John 1:12–13

Christs excellency and manifestation of himself are here spoken of with relation to these, who, at any time, do embrace his offer made in the Church: His excellency herein appeareth, 1. In prevailing with some to make him and his offer welcome, though many reject it. 2. In advancing them to the dignity of Adoption and son-ship, who thus embrace him: And he farther clears, how it is that men do receive Christ, to wit, by faith; and, whence it is that any come to beleeve, and so attain to the dignity of sons; even from a principle of regeneration, which is wrought by no power of the creature, but by God only. Doct. 1. Howsoever many within the visible Church do reject Christ, yet there will still be some to make him welcome. As he never lighteth a candle, but where he hath some lost groat to seek; So he hath excellency, even when many despise him, to allure hearts, and vertue, not to take a refusal, but to draw his own till they be made willing; for, there are who receive him. 2. Such as make the offer of grace right welcome, do first welcome and receive Christ himself, not contenting themselves with his common gifts, nor yet seeking first after his saving graces, but after himself, that he may work these in them; for, they receive him. 3. Christ is received and made welcome by faith; and all they, who, hearing of the offer made to the Church on Christs part, do out of the sence of their need, embrace, and consent and roll themselves upon Christ thus offered, these have made up an union with him, and are beleevers, though as yet they have not attained to particular assurance, which is the fruit of the Spirit of Adoption, Ephes. 1.13, 14. for, they who receive him, are even they that beleeve. 4. Such as rightly beleeve in Christ, ought not to take him up as in their presumption, security, fear or discouragement they may imagine, but they ought to cleave close to the Word revealing him, and bring all their thoughts of him to the touch-stone thereof, correcting them thereby, and submitting thereunto; for, they beleeve on his Name, or, as he hath revealed himself. 5. As all spiritual priviledges are in Christs hand and disposing; So, albeit we be by nature children of wrath, yet he offers reconciliation to such, and whosoever they be that by faith receive him, he conferreth upon them the priviledge to become heirs and co-heirs with himself, and children unto God, with allowance to call him father; And instead of a slavish and worldly spirit, and a spirit of fear and bondage, he giveth them the spirit of enlargement, and of sons, and a disposition sutable to their dignity and high calling in every condition; for, as many (of whatsoever rank or condition) as received him, to them he gave power (or, right, priviledge and dignity) to become the sonnes of God. 6. As it is by faith that we come to the priviledge of Adoption, by closing with Christ the onely begotten Son; so when we have beleeved, adoption is still his gift, it being still of grace that he exalts us to that dignity; and when we have done all, the comfort of that dignity must be his work, by sending the spirit of sonnes into our hearts, to loase our bands and elevate our hearts; for, he gave power to become the sons of God. 7. Every one who is adopted to be a son of God, must have a new birth and spiritual being in Christ, by a change of disposition, and qualities of the soul going along with that priviledge, to prove the truth of it; for, these sons of God are borne, to wit, again; By this change they will be led to esteeme highly of this dignity, 1 John 3.1. to study conformity with Christ their elder brother, Rom. 8.29. and to performe obedience, whatever they can attain to, with childrens dispositions, out of fear to offend their Father, 1 Pet. 1.14. which are the kindly evidences of adoption. 8. Faith and receiving of Christ is so much the gift of God, as first by regeneration, Christ must make an inward offer, and joyne himself to us, and give us this hand to grip, before we can by faith actively receive him, or set about the work of sanctification by faith; for, all who beleeve on his Name, were born again. 9. The change of man out of nature into grace, is a kind of new birth of the man, in producing whereof there will be some travelling in pain, by it there is brought forth a proportionable new man of grace; spreading it self (though weakly as in the natural man) through the whole man; also a new life, and likenesse to the Father, an appetite after food sutable to that life, and a being sensible of hurt from what is contrary to this life; for, so is imported in that they are borne. 10. Regeneration cometh not by natural generation, or by the dignity of mens race and descent from pious progenitors, for, they were borne not of blood, or of bloods, that is, by descent from their ancestors of many generations, of which the Jewes boasted. 11. Mens freewill, or natural power, is quite dead in the matter of regeneration, its utmost endeavours can contribute nothing to this work; for, they were borne, not of the will, or the strongest inclinations, of the flesh: 12. Whatever singular endowments of learning, wisdome, or valour men have, yet none of these do prove regeneration, nor can they contribute any thing to such a work; for, they were borne, not of the will of man, or, of famous and vertuous men, as the word in the Original often signifieth. 13. Regeneration is Gods own work, who employeth his Word as the seed, 1 Pet. 1.23. sendeth his Ministers as instruments to sowe this seed, Gal. 4.19. and who quickeneth this seed by the Spirit, who is the immediate worker of regeneration in order of operation, John 3.6, 8. And so, whatever excellency regenerate men may have they are still bound to acknowledge that grace prevented them, and made them to differ from others; for, they were born, not of any thing, but of God.