The Lord which brought up his people out of the North countrey, Ier. 23.7, 8. But now under the New Testament, and the Sunne being risen, all his other workes and benefits being obscur'd by the comming of Christ, this title is most congruous and solemne, God the Father of our Lord Iesus Christ, 2 Cor. 1.3. Ephes. 1.3: Doct. 3. A wonderfull great mercy of God appeares in our regeneration.
Reason 1. Because he frees us from the greatest misery, and makes us partakers of the greatest good. 2. Because he doth this of his meere goodnesse, not only without our deserts, but even contrary to our deserts: when we did not so much as seek or wish for any such benefits to our selves, but were altogether aliens from God, and enemies to him. Vse 1. This may serve to exhort us to attribute all to the mercy of God alone, and to raise up our minds to the admiration of it. 2. To be heartily affected with these mercies of God, and to be stirred up to glorifie him, Rom. 12.1. Doct. 4. Regeneration brings men a lively hope of eternall life.
Reason 1. Because we are called and regenerated to salvation and eternall glory, 1 Pet.5.10. 2 Because we have the covenant and promise of this thing confirmed to us in our very calling. Because the Spirit wherewith we are quickned, lifts up our minds, and makes that hope to be lively. Use 1. This may serve to exhort us, highly to prize our calling and regeneration. 3 2. To endeavour by all meanes to cherish and increase this hope in our selves, and to take heed that it be not dead or languishing, but lively, quick, and operative. Doct. 5. The livelinesse of our hope depends upon the resursection of Iesus Christ from the dead.
Reason 1. Because by the resurrection of Christ, it appeares that death was subdued & overcome by him, and God was appeased in him; for otherwise, had he beene overcome by death, he would have beene perpetually kept under it.
