It is yet more expressly revealed and declared in the New Testa- ment, John iii. 6. There is a work of the Spirit of God upon us in our regeneration ; we are " born again of the Spirit." And there is the product of this work of the Spirit of God in us, that which is born in this new birth, and that is " sj)irit" also. It is something ex- isting in us, that is of a spiritual nature and spiritual effijcacy. It is something abiding in us, acting in a continual opposition against the flesh or sin, as Gal. v. 17, and unto all duties of obedience unto God. And until this spirit is formed in us, — that is, our whole souls have a furuishment of spiritual j)ower and ability, — we cannot perform any one act that is spiritually good, nor any one act of vital obedi- ence. This spirit, or spiritual nature, which is born of the Spirit, by wliich alone we ate enabled to live to God, is that habit of grace or principle of holiness which we intend. And so also is it called a new creature: "If any man be in Christ he is a new creature," 2 Cor. v. 17. It is something that, by an almighty creating act of the power of God by his Spirit, hath the nature of a living creature, produced in the souls of all that are in Christ Jesus. And as it is called the " new creature," so it is also a " divine nature," 2 Pet. i. 4 ; and a nature is the princii^le of all operations. And this is what we plead for: The Sjnrit of God createth a neiv nature in us, which is the principle and next cause of all acts of the life of God. Where this is not, whatever else there may be, there is no evangelical holiness. This is that whereby we are enabled to live unto God, to fear him, to walk in his ways, and to yield obedience according to his mind and will. See Eph. iv 23, 24; Col. iii. 10. This the Scrijiture plentifully testifieth unto; but withal I must add, that as to the proper nature or essence of it, no mind can ajjprehend it, no tongue can express it, none can perfectly understand its glory. Some few things may be added to illustrate it.
478 THE POSITIVE WORK OF THE SPIEIT [BOOK IV,
1 (1.) This is that whereby we have union with Jesus Christ, the head of the church. Originally and efficiently the Holy Spirit dwell- icg in him and us is the cause of tliis union; hut formally this new principle of grace is so. It is that whereby we become " members of his flesh and of his bones," Eph. v. 30. As Eve was of Adam, — she was one with him, because she had the same nature with him, and that derived from him, which the apostle alkideth unto,^ — so are we of him, partakers of the same divine nature with him. Thus he that is '"'joined unto the Lord is one spirit," 1 Cor. vi. 17; that is, of one and the same spuitual nature with him, Heb. ii. 11, 14. How excellent is this grace, which gives us our interest in and continuity unto the body of Christ, and to his person as our head ! It is the same grace, in the kind thereof, which is in the holy nature of Christ, and renders us one with him.
(2.) Our likeness and conformity imto God consists herein; for it is the reparation of his image in us, Eph. iv. 23, 24; Col. iii. 10. Something, I hope, I apprehend concerning this image of God in believers, and of their likeness unto him, how gTcat a privilege it is, what honour, safety, and security depend thereon, what duties are required of us on the account thereof; but perfectly to conceive or express the nature and glory of it we cannot attain unto, but should learn to adore the grace whence it doth proceed and is bestowed on us, to admire the love of Christ and the efficacy of his mediation, whereby it is renewed in us ; — but the thing itself is ineffable.
(3.) It is our life, our spiritual life, whereby we live to God. Life is the foundation and sum of all excellencies; without this we are dead in trespasses and sins ; and how we are quickened by the Holy Ghost hath been declared. But this is the internal principle of life, whence all vital acts in the life of God do proceed. And whereas we know not well what is the true form and essence of life natural, only we find it, discern it, and judge of it by its effects, much less do we know the form and essence of life spiritual, which is far more excel- lent and glorious. This is that life which is " hid with Christ in God," Col. iii. 3 ; in which words the apostle draws a veil over it, as knowing that we are unable steadfastly to behold its glory and beauty.
But before I proceed unto a farther description of this principle of holiness in its effects, as before laid down, it may not be amiss prac- tically to call over these general considerations of its nature ; and our own concernment in this truth, which is no empty notion, will be therein declared. And, —