282 THE POSITIVE WORE or THE SPIRIT ritual principle or habit of grace communicatedunto us, and abiding in us, from whence we are made and deno- minated holy. Sect. 18. It is yet moreexpressly revealed and de- clared in the New Testament, John iii. S. There is a work of the Spirit of God upon us in our regeneration; we are born again ofthe Spirit. And there is the pro- duct of this .work of the Spirit of God in us, that which is born in this new birth, and that is spirit also. It is something existing in us that is of a spiritual nature and spiritual efficacy. It is something abiding in us, acting in a continual opposition against the flesh or sin; as Gal. v. 17. and unto all duties of obedience unto God. And until this spirit is formed in us, that it, our whole souls have a famishment of spiritual power and ability, we cannot perform any one act that is spiritually good, not any one vital act of obedience. This spirit, or spi- ritual nature, which is born of the Spirit, by which alone we are enabled to live to God, is that habit of grace or principle of holiness which we intend. And so also is it called a new creature. He that is in Christ is a new creatre, 1 Cor. v. 17. It is something, that by an almighty creating act of the power of God by-his Spirit, that hath the nature of a living creature, is produ- ced in the souls of all that are in Christ Jesus. And, as it is called the new creature, so it is also a divine nature, 2 Peter i. b. and a nature is the principle of all operations; and this is what we plead for. The Spirit of God createth a new nature in us, which is the prin- ciple and next cause of all acts of the life of God. Where this is not, whatever else there may be, there is no evangelical holiness. This is that whereby we are enabled to live unto God, to fear him, to walk in his ways, and to yield obedience according to his mind and will. See Eph. iv. 23, 24. Col, iii. 10, 11. This the scriptureplentifully testifieth unto; but withal I must add, that as to the proper nature or essence of it, no mind can apprehend it, no tongue can express it, none can perfectly understand its glory; some few thingsmay be added to illustrate it: Sect. 13. (1.) This is that whereby we have union with Jesus Christ, the head of the church. Originally and efficiently the Holy Spirit dwelling in him and us, is the cause of this union. But, formally, this new principle of grace is so. It is that whereby we become members of his bones and of his flesh, Eph. v. 30. As Eve was of Adam; she was one with him, because she had the same nature with him, and that derived from him, which the apostle alludeth unto, so are we of him, partakers of the same divine nature with him. Thus, he that isjoined unto the Lord is one spirit, 1 Cor. vi. 17. that is, of one and the same spiritual nature with him Heb. ii. 11, 14. How excellent is this grace, which gives us our interest in, and continuity unto, the body of Christ, and to his person, as our head! It is the same grace in the kind thereof which is in the holy nature of Christ, and renders us one with him. (2.) Our likeness and conformity unto God consists herein; for it is the reparation of his image in us, Eph. iv. 23, 24. Col. iii. 10. Something, I hope, I appre- hend concerning this image of God in believers, and of their likeness unto him, how great a privilege it is, what honour, safety, and security depend thereon, what duties are required of us on the account thereof: but perfectly to conceive or express the nature and glory of it, we cannot attain unto, but should learn to adore the grace whence it doth proceed, and is bestowed on us, to admire the love of Christ, and the efficacy ofhis mediation, whereby it is renewed in us; but the thing itself is ineffable. (3.) It is our life, our spirituallife, whereby we live to God. Life is the foundation and sun of all excel- lencies: without this we are dead in trespasses andsins, and how we are quickened by the Holy Ghost, bath been declared. But this is the internal principle of life, whence all vital acts in the life of God do proceed. And whereas we know not well what is the true form and essence of life natural, only we find it, discern it, and judge of it, by its effects; much less do we know the form and essence of life spiritual, which is far more excellent and glorious. This is that life which is hid with Christ in God, Col. iii. 3. In which words the apostle draws a veil over it, as knowing that weare un- able steadfastly to behold its glory and beauty, Sect. 14. But, before I proceed unto a further de- scription of this principle ofholiness in its effects, asbe- fore laid down, it may not be amiss, practically, to call over these general considerations of its nature, and our own concernment in this truth, which is no empty no- tion, and will be therein declared. And, First, We may learn hence, not to satisfy ourselves,
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