Marshall - BT765 M37 1788

go ?'lie Go/pcl M}f7ery D rec . IVY by that ratural power of multiplying with which God blef ed him at his firft creation ; but the fecond Adam bringeth forth his offspring new born accord- ing to his image, only by the Spirit, John iii. " As many as receive hirri, even thofe that believe " on his name, are born not of blood, nor of the will " of the flefh, nor of the will of man, but of God," John i. 12, 13. Chrift took his own human nature into perfonal union with hirnfeif, in the worib of the Virgin Mary, by the Holy Ghoft coming upon her, and the power of the higheft overfnadowing her, the fame power whereby the world was created; Luke i. j5. So he taketh us into mÿftical union and fellowthip with himfelf, by no lefs than to infinite creating power for " we are the workm'anthip of " God; created in Chrift Jefus unto good works, " Eph. ii io; and if any man be in Chrift, he is a new creature," 2 Cor. v. 17. For the acrcarnpliflîing this great work of our new creation in Chrift, the Spirit.of God loth firit work upon oìir hearts by and with the gofpel, to produce in us the grace of faith. For, if the gofpel fhould come to us in word only, and not in power, and in the Holy Ghoffi, Patil might labour to plant, and A- pollos to water, without any fuccefs, becaufe we can- not receive the things of the Spirit of God yea, we than account them foolifhnefs, until the Spirit of God enable us to difcern them, t Then'. i. 5 i Cora iii. 6. and ii. iq. We (hall never come to Chrift by any teaching of man, except we alfo hear and learn of the Father, and be drawn to him by his Spirit, John vi. 44, q,. And, when Paving faith is wrought in us, the fame. Spirit giveth us fait hold of Chrift by it. As he openeth the mouth of faith to receive thrift, fo he filleth it with Chrift; or elfe the aEt- ing of faith would be like a dream of one who think- eth he eateth and drinketh, and, when he awaketh; he findeth himfelf empty. The fame Spirit of God did both give that faith whereby miracles were

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