own image, after His likeness," as like unto Himself as it was possible for such a creature to be made in knowledge, holiness and power over all earthly creatures; and as the first man was made in the image of God, so the second, even Jesus Christ, "He is the image of God," "the express image of His Person." And when any are created in Him, they are said to put on Christ, Rom. 13.14; and so "the image of God," "and to put on the new man, Eph. 4. 24. which after God," or according to His likeness, "is created in Col. 3. 10. righteousness and true holiness," " and renewed in know2 Pet. 1. 4. ledge, after the image of Him that created him;"" and Heb. 12. 10. therefore all such partake of the Divine Nature," "even of 1 Pet. 1. 15. the holiness of God, which is His Nature;" "being made holy as He who hath called them is holy in all manner of conversation."

Gal. 3. 27.

From these things thus briefly touched upon, we may see how truly they who believe as the Gospel requires, are here said to be created in Christ Jesus, what excellent creatures

they are made, and how far they exceed all other men, and themselves too before they were so created. Before, their whole souls were disordered and out of tune, now they are restored to a right frame and temper again; they have a right understanding and judgment in all necessary things. They always exercise themselves to keep their consciences void of offence towards God and men. They look upon all things in the world as nothing in comparison of Him that made them, and therefore they love Him with all their hearts, they put their whole trust and confidence in Him, they fear nothing but Him, they rejoice continually in Him, and account it their only pleasure to please Him, and their greatest honour to honour Him. It grieves them to the heart to see His holy Name dishonoured, or His service slighted; and if they themselves ever happen to omit their daily prayers, or any duty which they owe to Him, they are restless and uneasy until they return to it; for their minds being wholly bent upon doing what He whose image they bear would have them, whatsoever draws them aside, goes against the grain; they set the Lord God Almighty always before them, and therefore are always humble and lowly in their own eyes, and meek, patient and submissive to His Divine Will: in short, the law of God being written again in their hearts, their whole nature is changed; insomuch, that as all things naturally tend to their proper end, so do they to that for which they are created.

What that is, the Apostle here teacheth, saying, "That we are created in Christ Jesus unto good works;" we are not created to sit still and do nothing, much less to do ill; but to do good works; that is the end of the second creation, as it was of the first. At first, "the Lord made all things for Prov. 16. 4. Himself," even to shew forth the glory of His infinite wisdom, power, goodness, and such other perfections as could be exerted in the contrivance, production, and establishment of the world, and all things in it; but there are two of His Divine perfections, even grace, or mercy and truth, for which there was yet no occasion or object; but when man was fallen He was pleased to manifest them, by redeeming or creating him again in Christ Jesus. By whom it is therefore said, "that grace and truth came," or appeared in "the world." John 1. 17.

SERM. Grace, in the many promises which He hath made to fallen man; and His truth, in the faithful performance of the

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same.

Now this will give us great light into what we are to understand by the good works unto which we are created in Christ Jesus. Not that Divine temper of mind, or those excellent qualities and virtues wherewith such are inwardly endued, but such overt acts which proceed from them to the honour and glory of our Almighty Creator. This we learn Matt. 5. 16. from our Lord's own words to His Disciples, "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in Heaven." For from hence it appears, that although we are not to do good works therefore only that men may see them, and so make that our end in doing them, yet that our works may be good, they must be such as men may see, and glorify God for them; according to that of His Apostle also to all Christians, 1 Pet. 2. 12. “having your conversation honest among the Gentiles, that whereas they speak against you as evil-doers, they may by your good works which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation." They should be such works as men may behold, and praise and glorify God for giving such power to men, that they who of themselves can do nothing but sin, should be enabled by Him to do good, which is much for the glory of His grace and truth revealed in the Gospel of Christ; and the great end wherefore any are created in Him, even, "to shew forth the praises or virtues of Him who hath called them out of darkness into His marvellous light." 1 Cor.10.31. And therefore as all such are to aim at "the glory of God" in all their works, without which they cannot be good; so they must strive all they can to do such works as may really tend to His glory, as ever they desire to answer the end of their creation, by doing good works.

ver. 9.

To make this more plain, it will be necessary to instance in some of those works which are truly good, and therefore commanded, because of their tendency to the ultimate end of all things, even the glory of our Almighty Creator and most merciful Saviour; as for example, to make open and public profession to the world of our faith in God and our Saviour, according to the revelations which He hath made of Him