the will of man, but of God;" John i. 13.

The words have a dependence on what goes before, and therefore I must
direct you to them for the right understanding of it. You have it
thus,--"He came to his own, but his own received him not; but as many
as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even
to them which believe on his name; which were born, not of blood, nor
of the will of the flesh, but of God." In the words before, you have
two things -

First, Some of his own rejecting him when he offered himself to them.

Secondly, Others of his own receiving him, and making him welcome.
Those that reject him he also passes by; but those that receive him, he
gives them power to become the sons of God. Now, lest any one should
look upon it as good luck or fortune, says he, "They were born, not of
blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of
God." They that did not receive him, they were only born of flesh and
blood; but those that receive him, they have God to their father, they
receive the doctrine of Christ with a vehement desire.

First, I will shew you what he means by "blood." They that believe are
born to it, as an heir is to an inheritance; they are born of God; not
of flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God; not of blood--that is,
not by generation; not born to the kingdom of heaven by the flesh; not
because I am the son of a godly man or woman. That is meant by blood,
Acts xvii. 26, "He has made of one blood all nations." But when he
says here, "not of blood," he rejects all carnal privileges they did
boast of. They boasted they were Abraham's seed. No, no, says he, it
is not of blood; think not to say you have Abraham to your father, you