SERMON IV. 49 while the men of this world look only at the thingsthat are visible and temporal ; 2 Cor. iv. 18. The sinful many, or multitudeof sinners, say, Whowill shew us any good ? But they seek it only among corn, wine, and oil, &c. The saint prays tohis God, Lord, lift upon me the light of thy countenance; and this shall put gladness into my heart more than in the time that their corn and their wine increased; Ps. iv. 6, 7. This is the first reason holiness is describedby the word spirit. II. Holiness is represented by the spirit, because it is com- municated to us by God the Father of our spirits, even as sin is conveyed down to us by the parents of our flesh. It is wrought in us by his blessed Spirit, whose character it is to be holy. In Rom. viii. 13, 14. you see holiness described as receiving its very nature and operationin us from-the Spirit of God. As many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God ; and it is by the spirit we mortify the deeds of the flesh, or body, that so we may live. As they that are born of the flesh are flesh, so theythat are born of the spirit are spirit : John. iii. 6. This is the language of our Lord Jesus Christ. They who have past through no renewing and reforming change of heart since their natural birth, they are still in a natural sinful state, and the principles of sin are prevalent in them : but theywho have been thus changed and renewedby the blessed Spirit of God, have a new and spiritual natural principle and temper givento them, and are made holy. As by being born of man, we become the chil- dren of Adam, and gain a sinful nature ; so by being born of God we become thesons of God, and gain a divine, a holynature. We are born of God unto holiness, as we are born of flesh unto sin ; 1 John iii. 9. He that is born of God sinneth not; that is, sin is not his nature and delight, nor his common and allowed practice. We are,regenerated and new-created by the Spirit of God ; Titus iii. 5. Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but of his own mercy hath he saved us by regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Spirit. - III. Another reason why the principle of holiness is called spirit, is because thechief springs of holiness, and of opposition to sin, are found- in the soul or spiritual part, as the springs and occasions of sinare chieflyseated in the flesh. This is true both in saints and sinners, for even in sinners that have no renewing grace, there is the light of nature, as well as the knowledge of scripture in our nation ; thereare the powers of reason and conscience; and these judge concerning vice and virtue, that one is to be avoided, and the other practised ; these inward and intellectual principles tell us, that sin is offensive to God our Maker ; that it exposes us to his anger, and deserves terrible punishment; and by the exerciseand influence of natural: VOL. I. F.."
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