Ambrose - BT200 A42 1658

Chap.z.Seet.g Looking "'nto 1efos. Book IV. in the creation God faid let there-be ligl;t, and there wM light, in our converGoa God faith, let there be light; and prefently the fame God £hines in our hearts; nay, this power of converfion in fome fenfe far paif-:th the creation, to whom is the arme of the Lord Ifa. n. 1 revealed! the Lord puts to his arme, his power, his fl:rength indeed in converfion of fouls; when he made the world, he met with nothing to refill him, he only fpake the word and it was done. but in the converfion of a finner God meets with the ~hole frame of all creatures oppoGng and reGfring him, the Devil a1'ld the world without, and Gn and corruption within ; here then mufl: needs be a power againfl: all power. 3. As of the goodneife and power ofGod, fo in this new birth there's adifcovery of the wifdomeofGod. I might infrance in many particulars; As, I. In that the regenerate are mofl:- what of the meanefl: and concern ptible~ perfons, not many wife, 1 Cor. 1 • 17 not many nob/~, &c. 2. In that many ttmes God takes the worfl: weeds and makes them the fweetefr flowers; thus Paul, Zachem, the Publicans, and Harlots. 3. In that the regenerate are of the fewefl:, and leafr number, man7 are catted, but few are chofen. 4· In that God choofeth fuch a time to be his time of love, wherein he ufually di(covet's many concurrences of fl:range love meeting together ; reade E:ak..: J6.4,5,6,8,9. in allthefe particulars is hi> wifdome wonderful. 4. As of the goodneife, power, and wifedome of God, fo in this new birth there's a difcovery of the holinelfc of God. If a clod ofearth, or piece of muck fuould be made a glorious fiar in heaven, it is not more wonderful then for a finner to be made like an Angel, doing the will ofGod; it argues the holinefs of God, and his love of holindle, to make man holy· he tells us that w it hout holiw f{e none (71a!l .foe God, e.nd th~refore firfl: he will make tls holy, and then he will bring us to himfelfe; 0 here's a bleffed conformtry 1 as Chnfi was borne let us be new borne. 7· Chrifr after his birth did and futlered many things in his chtldhood, (1 fuould be too large to fj1eak to every particular) [o fuould we learne to beare Gods yoakf even in our JOuth. It is good Lam. 3 , ,.1 to '

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