This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated.1813 Excerpt: ... SERMON III/ rE have proposed to consider this truth from these words-, That there is a work to he done upon all who shall partake in the kingdom of God, by which they are to be born spirit of spirit.--We have opened the work itself according to the several terms in the text; and have spoke to the effect, or production; that is, to make men spirit, who before were flesh;--the productive cause, the Spirit, and--the kind of the production, which is by begetting. That, which we have next to speak to, is the necessity of this work; that is, the necessity of it unto this end and purpose; namely, the rendering men capable of a place and partnership in God's kingdom. And as the former head we have hitherto been speaking of, does lie in the words of the text., looking upon them in their absolute consideration, so we are led to the latter, by the relative consideration of them, or in the reference they have to the foregoing discourse. For our Saviour having said before, that "except a man be born again of water, and of the Spirit; he cannot see, or enter into the kingdom of God: " he doth in this verse, subjoin a reason why he cannot. "That which is born of the flesh is flesh," and therefore there must be somewhat born of the Spirit which may be suitable thereto. In evincing therefore to you the necessity of such a work to such an end; it will be requisite, I. To give you some account of that kingdom, for which such a work as this is so necessarily preparatory. Preached December 19th, 16J7. at Cordwainer's Hall. I will not trouble you with many distinctions about it, only we are necessarily to distinguish it, as we may in the common notion of a kingdom, into a kingdom taken formally and actively; so it signifies the royal state, and governing power of a kingdom. In t...