fully there; from the wonderful Reformations which are there wrought, we plainly discover Him; from the spiritual Improvements which are there made, we receive the certain Evidences of his Communications with us; but the precife Manner of fuch his Communications, the Period of Time when the Principle of our fpiritual Life was firft infufed, the gradual Advances of it into Strength and Manhood; the particular Methods whereby Light is convey'd to our Undestanding, and Purity to our Wills and Affections: These, and fuch like Circumstances, are what fall under no Account or Discovery; and we must be content to be ignorant of them, notwithstanding we are at the fame time certain of His Operations, and enjoy the Bleffings of His gracious Influences. Upon the whole then, the Doctrine of the Text is plainly this: Chriftian Regeneration is the only Condition under the Gospel of our entering into the Kingdom of God: This Regeneration or Second Birth is produced in us by the Holy Ghost, who sheds forth His purifying and enlivening Influences, like the Wind, with

all

all Freedom; in a Manner indeed uncertain in its Circumftance, but certain and beneficial in its Effects. Now from thefe Inftances of Similitude which are set forth in our Text, I would briefly draw the following Pieces of Inftruction; As, Firft, from the Freedom of God's Grace we fhould learn with all humble Devotion to look up to that fole Fountain of Virtue and Piety for all the Supplies of our Spiritual Wants, and refer to Him all the Fruits of good Living, which are produced in any Part of our Lives. Ignorance and Corruption are the diftinguishing Characters of fallen Man; and whatfoever Advances are made towards reftoring Mankind to Sanctification, they are all owing to that Bleffed Spirit of Truth and Holinefs, who can alone shew us the Path of Life, and guide us therein with his Counsel. This Confideration may tend to take off from the Pride and Vanity of thofe Notions, which are now fo industriously propagated, of the vast Reach of Human Reason, and the high Excellency of Moral Virtue.

HUMAN

HUMAN Reafon would continue to be now, as it was before the Promulga tion of the Gofpel, little better than Blindness, had it not been enlighten'd by Divine Revelation; and Moral Virtue, howfoever beautiful it may be made to appear upon an abstracted View, yet as it ftands exemplified in the Lives of the very best of Men, is rather the Reproach, than the Excellency of our Nature; and unless it be fanctified by Gofpel-Grace, it would be fo far from being pleafing, that it would become offenfive in the Sight of God. It is therefore our Duty to be fubmitting ourselves, and the best of our Spiritual Performances, to that Grace of God, without which we can do nothing, and even with which we can do nothing that we do call our own: And thus having pulled down Imagination, and every high Thing, which magnifies it self against God's Holy Spirit, let us entirely depend upon his gracious Influences for this our great Work of Spiritual Regeneration, always confidering that unless we be thus regenerated, we cannot enter into the Kingdom of God.

Secondly,

Secondly, FROM the Certainty of the Effects of God's Grace, we are encouraged to prefs forwards for Chriftian Perfection with all Chearfulness: We may plainly perceive what large Purifications and bright Improvements are daily wrought in the Chriftian World: Or if we have any Remains of Spiritual Life in us, we may perceive what Advances we our felves make in Faith and Virtue: And fince we are thus fenfibly affured of the Divine Influences working in our Souls, through the Affiftances of the Holy Spirit, we may go on with Joy to mortify every Vanity, to fubdue every Corruption, to encrease in all Knowledge, to abound in all Virtue; to grow in Grace, and in all respects to approve ourselves the Children of God, through the Adoption of the Gospel-Covenant; united to Him by Holiness here, and going on to that Perfection wherewith we fhall be enrich'd hereafter. Every Endeavour after the Attainment of any Virtue, every Afpiration after Heaven are the Function of our Spiritual Life, and where there is Spiritual Life, there is always room for Improvement :

provement: Experience will greatly inftruct us that the Holy Ghoft is ever ready to affift our Infirmities, to confirm our virtuous Refolutions, to purify us throughout with true Holiness, and to make us meet to be Partakers of heavenly Joys.

Thirdly and Laftly, THE Uncertainty of the Operations of the Holy Ghost should teach us to be working out our own Salvation with Fear and Trembling. As the Methods whereby God's Bleffed Spirit worketh in us are various and imperceptible, it should engage our continual Watchfulness, that no Motion of that Divine Perfon may pass disregarded and unimproved. As in Respect to the Wind, we cannot tell whence it cometh, or whither it goeth; fo with respect to the inward Man, we cannot tell from what flight Suggestions the moft glorious of Gospel-Graces may take their Beginning; what Advances in Devotion may be raised upon one pious Thought, what godly Refolutions may be overthrown by one Neglect, and what spiritual Diseases and Corruptions may be confirm'd in us by

what