3 84 Of the Nature of Regeneration, and its Nece7ty, Vol, I. ufual, much lets the conflant andunalterable Method of God's Grace in the Con- vorfion of a Sinner, to bring it about in an infiant, without any fenfiblefleps and degrees. But for the full clearing of this Matter, I hull proceed by thefe (ceps. Firff, I (hall (hew upon what mi(taken Grounds and Principles this Dottrine relies ; betides the Metaphors already mention'd, which I have thewn to be of no force to prove the thing. Secondly, I (hall plainly fhew what Regeneration is by which it will appeal, that it is not neceffarily elfetted in aninflant, and at once, but admits ofdegrees. Thirdly, That it is evidently fo in experience of the ordinary Methods of God's Grace, both in thofe who are Regenerated by a Pious and Religious Education,' and in thofe who are reclaimed from a vitious Courfeof Life. Fourthly, That all this is very confonant and agreeable to what the Scripture plainly and constantlydeclares concerning it. First, I (hall difcover feveral Mifrakes upon which this to&rine is grounded, betides the Metaphors already mention'd, and which I have fhewn to be of no force to prove the thing, viz. That Regeneration is in an infiant, and admits of no degrees. As, r. That Regeneration and Sandfification are not only different Expretfions, but do fignifietwo things really different. But this is a grofs miftake; for Regenera- tion and SanElifcation are but different expreffions of the felf lame thing ; for Regeneration is a Metaphor which the Scripture ufeth to exprefs our tranflation and changefront one fiate to another, from a hate of Sin and Wickednefs, to a hate of Grace and Holinefs, as if we were born over again, and were the Chil- dren ofanother Father, and from being the Children of the Devil, did become the Children of God; and Sanefiftcation is our being made Holy, our being purified and cleanfed from Sin and Impurity. And hence h. is that Regeneration and Sanllfcation are attributed to the fame Caufes, Principal, and Infirumental, to the Spirit of God, and to the word ofGod ; we are faid to be born again of the Spi- rit, and to befanilfed by the Holy Gholf ; to be begotten of the word of truth, and to befanaified by the truth, which is the wordof God. So that the Scripture (peaks of them as the fame thing ; and they mutt needs be fo ; for if Sanilificatian be the making of us Holy, and Regeneration make us Holy ; then Regeneration is Sanaification. 2. It is faid, that Regeneration only lignifies our ftr.fi entrance into this (fate, and San&ification our progrefi and continuance in it. But this likewife is a great miftake. For tho' it be true, that Regeneration doth lignifie our lira entrance into this Rate, yet it is not :rue, that it only lignifies that ; for it is ufed likewife inScripture to lignifieour continuance in that State ; for Chriftians are Paid to be the Children of God, and confequently in a regenerate (fate, not only in the infiant of this Change, but during their continuance in it. Befides that our firil Change is as well call'd our SanflJcation, as our Progrefs and Continuance in a (fate of Holinefs. So that neither in this is there any difference between Regeneration, and SanElilcation. They do both of them lignifie both our firfl entrance into an Holy (late, and our continuance and progrefa in it ; tho' Regene- ration domorefrequently denote the makingof this Change, and our firfi entrance into it. 3. It is Paid that one of the main Differences between Regeneration and San- ilificationis this, that Regeneration is incapable of degrees, and all that are Rege- nerate are equally fo, and one Regenerate Perlon is not more or lefa Regenerate than another; whereas SanEtification is a gradual progrefr from one degree of holinefs to another, and of them that are truly San&ified and Holy, one may be more Sanflified and more Holy than another. But this likewife is a weer fan- cy and imagination, without any real ground. For as an unregenerate (late does plainly admit ofdegrees, fo likewife doth the regenerate, and for the fame Reafon. That an unregenerate Rate admits ofdegrees, is evident, in thatforce unre- generate Perlons aremore wicked thanothers, and therebymore the Children ofwrath, and
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