Something CONCERNING THE Two Births.  
IN serious Meditation, and weighty Consideration, upon those words of Christ to Nichodemus, John 3.3. Except a man be born again he cannot see the Kingdom of God: And hereby it doth plainly appear that there is an absolute necessity of a second Birth, and Work of Regeneration: And seeing it is thus, it greatly concerns all, that none neglect nor slight the day of their Visitation, lest it be said unto them, as it was said unto Jerusalem of old, O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the Prophets, and stonest them that are sent unto thee; How often would I have gathered thee, even as a Hen gathereth her Chickens under her wings, and ye would not, Matth. 23.37. Here was the Love of God in Jesus Christ unto Jerusalem, but Jerusalem neglected, or rather rejected the day of their Visitation; which shows, that God is not the Author of man's Destruction, as some would make him, who hold that Point or Principle of Reprobation; but that man hath Destroyed himself, according to the Prophet's Words Hosea 13.9 O Israel, thou hast destroyed thyself. And this I really do believe, that God bathe given to all People upon the Face of the Earth a day and time of Visitation, as he did unto Jerusalem: And seeing it is thus, what manner of persons ought we to be in all holy and godly Conversation? The first Birth being of the Earth earthly; and as the Apostle saith, speaking of themselves as well as others, Among whom also we all had our Conversation in times past, in the Lusts of the Flesh, and were by nature the Children of Wrath, even as others, Eph. 2.3. Which is a state of Death, and Darkness, and Disobedience, Loving and Delighting in the Creature more than in God the Creator, having the Heart and Mind alinated and separated from a Life in God and Righteousness, and their chief Delight and Pleasure in things below the Lord, and of this World, and their Minds mostly exercised thereupon, with great Delight and Pleasure, being not subject to the Lord that made them, nor willing to be led and guided by his good Spirit, but choosing and joining with that which doth most agree with their carnal sensual Minds; neither knowing a Bridle to their Tongue; though they may make a great profession of God, and Christ, and Scriptures, and yet their Religion but vain; as the Apostle James saith, If any man among you seem to be Religious, and bridleth not his Tongue, that man's Religion is vain, James 1.26. And if this be so as I certainly believe it is, then how many men's Religions will prove but vain? who love and delight so much in foolish Talking and Jesting, which are not convenient, Eph. 5.4. And let Experience spoke to this, whether it be not much the Practice both of Priests and People, when they are together; and what Benefit do any of you find by Reading and Speaking of the Scriptures, while you do not Live and Walk accordingly? This doth discover your Hypocrisy, and will be a witness against you: Be not deceived, God will not be mocked, for whatsoever a man soweth that shall he also Reap, as the Apostle is very express, Gal. 6.8. He that soweth to the Flesh, shall of the Flesh reap Corruption; and he that soweth to the Spirit, shall of the Spirit reap Life Everlasting. (Now Mark) here is a sowing to the Flesh and to the Spirit, and a reaping accordingly; neither are such willing to take up the daily Cross, without which none can be his Disciple, take his own Words for it, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his Cross daily, and follow me, Luke 9.23. Nor yet a true Love to Brethren, which is a great evidence and token of an Eternal and Everlasting Inheritance, 1 John 3.14. where the Apostle saith, We know we are passed from Death to Life, because we love the Brethren. And how far are unregenerate People from this, as is manifest by their Fruits; what Pride, Covetousness, Envying and Destroying one an other and that about Carnal, Earthly things; and this in short is the estate of too many People upon the Face of the whole Earth, in one degree or other, in the first Nature, before the work of Regeneration be known or witnessed.  
But being Changed and Redeemed, by the effectual working and operation of the holy divine Spirit of God upon the Heart; then a great Work wrought and witnessed, a new Heart, a new Mind, new Love, new Delight, old things are passed away, and all things become new; and then, a loving God with all thy Heart, with all thy Soul, and thy Neighbour as thyself, and a Cross taken up to all the World's Ways, Delights and Pleasures, Customs, Fellowships and Fashions, though heretofore never so much loved and delighted in; and the Heart, Mind and Spirit exercised in, and upon Heavenly and Spiritual things, being alive thereunto, and dead unto the World and worldly things which have Evil in them; according to David, that man of God, of whom it is said, His delight was in the Law of the Lord, and in that Law doth he meditate Day and Night Psal 1.2. And such become willing to do, or to suffer for God and his Truth, and bear a faithful Testimony for him, against ●hat which is evil in all its appearances, being separated from the World its Ways and Worships, which are out of the Spirit, into the Worship in the Spirit, and in the Truth; being kept in the holy fear and dread of the Lord at all times, whereby they dare not join with them whose Tongues are at Liberty, like those who said, Our Tongues are our own who is Lord over us? Psal. 12.4. But such are out of the fear of the Lord which keeps down and under that vain, light, airy Spirit of the World; and here is not only a talking and profession of Religion, but a living and walking accordingly: For this I know, that that Religion, Profession and Worship, be what it will, in which People are not redeemed and changed out of their vain Conversation, in that Religion, Pofession and Worship their Souls can never be saved, according to Christ's Doctrine, Except a man be born again he cannot see the Kingdom of God; and seeing it is thus, let all press forward, that they may attain to that Pure and undefiled Religion which keeps unspotted from the World; and such will become good Pattrons and Examples in their places, having a constant care over their Thoughts and Words, like good David, who said, I will take heed to my Ways, that I sin not with my Tongue: I will keep my Mouth with a Bridle, while the Wicked is before me, Psal. 39.1. A good Man, a blessed Condition; but how unlike unto David are many professing Christians now, both Priests and People, who talk much of God and Christ, and Scriptures for their Rule; but how little do they endeavour to Live and Walk accordingly: Is it not plain Scripture, and Christ's own Words, That for every idle word that men shall speak they shall give account at the day of Judgement. And yet how common are not only idle Words but invoked Oaths, and other great Abominations among a People professing Christianity, for which we may justly fear a Judgement come over the Nation. Oh that the Lord would give Repentance, that his Wrath might be appeased; and Blessed, and Happy are all they whose ●earts and Minds are redeemed out of the Evil of this World, and out of the Pleasures thereof, into that one true Fellowship the Apostle declares of 1 John 1.7. If we walk in the Light as he is in the Light, we have Fellowship one with another, and the Blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all Sin. Here is the new Creation, and second Birth, Christ spoke of, known; and Blessed, and for ever Blessed are all they that are Witnesses hereof, ye for ever and for evermore, Amen.  
From a Lover of Truth and Righteousness. Thomas Laythes. Dalehead in Cumberland the 12th of the 8th Month, 1686.  
THE END.