And to all this let me add, that something to the same purpose may be inferred from those metaphorical expressions, by which it is set forth, as it is called a _creation_: thus, when we are made partakers of this privilege, we are said to _be created in righteousness and true holiness_, Eph. iv. 24. And the apostle seems to compare this with the creation of man at first, after the image of God, which consisted principally in righteousness and true holiness, and accordingly considers this image as restored, when a principle of grace is implanted, whereby we are again disposed to the exercise of righteousness and holiness: and elsewhere he says, _We are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, that we should walk in them_, chap. ii. 16. where he supposes, that this creating power must be exerted before we can put forth good works; and therefore it can be nothing less than the power of God; and it would not have been styled a _creation_, if it had not been a supernatural work, and therefore it is, in that respect, more glorious than many other effects of the divine power. It is also styled, _a resurrection from the dead_: thus the apostle says, _You hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins_, chap. ii. 1, 5. in this respect it certainly exceeds the power of men. A physician, by his skill, may mend a crazy constitution, or recover it from the confines of death; but, to raise the dead, exceeds the limits of finite power. This mode of speaking our Saviour makes use of to signify the conversion or effectual call of sinners, when he says, _The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God; and they that hear shall live_, John v. 25. He had, in the foregoing verse been speaking of their _having eternal life_, and _not coming into condemnation, and being passed from death to life_, who hear his words and believe; and then it follows, that _the hour is coming_, that is, the time is near at hand, to wit, when the Spirit shall be poured forth, and the gospel-dispensation be begun, and it _now is_, in some degree, namely, in those who were converted by his ministry, _when the dead shall hear his voice and live_, or pass from a state of spiritual death to life, as a means for their attaining eternal life. This is much more agreeable to the context, than to conclude, as some do, to evade the force of this argument; that our Saviour speaks concerning some who were then, or should hereafter be raised from the dead, in a miraculous manner; which, they suppose, contains the sense of the words, _now is_, and that _the hour is coming_, refers to the general resurrection; but this seems not to be the sense of the text; because our Saviour supposes them, in a following verse, to be astonished at this doctrine; as though it was too great an instance of power for him to implant a principle of spiritual life in dead sinners; and therefore he proves his assertion from his raising the dead at the