Chap-2-SeCt-9 · JLooittng unto jjcftt.S'. other; thenefpeciallywas a difcovery ofthegqodnefs, and power,_ and wifdom, a~d holinefs of God. So when this new brrth Is, we muft look upon It as a glonous dr~cover of rhofe lovely attribmes. • As , I. Ot his mercy, goodnefs,-love; how often rs this c?Jled his grace, and the riches ofhis grace? Chriftians ! you that know wh_at the new birrh means, do you nor fay, the t,oodmfs of God apptars "'1hu? furely 1t was Gods goodnefs ro make aworld , but tlus IS the nches of Jus goodnefs ro c~·eate a new heart ii:l you . when man by Ius fin was fallen·, he rmght have been ~hr~wn away as refufe , fit f~el only for everlafting flames 1 it m_ighr have been with mankrnd 'as' it_was wirh devils in their de'uge God dtd not provtde an Ark to fave fo manyaas etght p.erfons ;ot one Angel rhat fell was the object of Gods grace; And that God fi 1duld 'p•fs by all rhofe Angels, and; many rhoufands. of the fons of men, and yet that he !hould look up0n you m your ~lood, and b1d you live : 0 the goodnefs of God ! , 2 . As of rhe goodnefs, fo in this new birth ther-e's a difcovery of Gods power: and hence it is called anew creRture. The very fame powerrhat framed the world; is. the G'l. 6. 11; framer of this new creature.; the work of c6nverfion is fer forth by the work of creation. God only creates man, and God only convens man; in rhe creation God fail, let there belight, ·~nd there w.u light, in our converfion God faith, let there lie light ; and prefemly the fame God ihines inour hearts; nay, this power of converfion ··in fome fenfe far palferh the creauon, to whom" the arm of the Lord revealed? the Lord !fa. >l· I •. puts to his arm, his power, his ftrength indeed in converfion offouls; when he made the world, he met with nothing to refift him, he only fpake the word and it was done; but in the converfion ofa linnel" God meets with rhe whole frame of all creatures oppofing and refiil:ing him, the Devil and the world wirhour, and fin and corruption within; hererhcn mull: needs be a p 0 wer againft all power. 3. As of the goodnefs and power of God, fo in rhis new birth rllere's a difcovery of rhe wifdom of God. I might inftance in many particulars; As, I. In that the regenerate are moft.what of the mhnefl and comemptibleft perfons, not many wife, not I Co m•tnY noble, &c. ;z. In that many rimes God rakes the worft weeds and makes rhem rhe r. '· 17 . fweeteft flowers; thus Paut, Zache,.,, the Publicans, and Harlots. 3. In thatthe rege– nerateareofthefewell, andleall:number, manyare called, bm few are chofm. +·In that God choofeth fuch a ti,ne to be his time of love, wherein he ufually difcovers· many concurrences offlrange love meeting togerhel· ; read Ez.ek., r6. 4, j, 6, 8, 9· in all rhefe particulars is his wifdom wonderful. +· As ofthe goodnefs, power, and wifdom of God, fo in this new birth there's a difcovery of the holinefs of God. If a clod of earth, or piece of muck ihould be made aglorious fbr in heaven, it is not more wonderful, than for a !inner tobe made like an Angel, doing the will of God; it argues the holinefs of God, and his love ofholinefs, to make man holy ; he tells us that withom holinefs, 110ne Jhall (ee G•d, and therefore lirft he will make us holy, an'd then hewill bring us ro himfelf; 0 here's ablelfed conformity! as Chrift was born, let us be new born. 7. Chri£1: after his birth did and_fuffered many things in his childhood, (I fi10uld , J:,e too large tO fpeak to every yarucular) fo fi1o?ld we learn to be.1r Gods yoak_ even La01. 3· •7; w our youth. It 1s good to Imitate ChnJl: even bettmes•. remember now thy Creator in the Ecc:cl. ••· I. day" of thy youth, wh,lethe evzl dayes come not, nor the years draw mgh, when thou jha!t [AY1havc ~o pleafure in them: J?o we nor fee by experience what a blelfed thing a . granous and an holy educauon IS ? train up a child in the way he {hoHid go, ·and when he Prov. "· 6. u old.he will ~".departfrom it. 0 ye Parents that ye fiwuld do your duties, arrd in that refpechmrrate !ofcph and Mary in their care and nurture of the holy child {efu< ; and Oyechrldren rhat you would do your duties 1 and imitate Jefus, the blelfedft . pattern that ever wa<, that as you _grow in flawre, you alfo might grow in favour i.ukc ' · !'· wtth God and man. Obferve turn m the Temple when he was but twelve years old ,. fee hr'? m the midjf of the Doilors, both hearing th<m, tJnd a.<kjng them qmfltans ; ~hrldren whdes little (if bur capable of inftrnction ) ihould with their Parents wart on God i~ the midll: ofour alfemblies; l}'fofes told Pharaoh they mult F.xod. 10 • 9 • have thetr young on" With them ro rhe folemn worihtp ; and wheD Jofhua read the ~aw of God to the congregation of Ifrad, they had their little ones with rhem tn that folemn alfembly. Obferve Clui[t alfo in Naz.areth, where duriflg his minority Jofi>. 8 · JS· be was ever fubje11 to his Parents; fo children obey your Parents in the Lord, for this Eph.6. ,, >. ,.,. nght : not only the Law of God, bur the Gofpel of Chrif\ makes mention of this, -. .. . - · honom·
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