new creation is wrought in the soul to its actual entrance into the state of glory, is only for the eternal Spirit to breathe within us, to shine on his own work wrought in us, and draw it forth into act and exercise. Hence Paul prays thus for the Thefsalonians; "Where"fore also we pray always for you, that "our God would count you worthy of "this calling, and fulfil all the good "pleasure of his goodness, and the work "of faith with power"."

66 A

Regeneration is the foundation of every gracious, spiritual, and holy act, performed by saints throughout the whole course of their lives. It is the fruit of election the first blefsing which takes place within us, and our open introduction into the enjoyment of all others. It is wrought in the soul by the word, and by the Spirit of God. Being born again not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God "which liveth and abideth for ever"." The word is the seed sown in the heart, which the Holy Ghost puts life and power into; and without any concurrence of the creature. He speaks, and it is done: he commands, and the work of the new creation abideth for ever. So that the new birth "is not of blood, 2 Thess. i. 11. • 1 Pet. i. 23.

"nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the "will of man, but of God"." All the divine persons are engaged in this divine act of grace. It is ascribed to God the Father by the apostle James, "Every good gift, and every perfect gift is "from above, and cometh down from "the Father of lights, with whom is no "variableness, neither shadow of turn"ing. Of his own will begat he us "with the word of truth, that we should "be a kind of first fruits of his crea

tures." It is attributed to Christ by the apostle John', "If ye know that he "is righteous, ye know that every one "that doeth righteousness is born of "him." It is so peculiarly applied to the Holy Spirit as to derive its denomi nation of Spirit from him. Hence our Lord says, "That which is born of the "spirit is SPIRIT.'

We find the apostle Peter blefsing God for the inestimable blefsing of regeneration after this manner, "Blefsed "be the God and Father of our LORD "JESUS CHRIST, which according to "his abundant mercy hath begotten us "again unto a lively hope, by the resur "rection of Jesus Christ from the dead, "to an inheritance incorruptible, and "undefiled, and that fadeth not away, "reserved in Heaven for you, who are

P John i. 13.

r

9 James i. 17, 18.

1 Ep. ii. 29.

"kept by the power of God through "faith unto salvation." The new birth is noble, divine, and heavenly. It is wholly of God. The same power, which was put forth to raise Christ from the dead, is put forth in regeneration. The apostle would have those persons rejoice and glory in this, that they had God for their Father, that they were begotten again by him, through the incorruptible seed and Spirit of God,- that their hope in God was a lively one, being founded on the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, that they were born heirs of God, to an inheritance incorruptible, reserved for them, and that they were kept for the enjoyment of it by the power of God. Christ's resurrection hath a virtual influence in our resurrection. Christ's resurrection is the exemplary pattern of it, according to which, as the Spirit wrought in him, so he works in us a work conformable to his resurrection. As the resurrection of Christ was the great declaration of his being the Son of God; so is regeneration of our being the sons of God; it being the evidence of our adoption, and also the first discovery of our election. As Christ's resurrection was the first step to his eternal kingdom and glory; so regeneration is the first open introduction into all the blessings of that state $1 Pet. i. 3, 4, 5.

of grace, into which the child of God is now introduced.

"The God of all grace, who hath "called us unto his eternal glory by "Christ Jesus," invests us with a meetnefs for, and with a manifestative right and title to, the kingdom of Heaven; by giving us in regeneration a spiritual life in our souls, which will issue in life eternal. A right to and foretaste of which are then given us, when we are called with an holy calling, and made partakers of the divine nature. This exprefsion, "that ye might be partakers of "the divine nature," is made use of by Peter. He is speaking of what is bestowed on us in regeneration, and he addrefses himself to the regenerate thus, "To them that have obtained like pre"cious faith with us (i. e. the apostles) "through the righteousness (or in the "righteousness) of God and our Saviour "Jesus Christ: grace and peace be multiplied unto you, through the know

ledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, "according as his divine power hath "given unto us all things that pertain "unto life and godlinefs, through the "knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue; whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises; that by these ye t 2 Epistle i. 4.

might be partakers of the divine na"ture"." The divine nature is bestowed in regeneration, in which are contained all the principles of grace and holiness, with all the seeds of spiritual and everlasting life. And, by regeneration, the divine nature is inherent in our souls.

It is styled, The divine nature, because it is the perfect image of God's nature, and perfectly conformable to it, suited to what is in God, and fits the soul for holding communion with God, and receiving gracious communications from him. Thus, as the chosen had in election a supernatural life and being given them in Christ, and supercreationblessings bestowed on them in him; so in regeneration they receive, and are made partakers of the divine nature, suited to the enjoyment and participation of all those blessings. It is not the nature of God, but it is a nature suited to all things in God, which fits us to take in his glory, and to be happy in him for ever; on which account it is styled, "The divine nature." Hereby the rege nerate are filled with all those spiritual faculties which qualify them for taking in the knowledge of God the Father and his Son Jesus Christ, and for holding communion with them, both on earth and in heaven.-Paul, speaking of the 2 Pet. i. 1, 2, 3, 4.