Wilson - BS2663 W54 653

170 An Expof tion upon Chap.6, ourbeing under the water: and by our coming out of the water, is fignified our arifìng out of our fins to a better life, through the power of the holy Ghoft, applying (Thrill his death and buriaU for the beating down of our corrupt na- ture; and his refurre&ion or our quick- ning to godl inetle of living. Tits. Then the power of Baptifine de- pendrth not sip on the Element of water, or on the Mini(let, or aliions performed in the mi- niftration? S i L. No furely ; but upon the ordi- nance of Chi fft, appointing it to bee a pledge ofremiffionof finnes and repen- tance : and upon the Spirit and divine power ofChrill, working by his ordi- nance a firaighter conjun &ionbetweene himfelfand the ele& belecvers. T t M. Whereof fhould tbi, pat us in minde ? S I L. That fuch parties as are bap- tised, are much beholden to God for fuch a teflimony and inftrument of his grace ; and in this regard, ffand bound to depart from fin, and to live godlily, efpecially having made afolemne vow and covenant in their Baptifme, that they will not ferve fin in the luft there- of, but God in keeping his word, and doing his will therein revealed, to the utmoll of that grace which they have re- ceived. DIALOGUE III. Verfe For if we be planted with bim to tbe fimili- tude ofhis death,ro'ball webe totbe fimi- litude of his reJurreelion. TIMOTHEut. WHat it the drift oftbio Text? St L. To make itmanifeft, that the power and grace of dying to fin and walking in a new life, is derived and borrowed from Chrift Jefus, T 1 w. Flow is this declared and made plain ? Si L. By a fimilitude or' comparifon of planting.For as it fareth with a grite tranflated from an okf flock into a new, fo is it with ele &beleevers. As the grift liveth, groweth, and fiu &ifieth by the juyce drawne from the new flock into which it is planted; fo theeleéì being ta- ken out of the old rover! ftock of .4d.m, and planted into that Noble ftocke Chrift Jefus,they participate of his hea- venly Spirit,by whole vertue (applying the death and refitrie&ion of Chrift to them) they receive power to dye to fin, and to live to God. Tim. What is meant by the fimili rude of hie death and refurreel ion ? S I L. Thus much , that what was done in Chrift by nature, mutt be like - wife done in us by Analogy or propor- tion, as thus : Chrift dyed naturally,fo wee mull fcelè in our felves a dying of our linfull delires: as he rote againe out of the grave,fo we mull rife out of fin to live a godly life. And the power where- by we can doe this, is derived from the death and refill re &ion of our Lord, as the graffe liveth by the life of the flock, to which is is joyned. Ti u. What dotb this fimilitude ofplan- tind teach ass? S i L. Sundry things : Firft, that naturally we are ftrangers from Chrift, being in the fleck of rotten Adam, whence we mull bee taken that wee may be one with him. Secondly, that whilft we remaine in Adam out of Chrift , we can no more doe any good, then a graffe can bring forth fruit being alone, and fevered from the flock. Thirdly, to the end we may live fpiritually to God, wee mutt firft bee united to Chrifl, as the plant or graffe is united to theTree,into which it is planted. Fourthly, whatfo- ever power is in us to doe good , or to leave fin, it is all from Chrift, not from our gives. As the graffefet in a ftock,ta- keth now nolife from itfelf,but from the flock into which it is ingraffed. By this is quite overthrowne the concurrence of nature and grace. T i M. What are we to learn from hence, that the refurreliion ofChrifi it here annex- ed and joyned unto his death, and mentioned after it ? S i L. Thefe two things : Firit, wee learne, that as Chrill had no way o- pened unto his refurre&ion but by death

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