Sermons preached on several occasionsSermons preach'd on several occasions

Secondly, By External Calling and Covenant some are denominated his Children; for by this Evangelical Constitution God is pleased to receive Believers into a filial Relation. Indeed where there is not a cordial Consent and Subjection to the Terms of the Covenant, visible Profession, and the receiving the External Seals of it, will be of no advantage; but the public serious owning of the Gospel, entitles a Person to be of the Society of Christians; and Filius and Foederatus are all one.

Secondly, By External Calling and Covenant some are denominated his Children; for by this Evangelical Constitution God is pleased to receive Believers into a filial Relation. Indeed where there is not a cordial Consent and Subjection to the Terms of the Covenant, visible Profession, and the receiving the External Seals of it, will be of no advantage; but the publick serious owning of the Gospel, entitles a Person to be of the Society of Christians; and Filius and Foederatus are all one.

Thirdly, There is Sonship that arises from supernatural Regeneration; that is the communicating a new Nature to Man, whereby there is a holy and blessed Change in the directive and commanding Faculties, the Understanding and Will, and in the Affections, and consequently in the whole Life. This is wrought by the Efficacy of the Word and Spirit, and is called by our Saviour Regeneration, because it is not our Original Carnal Birth, but a Second and Celestial. 'Tis with the new Man in Grace, as with an Infant in Nature, that has the essential Parts that compose a Man; a Soul endowed with all its Faculties, a Body with all its Organs and Parts, but not in the Vigour of mature Age. Thus renewed Holiness in a Christian, is complete and entire in its Parts, but not in Perfection of Degrees; there is an universal Inclination to ⟨p. 104⟩all that is holy, just and good, and a universal Aversion from Sin, tho the Executive Power be not equal. And regenerate Christians are truly called the Children of God; for as in Natural Generation there is communicated a Principle of Life and suitable Operations, from whence the Title and Relation of a Father arises; so in Regeneration there are derived such holy and heavenly Qualities to the Soul, as constitute a Divine Nature in Man, whereby he is Partaker of the Life and Likeness of God himself: from hence he is a Child of God, and has an Interest and Propriety in his Favour, Power and Promises, and all the Good that flows from them, and a Title to the Eternal Inheritance.