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tainly, leave them under merited | cipient of all the blessings of salvacondemnation (Rom. x. 1-4).- tion, is itself the effect of a Divine May God incline every reader to influence upon the soul, that all give this subject a serious consi- boasting may be most effectually deration, with the day of judgment excluded. This gracious operation and eternity before his eyes! Nor is represented in Scripture under let it be forgotten, that all the re- several metaphors, of which regeformers from popery (who were neration (that is, being born again, eminent men, however some may born of God, or born of the Spirit) affect to despise them), deemed is the most frequent and remarkthis doctrine the grand distinction able: and the present Essay will be between a standing and a falling appropriated to the discussion of church. this interesting subject.

Yet we should also observe, that| Nicodemus, a pharisee, a scribe, "the truth itself may be held in and a member of the Jewish sanheunrighteousness:" and they who drim, came to Jesus by night: for receive this doctrine into a proud (notwithstanding his conviction that and carnal heart, by a dead faith, he was a teacher sent from God) not only awfully deceive them- he was afraid or ashamed of being selves, and quiet their consciences known to consult him, concerning in an impenitent, unjustified state; the doctrine that he came to inculThe state of his mind acbut they bring a reproach upon cate. the truth, and fatally prejudice the corded to the darkness which preminds of men against it; of which vailed at the season of this interthey will have a dreadful account view: and he seems to have expected to give at the last day. For did some instructions coincident with all, who hold this doctrine of God the traditions of pharisees, and their our Saviour, adorn it by such a con-ideas of religion, and of the Mesduct as it is suited to produce; siah's kingdom, which they consipharisees, sceptics, and infidels, dered as consisting in external would be deprived of their best forms and advantages. But our weapons, and must fight against Lord, with a two-fold most solemn the gospel at a vast disadvantage. asseveration, peculiar to himself on May the Lord give us all that "faith the most important occasions, abwhich worketh by love," that " by ruptly assured him, that "except a works our faith may be made per-man were born again, he could not fect," as the grafted tree is when see the kingdom of God;" or disloaded with fruit on every branch cern its real nature and excellency : (Gal. v. 6: James, ii. 17-26).

ESSAY XII.

On Regeneration.

66

and when Nicodemus expressed his astonishment at this assertion, in such language as aptly illustrates the apostle's meaning, when he says, that the things of the Spirit of God are foolishness to the natural WHEN the apostle showed the Ephe- man" (1 Cor. ii. 14); our Lord ansians, that " they were saved by swered with the same solemnity, grace, through faith," he added, that "except a man were born of that this "faith was not of them-water and of the Spirit, he could selves, but was the gift of God" not enter into the kingdom of God." (Eph. ii. 8-10): whence we learn, Water had been used, in divers that the faith which is the sole re- ways, as an external emblem of in

ternal purification; and the use of of a worldly nature can be. The it was intended to be continued, in question then is, What did our the ordinance of baptism, under the Lord mean by "being born again," new dispensation; it was, there- or "born of the Spirit?" To which fore, proper to mention it as the I shall first endeavour to give a outward sign of that change, which plain and particular answer, subcould only be effected by the power joining a compendious review of the of the Holy Spirit. He next showed arguments, by which the necessity the indispensable necessity of this of regeneration hath been often new birth; "that which is born of proved; and concluding with some the flesh," or derived by natural observations and inferences of a generation from fallen Adam, "is practical nature and tendency. flesh," or carnal in its propensities It scarce need be said, that the and inclinations; " and that which ordinance of baptism, however adis born of the Spirit is spirit," or ministered, is not "regeneration by spiritual, holy, and heavenly, like the Spirit." They who resolve all its Divine Author (Rom. viii. 1- that is said in Scripture on this 16). He then told Nicodemus not head, into the observance of this to wonder at his declaration, that external rite, must suppose, that even Jews, pharisees, and scribes, none can enter Christ's church on "must be born again;" and illus- earth, or his kingdom in heaven, trated the subject by the wind, the or even understand the real nature precise cause of which, in all its of them, unless they have been bapvariations, cannot easily be ascer- tized with water; whatever be their tained; nor its motions and energy character, or the cause of the omisaltered or abated; but which is very sion: nay, moreover, they must supmanifest in its powerful effects. pose, that all baptized persons are And when Nicodemus still inquired truly illuminated, real Christians "how these things could be?" he and heirs of heaven; for all that in return expressed his surprise, are born of God are his children that a teacher of Israel should be at and heirs. No doubt baptism is a loss about such a subject; and (as circumcision was) the outward concluded by representing this part sign of regeneration: but they who of his instructions as "earthly are satisfied with the outward sign, things," when compared with the without the inward and spiritual deep mysteries of his person and grace, should return to the school redemption, which he next declared or to the nursery, to learn over to him as "heavenly things." For again a part of their catechism; as this change takes place on earth it is plain they have forgotten it: continually, even as often as sinners for it expressly states the inward are turned from their evil ways, and and spiritual grace and haptism to become truly pious and holy per- be "a death unto sin, and a new sons: it is a change that may aptly birth unto righteousness." Indeed be illustrated by the most common the Fathers (as they are called) concerns of life: it lies as level to soon began to speak on this subject our capacities (if our minds were in unscriptural language: and our unprejudiced), as almost any of the pious reformers, from an undue reworks of God, with which we are gard to them, and the circumstances surrounded; and the necessity of it of the times, have retained some may be proved by as cogent and expressions in the liturgy, which conclusive arguments, as any thing are not only inconsistent with their

other doctrine; but which also tend A man might pass through changes to confuse men's minds, and mislead of this kind, till he had tried all the their judgment on this important modes of religion that have been subject: but it is obvious, from the known on earth; and yet at last be words above cited, and many other excluded, as unregenerate and unpassages, that they never supposed clean, from the kingdom of heaven. the mere outward administration of Neither does it mean any kind of baptism to be regeneration, in the impressions, or new revelations ; strict sense of the word: nor can any succession of terrors and conany man, without the most palpable solations; or any whisper, as it absurdity, overlook the difference were, from God to the heart conbetween the baptism that is out- cerning his secret love, choice, or ward in the flesh, and that of the purpose to save a man. Many such heart by the Spirit, whose "praise experiences have been declared by is not of men but of God" (Rom. those who continued slaves to their ii. 29; 1 Peter iii. 19). sins; and Satan, transformed into

Nor does regeneration merely an angel of light, hath done imsignify a reformation of the outward mense mischief in this way. Some conduct, or a ceasing from vice to of these things indeed (such as terpractise virtue. Some persons have ror, and consolation succeeding to been so preserved from immoralities, it) commonly accompany a saving that they do not want such an out-change: others, which are evidently ward reformation as is meant by enthusiastic,, may nevertheless be those who favour this interpreta- found in the case of some, who are tion yet they too must be born really born of God; yet they are again, or they can neither see nor neither regeneration itself, nor any enter into the kingdom of God. But effect or evidence of it; but rather indeed, if the strong language and a disgraceful and injurious appenmultiplied figures of the scripture, dage to it, arising from human inon this subject, mean nothing more firmity, and the devices of Satan. than this; we must be constrained We allow the expressions, "born to allow, that the plainest matter in of God," or "born again," to be the world is so covered and obscured figurative, but then the metaphor is by mysterious language, as to ren- significant and proper. A new-born der it extremely perplexing and infant is a new creature, brought even unintelligible to ordinary rea- into the world by Almighty power, ders: for how should they suppose, endued with life, and certain proaccording to the dictates of unlet-pensities and capacities. It is a tered common sense, that such so- human being, and has all things lemnity of introduction, emphasis pertaining to our nature, in a weak of expression, and accumulation of and incipient state: but by proper metaphors, only meant, that " a care and sustenance it may grow up wicked man could not be an heir to maturity, and the perfection of of heaven, unless he amended his manhood. In like manner, the Dilife?" For scarce any body, except vine power produces in the mind of a downright infidel, or profligate, a sinner such a change as renders ever supposed that he could. Nor him a new creature, with new prois regeneration a mere conversion pensities and capacities: but these from one creed or sect to another: are only in a feeble and incipient or even from atheism, Judaism, in-state, and exposed to much oppofidelity, or idolatry, to Christianity.sition and danger on every side.

Provision is made for "this new-is now disposed to fear, hate, and born babe, in the sincere milk of shun what before he delighted in, the word," and in the salvation of or regarded as harmless; and to Christ; by means of which, through love, choose, desire, and rejoice in the grace of the Holy Spirit, the those things that before he despised regenerate man grows up gradually or hated. He seems to be introto maturity. No new faculties are duced, as it were, into a new world, communicated in this change, but in which he views himself and all a new and heavenly direction is things around him, through a new given to those which the Creator medium. He wonders that he had had bestowed, but which sin had not before seen them in the same perverted. The capacity of under-light: and is frequently so amazed standing, believing, loving, rejoic-at the insensibility or delusions of ing, &c. previously belonged to the mankind, that he is not easily conman's nature: but the capacity of vinced but that proper instructions understanding the real glory and would bring them all over to his excellency of heavenly things, of sentiments. He has now a whole believing the humbling truths of system, as it were, of affections, of revelation in an efficacious manner; which he formerly had no concepof loving the holy beauty of the tion: his fears and hopes, attachDivine character and image; and ments and aversions, joys and sorof rejoicing in God's favour and ser- rows, successes and disappointvice, belong to him as born of the ments, principally relate to those Spirit. Regeneration may therefore objects which before gave him scarcebe defined as a change wrought ly any concern, but which now apby the power of the Holy Spirit, in pear to him of such vast importance, the understanding, will, and affec- that the objects which once entions of a sinner, which is the com- grossed his mind, proportionably mencement of a new kind of life, and dwindle into insignificancy, when which gives another direction to his he does not see them to be criminal, judgment, desires, pursuits, and con- polluting, and insnaring. Hence it duct." The mind seems to be first comes to pass, that except as a sense prepared by a divine energy (like of duty retains him in his station, or the removal of a film or other ob-inforces his application to business, struction from the eyes of a blind or study, he is very apt to grow inman), to perceive the real nature, attentive to such matters, deeming and comparative value of the ob- them comparatively mere trifles. jects around him; concerning which, It is not to be expected, that we through the ignorance and depravity should describe the manner in which of his fallen nature, the corrupt max- the Holy Spirit effects this internal ims of the world, and the artifices change: for we cannot understand of Satan, he had formed a very er- how God creates, and forms the roneous judgment. Thus the eyes body in the womb, or how he breathes of his understanding are opened, into it the breath of life. It is of and the light of divine truth, which more importance for us to be able is diffused around him, shines into with precision to ascertain those his heart, and gradually rectifies his effects, by which it is distinguished errors and misapprehensions (Acts from every species of counterfeits. xvi. 14; xxvi. 18; Eph. i. 18). The Among these we may mention, an will and affections also are influenced habitual and prevailing regard to in the same manner: and the man the authority, favour, displeasure,

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and glory of God, in the general his previous character may have tenor of a man's conduct, even in been, "God be merciful to me a his most secret retirement: an abid- sinner," will be the genuine laning sense of his all-seeing eye, his guage of his heart. So that deep constant presence, and his all-di-humiliation and self-abasement, a recting and sustaining providence: broken and a contrite spirit, godly and an unwavering persuasion of sorrow, repentance, conversion to his right to our worship, love, and God, &c., are the never-failing efservice, and of our obligations and fects of regeneration. Then the accountableness to him. Connected Divine Saviour, and his merits, with this, regeneration always pro- atonement, and mediation, with all duces a deep and efficacious appre- the parts of his great salvation begin hension of the reality, nearness, and to appear glorious in his eyes, and importance of eternal things, and to become precious to his heart; he our infinite concern in them; so now sees the wisdom, and feels the that, compared with them, all tem-power of the doctrine of the cross, poral things appear as nothing. This which before he deemed foolishness, will be accompanied with a new and learns to glory in it: he now disposition to reverence, examine. counts all but loss for the excellency believe, and submit to the decisions of the knowledge of Christ, and of the holy Scriptures; yea, a de- gladly receives and believes in him, sire after, and delight in them, as in his several offices of prophet, the proper nourishment of the soul priest, and king (John i. 12, 13; 1 (1 Pet. ii. 2). If the subject of this John v. 1). Thus he learns to love change were previously destitute him; to admire the excellency of of religious knowledge, he will find his character, to value his favour, that an increasing acquaintance with and to desire communion with him the holiness of God, and his obliga- above all things; to be thankful for tions to him; with the reasonable his unspeakable love, and inestimaness, spirituality, and sanction of ble benefits; to be zealous for his the Divine law; and with his own honour, and devoted to his cause; past and present conduct, disposi to love the brethren for his sake, tions, motives, and affections, as and neighbours and enemies after compared with this perfect stan- his example (1 John iii. 14; iv. dard; will lead him to an increas-7-21); and to exercise self-denial, ing conviction of his sinfulness, his to endure loss, hardship, and sufferexposedness to deserved wrath, his ing in his service. In short, "whatinability to justify or save himself. soever is born of God, overcometh and his need of repentance, forgive the world, hates sin, and doeth ness, and the influences of divine righteousness" (1 John ii. 29; iii. grace and if he before had a doc- 9, 10; v. 4); for the regenerate trinal knowledge of these things, man beholds the glory of God" the truth that had lain dormant, (especially in the face of Christ), will now become a living principle " and is changed into the same of action in his soul. Thus, self-image," &c. (2 Cor. iii. 17, 18; iv. dependence, and every towering 4-6): so that repentance, faith, imagination will be cast down; all love of God and man, submission, his supposed righteousness will be patience, meekness, spirituality, found to have sprung from corrupt temperance, justice, truth, purity, motives, and to have been both de- and all the fruits of the Spirit, are fective and defiled; and whatever the genuine effects of that change

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