The author is the Spirit of God, and therefore it is called "the sanctification of the Spirit," and "the renewing of the Holy Ghost," yet not excluding the other persons in the Trinity; for the Apostle teacheth us to " bless the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, for that he hath begotten us again to a lively hope." And Christ is said to " give repentance unto Israel," and is called the " everlasting father," and we his seed, and "the children which God hath given him." Yet this work is principally ascribed to the Holy Ghost, and so we are said to be "born of the Spirit."

So then, it is a work above man's power: "We are born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God." Never think thou canst convert thyself: if ever thou wouldst be savingly converted, thou must despair of doing it in thine own strength. It is a resurrection from the dead, "You hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;" a new creation; a work of absolute omnipotence. Are these out of the reach of human power? If thou hast no more than thou hadst by thy first birth, a good nature, a meek and chaste temper, &c. thou art a very stranger to true conversion: this is a supernatural work.