Chap, 29 about Cbriff. 27; 7-üb O. 8, i i. A61.17.27, &c, this being a certain truth, that God dorh more immediately concur to the generation , and all other motions of thecreature, thenany natural agent Both , or can do. Hence, 'kom.53 7. This fecond man is not onely as untverfal a principle of all'our beings , as was the firs} , and fo may fullaine the common perfon ofus all as well as he : but is a far more im- mediate agent in the produCtton thereof: not as the firft, fo many generations removed f:om us : but more neere to tis then our next progenitors, andfoiuitly to be accounted our next ofkin, even before them alto. Queft. Is this fufficient and all that is required ? info.' No, there is another kind of generationrequired,for which we muff be beholding to this fecond man,b,ifore we can have interea in this purchafed Re- demption: For as theguilt bf the fiat mans tranfgreifion is derived ro u by means of carnal generation : So muff the benefit of the fecondcoatis obedience be con veyed to us by fpiritual regeneration,Hence, John 3.3. and r. f;. Now as Chrid in refpect of our Adoption of Sons, which he hath procured for ties, calls ús bre- thren, Heb.z:ti. fo in refpe66of our new-birth , whereby he - begets us to a fpiritual and everlailing life , he owns us for children; Ifa,53.to. rfal. az. 36. Heb. z.r 3. and v.14. The Apolile deduceth this conducen. For as much as the children arepartakersof Pilo and blood, he himfelf la4,ewtfe too. part of the fame. He himfelf, i.e. he who was. God equal to the Father : For none.elfe could make this new creature, but the Tame Cod that is the Creator of all things,: z Cor. 5.17. Eph.z. to. .9aí.6.15. 'Tames 1.18. I PA'.1,3. i 7ohn 5. r. Thcfe new born babes beingborn of theSpirit, none could fend the fpirit to beget them, but the Father, and the Sonne from whom he, proceedeth ; the fame bleffed Spirit that framed Chritts natural body in the womb , being to faflii-. on every membe.r of this myflical body unto his fimilitude and like- neffe. Queft. Howmay this myfiery be further opened to us ? Anfw. In every perfect generation die creature produced , receives two things from him that begets ir : Life, and hikeneíle. Now touching our fpiritual death , and life, confider thefe texts, a ¿orrnth. 5. r4;i 55. Ephef, 2.4, 5. Col, 2. 1;. Gal.z.' o. From which we mayealiilygather , that ifby the obedience. and fuf- ferin,,s of a bare man , though neve: fo perfect , the moil foveraigne medi- cine that could have been thought upon, fhould have been prepared for. the cu- ring of ourwounds ; yet all wouldbe to nopurpof, we bring found dead when the medicinecame to be applied. Our Phyfician therefore mutt nor onelyy be able to reflore us to health , but to life alto , which none but. (rod the Father, Sen, and holyGholi could do : Hence, Loh. 5.26. and 6.57. 5r. Hence Chrill is Paid to be a quickning fpirit, 1 Corr 5.45, An ddam therefore and perfeä man hemuff be , that his flefh given for us on the CIofTe , might be made the conduit toconvey life to the world : and a quickning fpirit he could not have been, if he were not God, able to make that flefh an eff.&ual inft.uaent of life by the operationof his Spirit,as Tohn6.63. Asfor the point offimilitude and likenetle, it's Laid that Adam after his fall begat a fon inhis own likenciTe, Gen. 5.3. fo faith Chrill, John 3. 6. That that u born of the flefh is fLfh ,' &c. So, I Car. r5. 48, 49. Indeed ou: likenelle to Chriff will be more perfected hereafter, `Phil. 3. alt. yet in the meantime, fuel, a conformity is required in us to Chrifi, 'phil. 3. zo. Ephef. 4.22, &C. R. m. 8. lg. Cod did not give the Spirit to Chril' by meafure, and therefore though ma-. ny millions of beleevers,do.continually receive this fupply of: the- Spirit of Chria,yet that fountain is not in the leali cxhauíled, nor"that well-fprin oî grace diuninilhed. For, Csl.1.19. and John I./ 6. As in the natural generation , there is acorrefpondence,.in all parts between the begetter andbegotten, though it be foiind in the ;bègottenin'a farre leffe proportion : fo in this 'fpiritual : forevery N n grace
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