ON REGENERATION.

instances; for all who have been regenerated and admitted into the kingdom of God, have been born of the Spirit of God.

V. Let us, in the last place, consider the evidences of regeneration.

We cannot tell how this change is effected in the soul.

real but mysterious

"The wind bloweth where it listeth," said our Saviour to Nicodemus, illustration of this position, "and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit." A new principle is implanted by the Spirit of God, and new life infused into the soul by his holy operation. And in due time the most important effects are discernible in the subjects of this divine influence. And these effects are evidences of the change, and determine who are partakers of Let us then briefly notice a few of the most prominent of these evidences, for a few only can now be

it.

mentioned.

1. The first evidence is faith in Christ: they who believe on his name are said to be the sons of God, and born of the will of God. And the apostle Paul, writing to the Galatian converts, says, "Ye are the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus."

all

2. Love is another evidence of regeneration; for every one that loveth is born of God. This is exercised supremely towards God, the giver of all good, and the fountain of all blessedness; and then in various degrees towards all mankind, including in its embrace, friends, strangers, and enemies. But

towards the brethren it glows from the heart more fervently; for every one that loveth him that begat, loveth him also that is begotten of him.

3. Victory over the world.-"Whatsoever is born of God, overcometh the world, and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith." Whatever temptations may arise from the riches, honour, and pleasures of the world, or from the society of mankind, he who is born of God has such believing views of eternal things, that in the time of trial he combats these temptations; and in the strength of grace overcomes them. He is at length made more than conqueror through the Captain of his salvation.

4. The universal practice of holiness is a farther evidence of this blessed change. The principle of regeneration produces hatred to all sin, and an earnest desire after conformity to the whole will of God. It leads to a course of action whereby sin is resisted and mortified in the soul, which is created anew, after the image of God. "He cannot sin," says St. John (speaking of the true believer), because he is born of God;" that is, he cannot sin habitually or willingly. And this principle of regeneration is called the seed of God, which will not allow him to continue in the practice of any sin.

It only remains that I should add a few words as the improvement of the subject.

1. We are evidently taught that baptism is not regeneration.

It should never be forgotten, that being born of water, which is, to receive the outward sign of the

ON REGENERATION.

new and spiritual birth, can be of no advantage to the person who does not partake of the Holy Spirit's influence. The death unto sin, and new birth unto righteousness, of which the application of water is the fitting and appointed emblem, is that essential principle and vital change of nature which our Lord declares is absolutely necessary in order to enter the kingdom of heaven. Do not then deceive yourselves with the opinion that the outward form alone can ensure your salvation, unattended by the operation of the Spirit of God on the heart. This would be merely to possess the shadow without the substance; the sign without the thing signified.

2. We learn from this subject, not to undervalue or disregard baptism as an ordinance of God.

Is baptism, indeed, a divinely appointed means of imparting spiritual blessings? Then we are to

regard it as a token of God's love to us and to our children, whereby we are admitted into his church, and by faith made partakers of the blessings of sal

vation.

Think not lightly of an ordinance instituted by Christ himself, for ends so important and glorious. To the penitent believer, this holy sacrament is not only a sign and emblem of spiritual grace, but a means of communicating it, and a pledge that he assuredly receives it.

3. The subject shews us that infants are capable of regeneration.

To baptize infants, and at the same time to consider them incapable of the new birth, signified by the application of the water of baptism, would be to

degrade this holy ordinance, and reduce it to a mere vain and worthless ceremony. That infants can be admitted subjects of baptism, proves them to be capable of that which baptism denotes-a renewal of the corrupt nature which every individual inherits from his parents, and the implanting of a holy principle which will in due time produce those effects which evidence the reality of the change. I trust enough has been said to prevent your supposing that all who receive the outward sign, receive also the inward grace. We have, however, sufficient reason to believe that all who die before the commission of actual sin, are through God's mercy removed from the fellowship of the church below, to the perfect communion of the church above, as the subjects of the renewing grace of the Holy Spirit.

4. Regeneration may exist where circumstances may, in some measure, prevent the manifestation of its effects and evidences.

This divine principle may be implanted in the soul of infants long before any evidence of a holy change can appear; in cases when the intellect may be too weak to understand the truths of the gospel; or, again, in some instances when the light is but very partially vouchsafed. Yet the work of God may be carried on in the soul; and when this heavenly and incorruptible seed is once sown, it will, by the power of God, spring up to perfection, and in his time be matured, notwithstanding every unfavourable circumstance which might impede its growth.

5. If any of you are conscious that you do not

possess regeneration, in what manner ought I to address you?

will

Shall I say, regenerate yourselves? Oh, no! This work can be effected by the operation of no created power. But let me entreat you to seek the influences of the blessed and holy Spirit; repent of his your sins; believe in Jesus Christ, and accept offered salvation; obey the gospel; and so you possess those evidences of regeneration, which will prove that you are indeed born of God, and thus become heirs of glory. But, oh! trifle not on a subject so momentous and important. the words of the compassionate Saviour himself— Except a man be born again, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God."

Remember