[March 12th, 1854.] I. The natural state of man. 1. It is a state of spiritual death. 2. As to the understanding, it is a state of blindness. 3. The affections are alienated from God and fixed on the creature. 4. The life or activity is devoted to things seen and temporal. II. The translation from this state into a state of spiritual life is regeneration. It is called in Scripture by different names, such as new birth, resurrection, new creation, change of heart. With regard to this change, it is, 1. Not an outward one.
- It is not a natural one. 3. It is not an essential one, or a change of essence. 4. But it is supernatural, both as to its nature and its origin. 5. It is not a mere change of purpose, or of opinion, or of feeling. 6. But it is the infusion of a new spiritual principle. III. Its author is God. It is a divine work. It is a work of power. IV. The means of regeneration are the word and sacraments. In what sense are they means? 1. That without them the effect is not produced. 2. They are not efficient of themselves. 3. They are not uniformly successful. 4. It is with and by the word that God effects the change. Illustrations: the healing of Naaman; the clay on the eye of the blind. V. The evidences of regeneration are of three kinds: 1. The nature of the exercises of the new life. Holy affections contain in themselves the evidence of their own nature. When sufficiently strong, there is no doubt entertained as to their character. There is great difficulty, however, in arriving at a satisfactory conclusion in this way. a. Because these exercises are often weak. b. Because it is so difficult to discriminate between gracious and natural affections, e.g., sorrow for sin may be from fear, or it may be a mere natural remorse, or it may be a spiritual apprehension. So our love to God may be mere natural reverence and gratitude. Our regard for Christ may be either natural or spiritual. So of faith.
c. Because the affections are not in exercise when submitted to examination.
No one can tell a good tree from a bad one by stripping off its bark, and submitting its organism to the microscope.
- The witness of the Spirit.
a. There is such a witness.
b. It is different from the exercise of filial or gracious affections.
c. It is not of the nature of a revelation.
d. But is the production of a confidence in our own acceptance produced by the immediate agency of the Spirit, the effects of which are joy, peace, gratitude, love, obedience and devotion to the glory of God.
- The third class of evidences is the effects produced. These are of three kinds:
a. There is a kind of knowledge which is the fruit, and therefore the evidence of regeneration. This knowledge is not speculative. It is not intuitive, but it is spiritual discernment, a divine illumination which includes (1) the apprehension of the truth whether concerning sin, or ourselves, or Christ, or the plan of salvation, or the moral law, or things unseen and eternal. (2.) The apprehension of the excellence of all that God approves. We see the glory of God, the beauty of holiness, the evil of sin, the face of God in Christ. b. There are affections which are the effects and evidence of regeneration. That is, we seek our happiness in new objects. We prefer God’s service to the world. We prefer Christians to other men. We find the duties of religion a delight.
c. There is a new life consequent upon regeneration. There is a worldly life, a scientific life, there is a philanthropic life, and there is a religious life. That is, one whose object is not self, not the world or creatures, but God. The definite fixed purpose is to glorify him. And the whole outward life is devoted to his service and regulated by his will.
← 89. Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. Phil. 2:12 · Contents · 91. Evidences of Regeneration →