9. Since it was utterly impossible that man, by his own natural strength, should restore himself (for of himself, he can do nothing but love himself, boast of himself, and seek his own ends and interest; or, to sum up all in a word, _commit sin_); God, in his infinite mercy, was moved to commiserate man’s fallen condition, and to make the very beginning of the work of man’s restoration. In order to this, the Son of God took the form of a man upon him, thereby to renew our nature, that, being regenerated _by_ him, _in_ him, and _from_ him, we might become new creatures. For as in Adam we are dead both bodily and spiritually, so we ought to rise again in Christ, and be renewed both in spirit and body. 1 Cor. 15:22. And as by a _carnal_ descent from Adam, sin, self-love and pride cleave to our nature; so in Christ, by a _spiritual_ birth, we must be justified, and inherit by faith his righteousness. And, as by our carnal birth, we draw our sin from Adam, especially self-love, pride, and ambition; so from Christ, by faith, and by the Holy Ghost, our nature is to be renewed, cleansed, and sanctified. All self-love, pride, and ambition, are to die in us, in order that we may attain a new heart and a new spirit from Christ, even as we received our sinful flesh from Adam. And with reference to this new birth in us, Christ is called the _everlasting Father_. Isaiah 9:6. 10. Hence it follows, that all the works of a Christian, together with his gifts and talents, ought to proceed purely from the new birth, if ever they be acceptable to God; and that they ought to spring from faith, from Christ, and from the Holy Ghost. Wherever this principle is wanting, there the most excellent parts, and even miracles themselves, are of no account at all before God. So with respect to our neighbor, all things ought to be done in Christian charity (1 Cor. 16:14), without any view to private gain, or honor; as a pattern of which God has set his Son before us (John 13:15), in whom there was no spot of self-love or arrogance; no desire of profit or praise; nay, in whom nothing resided but pure and undefiled love and humility. He is _inwardly_ to live in our hearts by faith, and _outwardly_ to be expressed in our whole life and conduct. It is then, that all our works, words, and knowledge, wholly proceed from Christ, as from their original source. Without this divine principle settled within the mind, all our gifts and works, be they ever so high and angelical, are insignificant, and of no worth. For wherever self-love sways the soul, there must be a hatred of God; where pride rules, it engenders a contempt of God; and how can works springing from so vitiated a principle, ever be acceptable to the Lord?