...the Scripture ; which Opinion, we think is not warranted by the Texts he cites -, viz. James i. 21. Of his own Will begat he us by the Word of "Truth, which we take to be the fame Word fpoken of in the next Text he quotes, viz. i Pet. i. 23.' Being born...

...means, or the inftrument. Thus, James i.i8. we have a remarkably clear evidence to this purpofe : " Of his " own will begat he us by the word of truth, that ** we might be a kind of firft-fruits of his creatures." Here we fee it is God that begets us...

...fins, Col. ii. 12. This cannot intend any a6t of the human mind, under any influence whatever, for, of his own will begat he us by the word of truth. Faith in this fenfe comes by hearing the word of God. But this fhows how faith comes to us; not how...

...John, " were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the rlefh, nor of the will of man, but of God: of his own will begat he us by the word of truth, which liveth and abideth for ever." Should not then all who pretend to be fubje&s of this fpiritual...

...a generative virtue for begetting the perfon to a lively hope, and making him a child of promife by regeneration ; " Of his own will begat he us, by the word of truth." 5. The promife hath this prolific virtue, as it is the impartation and communication of grace. In the...

...of life, and may well be called the word of life -, life in the beginning of it in regeneration j " Of his own will begat he us by the word of truth." The life of juftification ; we arc juftified in believing and receiving of Chrilt our righteoufnefs,...

...it. " The wind blows where it iift" eth, fo is every one that is born of the Spirit," John iii. 8. " Of " his own will begat he us by the word of truth." Ordinances are as the pool of Betheida, which had his healing virtue only when the angel moved the...

...only unmixed with fhade. The divine writer concludes his elegant difcourfe with thefe words :— *c Of his own will begat he us by the word of truth," v. 18 ; that is, our being faithful and pious does not arife from any fatal necefllty, but from the...

...typ; or figure of the cleft, or the church of the firft- born, as we are taught by the apoftles. " Of his own will begat he us by the word of truth, that we mould be a kind of iirft-fruits of hio creatures," James i. 18. Some would reftricl this to...

...John, " were born, not of Wood, nor of the will of "theflefh, nor of the will of man, but of God : of his own will " begat he us by the word of truth, which liveth and abideth " for ever." Should not then all who pretend to be fubjedls of this fpiritual...