28. The whole matter is this: Christ, by the overshadowing of the Holy Spirit, became in the _Virgin Mary_, of the same nature with that _first man_, which was created in Paradise; who according to the _purpose_ of God, was to have been the father of an holy _race_ of men. But seeing the first _Adam_ failed in this _design_ of God, the wisdom of God provided a _second Adam_, who was born in the _same degree_ of perfection, in which the first man was created. To this holy paradisaical human nature the _Son_ of God was personally united. And thus Christ the second _Adam_, took the place of the first, and stands as the second father of all the sons of _Adam_. Now as we are _earthly_, corrupt, and _worldly_ men, by having the _nature_ and _life_ of the first _Adam_ propagated in us, so we must become _holy_ and heavenly men, by having the life and nature of the second _Adam_ derived into us; or as the scripture speaks, by being _born again_. Jesus Christ therefore helps us by a _second_ birth, to such an _holy_, and _undefiled_ nature, as he himself received in the _blessed Virgin_, and which we should have received in _Paradise_ from our _first father_. Thus by faith in Christ we put _on Christ_, he is formed in us; we eat his _flesh_ and drink _his blood_, and have his _nature_ and _life_ in us. Thus we are real members, living branches, and new born children of God. 29. * Look now at _yourselves_, at the _world_, at _religion_, in this true light, and surely you must see the desirable nature of every virtue, and every degree of it, which the gospel sets before you. Surely you must awake into a strong abhorrence of every thing that the fall has brought upon you; whether it be in your _souls_, your _bodies_, or the state of the world into which you are fallen. To renounce the poor interests of a worldly life, to be content with a _pilgrim’s fare_ in it, to live looking and longing after that which you have lost; to have no more of covetousness, of pride, of vanity and ambition, than _John_ the Baptist had; to live unto God in your _shops_, your _employments_ and estates, with such thoughts and desires of going to your heavenly Father, as the lost son had when he saw his poor condition, eating _husks_ among _swine_, is only a proof that you are, like him, come to yourselves, that you begin to see _what_, and how, and where you are. Surely you can need no exhortations to run to your Redeemer, to beseech him to do every thing in you and for you that your corrupted heart, and polluted body are in need of. He now stands as near you, as full of love to you, as he did to _Lazarus_ when he raised him from the dead. He is no farther from your call than he was from the call of blind _Bartimæus_.