The Online Library of Liberty

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• The Divine Feudal Law Represented
• §1.
• §2.
• §3
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• §6
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• §8
• §9
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• §14.
• §15
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• §19
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• §24.
• §25
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• §31
• §32
• §33
• §34
• §35
• §36
• §37
• §38
• §39.
• §40
• §41
• §42
• §43
• §44
• §45
• §46
• §47
• §48
• §49
• §50
• §51
• §52
• §53
• §54
• §55
• §56
• §57
• §58
• §59
• §60
• §61
• §62
• §63
• §64
• §65
• §66
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• §70
• §71
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• §74
• §75
• §76
• §77
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• §79
• §80
• §81
• §82
• §83
• §84
• §85
• §86
• §87
• §88
• §89
• §90
• §91
• §92
• §93
• §94

§53

Regeneration attends the Entrance into the Covenant.Further, They who actually come under that Covenant are said to be therein regenerated, and to become, as it were, new Men. Which Word Regeneration is also borrow’d from the Jews: Among whom he also, who from among the Heathens became a Proselite of Righteousness, was accounted regenerate, and as an Infant new born, as if he were born of a new Mother: Inasmuch as being now, as it were, newly created, or come down from Heaven, he was reckon’d to become a new Man, having put off his former Consanguinity or Kindred no less than his Gentilism. Concerning which Matter, see Selden de Jure Nat. & Gent. &c. L. 11. C. 4.39 Tho’ the Jews wandred far, even into several Trifles, concerning this Matter. Unless it may be said that the ancient Jews understood many Things otherwise than as the Words found, and that their Sense of Things in this Case was very little different from ours. But the Things which the Holy Scriptures deliver concerning Regeneration may be reduced to what follows. Christ shews the Necessity of Regeneration, Joh. 3:3, 6. Unless a Man be born from above, he cannot see the Kingdom of God: For what is born of the flesh, that is, of that Stock or Race which is infected by Sin, is Flesh, and is it self defil’d with Sin. But Flesh and Blood cannot inherit the Kingdom of God, neither can Corruption inherit Incorruption, 1 Cor. 15:50. That Flesh, or that vicious and deprav’d Nature, which since the Fall of our first Parents is propagated to all their Off-spring, and is fruitful of evil Thoughts and Lusts, and such as are contrary to the Law of God, is so blinded, that it knows not Christ, nor can with its own Strength find him out, Mat. 16:17. According to which Nature and Quality Men are said to be Carnal, and sold under Sin, Rom. 7:5. and to mind only the Things of the Flesh, Rom. 8:5. and to walk as Men, that is, as such corrupted, being full of Envyings, Strifes and Divisions, 1 Cor. 3:3. Add also 2 Pet. 2:10. The Works of which Flesh are reckon’d up, Gal. 5:19, 20, 21. and ’tis said there, They who do such things shall not inherit the Kingdom of God. That Corruption also is signified under the Name of the Animal Man, and the Earthly Man, who receiveth not the Things of the Spirit of God, because they are Foolishness to him, 1 Cor. 2:14, 15, 48. Eph. 4:17, 18. But more frequently is it call’d the old Man, who by Baptism is to be buried into Death; that like as Christ rose again from the Dead by the Glory of the Father, so also we should walk in Newness of Life. And which old Man is crucified with Christ that the Body of Sin may be destroy’d, that we may not henceforth serve Sin, Rom. 6:4, 6. And this is the old Leaven which must be purg’d out, 1 Cor. 5:7, 8. and which is to be put off concerning the former Conversation as corrupt, according to the deceitful Lusts of it, Eph. 4:22. Add Col. 3:9. Therefore when we come into Covenant with Christ, that Flesh is not indeed altogether abolish’d, but yet the Dominion of it is destroy’d, that we should no more serve Sin, nor walk according to it, and that we should endeavour to crucifie and mortifie it. And on the other Hand we are said to be begotten of God, of Immortal Seed, by the Word of God, who liveth and abideth for ever, 1 Pet. 1:23. And we are said to become a new Creature, Gal. 5:15. and new Men, in whom God creates a new Heart, Psal. 51:12. and to whom he gives a new Spirit, and takes away the Heart of Stone, and gives a Heart of Flesh; that is, one that is soft and teachable, ready to obey God, Ezek. 36:26, 27. and in which the Law of God is written, Jer. 31:33, 34. Not that any new Physical Substance is created in us, but a new Disposition, a new Inclination, and new Powers, are put into our Minds from above, and are excited by the Spirit of God; such as are diverse from those which we have from our carnal Nativity. And this new Disposition is not built upon the old one as on a Foundation, as if there were hereby supplied what is wanting to Perfection in the Flesh: But altogether a new Creature is said to be produc’d, 1 Cor. 5:17. Repugnant to that old Disposition, and such as is bent and set to the utter Extinction of the other, Gal. 5:17. Which new Creature is also call’d the new Man, because these take in the chief Part of Man, that is, the Understanding and Will, the other Parts of Men being commonly but as Instruments to these, For by Regeneration new Light comes into the Understanding; so that they who before mere Darkness are now become Light in the Lord, Eph. 5:8. And a new Life takes Possession of the Will, and a new Inclination tending towards God, whom before it shunn’d, Rom. 6:13. When as before we were dead in Trespasses and Sins God hath quickned us together with Christ. Eph. 2:1, 5. And whereas the Carnal Mind is Enmity to God, Rom. 8:7. being now born again, we delight in the Law of God in the inner Man, and with the Mind we serve the Law of God, Rom. 7:22, 25. And this new Man is call’d the inner Man, as having its Seat in the very Soul; for the External Actions of it may be counterfeited by Hypocrites, and because other Things are common to the Regenerate with other Men, and do outwardly appear in both; but Regeneration is properly belonging to these alone, and is, as it were, hidden in the inward Recesses of the Heart, Eph. 3:16. 2 Cor. 4:16. Whence ’tis said by Christ, The Kingdom of God is within you, Luk. 17:24. Rom. 2:28, 29. 1 Pet. 2:4. To this Purpose serves what is said, Mat. 15:17, &c. Mar. 7:1, &c. Mat. 23:25, 26, 27, 28. To this the outward Man is opposed; and ’tis said, As that decays, this is renewed Day by Day, 2 Cor. 4:16. and it is strengthened by the Spirit of God, Eph. 3:16. So then by Regeneration is a new State or new Condition conferr’d on a Man; and we who before were by Nature Children of Wrath, and those upon whom as Children of Unbelief the Wrath of God did abide, now we are the Sons of God, Joh. 1:12, 13. and we receive by Adoption the Privilege of Sons, Gal. 4:5. are beloved in the Beloved. We are made Partakers of the Divine Nature, 2 Pet. 1:4. We are engrafted as Branches into Christ the Vine, and by his Vertue bring forth much Fruit, John 15:1, &c. So that not we live, but Christ liveth in us, Gal. 2:20. And we live not to our selves, but to the Lord we live or die, Rom. 14:7, 8. Are freed from the Law of Sin and Death, Rom. 8:2. Being freed from Sin we are made the Servants of God, Rom. 6:17, 22, with which is conjoin’d that, because we are Sons we are also Heirs, Co-heirs, with Christ, or are to be Partakers of the same Glory, Gal. 4:7. Rom. 8:17. That we should be no longer Strangers and Foreigners, but Fellow-Citizens with the Saints, and of the Houshold of God, Eph. 2:19. Whose Conversation or Citizenship is in Heaven, who are free of the Heavenly Jerusalem, Phil. 3:20. and who have Admission into the House of God, where there are Mansions prepared for us, Joh. 14:2, 3. Here indeed we have no enduring City, but we seek one to come, Heb. 13:14. Lastly, By Regeneration there are put into the Regenerate new Faculties, new Inclinations, and Powers, so that their Understanding is illuminated, and their Wills come to take Delight in the Law of God, and they are renew’d in the Spirit of their Minds, Eph. 4:23. To the Acknowledgment and Image of him that created him, Col. 3:10. That they should walk in Newness of Life, and from thenceforth no longer serve Sin, but should live to God, Rom. 6:4, 6, 11. That as Spiritual they should mind the Things of the Spirit, and should by the Spirit mortifie the Deeds of the Body, or the Flesh, Rom. 8:5. 13. That they might be turn’d from Darkness to Light, and from the Power of Satan unto God, Acts 26:18. Created unto good Works, Eph. 2:10. And bring forth the Fruits of the Spirit in all Goodness, and Righteousness, and Truth, Eph. 5:9. That they may be strengthened with Might by the Spirit of God in the inner Man, Eph. 2:16, &c. That taking the whole Armour of God they may be able to stand in the evil Day, and having done all, to stand, Eph. 6:13. That the Spirit may help our Infirmities, and intercede for us with Sighs that cannot be utter’d, Rom. 8:26. That they may bring forth Fruit unto God, and serve him in Newness of Spirit, Rom. 7:4, 6. That they may cry Abba, Father, Rom. 8:5. Gal. 4:6. That they may mind this one thing, forgetting those Things which are behind may press forwards towards those Things which are before, Phil. 2:13. That the Law of God may be put into their Hearts, and written by God in their Minds, Heb. 8:10. 10:16. Jer. 31:33. That Sin may not reign in them, Rom. 6:14. Lastly, That their Body may be the Temple of the Holy Ghost dwelling in them which they have of God, and are not their own, 1 Cor. 6:19. But this must be observed concerning Regeneration strictly taken: That this, as also Justification, is done, as it were, in an Instant, and is not done Day after Day, or can be said to be capable of Degrees, or to be more or less done. But it is otherwise with Sanctification, and the Renewal of a Man, which may receive successive Degrees, and ought to do so. But from all these Things there is this Consequence to be gather’d: If any Man calls himself a Christian, and yet is not govern’d by another Impulse and Guidance than that of his Carnal Concupiscence, or his natural Reason, such as is found even in Heathens, and has for the Scope and Aim of his Actions nothing but what is pleasant, or profitable, or becoming in the Sight of the World, such an one either never was regenerated, or is fallen from his Regeneration again. For in Truth the Regenerate are carried by a diviner Instinct, and have a nobler Scope and Aim set before them.

[39.]John Selden, De Jure Naturali et Gentium Juxta Disciplinam Ebraeorum Libri Septem (On the Law of Nature and of Nations according to the Doctrine of the Hebrews), 1665, book 11, chap. 4.