The ßle0ednefs of the Peace - makers? 397 by converfion, that is, repenting fincerely SE R M. and forfaking their fins, they return dutifully XIV. to their father's houfe, and he receiveth them -`r""' gracioufly into his favour and into his family: they are begotten again to a lively hope, born not of corruptible feed but of incorruptible, by the word of God that liveth and abideth for ever, i Pet. i. 23. and as it is faid john i. 12, 13. They who by receiving Chrift, that is, believing in him and fincerely em- bracing his religion, get power, or a right, to become the fans of God, are born not of blood, nor of the will of the flefh, nor of the will of men, but of God. Again, it is particularly to our prefent pur- pofe to obferve, that the ground of this rela- tion, as the fcripture reprefenteth it, is the fimilitude of difpofition and manners. They who imitate an original chara1er in their temper and behaviour, whether it be good or bad, are called the children of that perfon whofe character it is. Thus they who be- lieve in God and are his fincere fervants, are called by the apoflle Paul in the 4th to the Romans, and in other paffiages of his epifiles, the children of Abraham who was an eminent example of faith and holy obedience : And thus our Saviour himfelf in Yohn viii. 44. faith to the wicked Jews who malicioufly per-
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=