[September 22d, 1860.]
I. What is Regeneration?
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It is not any outward reformation.
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Nor any change of external state or relation.
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Nor any change, though inward; of belief.
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Nor any change in the substance of the soul.
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Nor any mere change in its acts or exercises. But a change of nature, i.e., of that inward immanent disposition or spiritual state which is back of all voluntary or conscious activity, and which, in the things of God, determines that activity. It is the change from spiritual death to spiritual life. It is the work of the Spirit, and not of the subject of it, or of one man on the soul of another operating through the reason, conscience or the feelings. It is due to the immediate Almighty power of God, and therefore belongs to the class of supernatural events.
II. The question whether we are regenerate or not, is a question whether we are the children of God or the children of the devil, whether we are alive or dead, whether we belong to the kingdom of darkness or the kingdom of God’s dear Son, whether we are saved or lost. Such being the nature of the change, and such the interests involved, two things would seem to follow.
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That no man can rationally be indifferent to the question whether he is regenerated or not.
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That a change so radical and so great must reveal itself. It cannot be a doubtful matter whether a man is alive or dead. Yet many true children of God are in doubt, from one or the other of two causes.
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The life though present is so feeble. It is often doubtful whether a man in a swoon or cataleptic state is alive or not.
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What is the more common cause, taking a wrong standard of judgment, assuming the necessity of evidences which they do not find in themselves.
III. What are then the evidences of regeneration? The negative side of the question at least is clear. That is, there are certain things which are clear evidence that we are not regenerated.
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Infidelity, or the wilful rejection of the leading doctrines of Scripture.
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Conscious aversion to Christ, his ordinances, or his people.
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The purpose carried out in our lives to make self the end and rule of life, not only refusing to submit to the restraints of the law, but the refusal to submit ourselves to Christ and to live for his glory.
The positive side is no less clear, at least as a matter of theory.
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As regeneration is the work of the Spirit, as it consists in the Holy Ghost entering the soul and there abiding as a principle of a new life, it follows that evidence of his presence is the natural and inevitable effect of the presence of a source of light, of love, of power, of holiness, peace and joy.
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Hence, where the Spirit dwells there will be light. The soul will see truth to be truth, to be excellent, lovely and divine. Especially will it see the record concerning Jesus to be true, that he is the Son of God and Saviour of the world. It will have love to God, to Christ, to the Scriptures, to the Church, to the people of God.
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There will be power to believe, to overcome the world, to conquer sin, to obey God, to make his will the rule of our life and his glory its end.
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There will be peace and joy. Despair is inconsistent with spiritual life. Doubt and despondency are hostile to it. The question therefore whether we are regenerated is not to be decided by a metaphysical or microscopic examination of our emotions or affections. The character of these from the mere revelation of consciousness we cannot determine. But rather,
1st. From the general and habitual conformity of our mind to the mind of God.
2d. From the habitual conviction that Jesus is the Son of God, such a conviction as secures his being practically God to us.
3d. From the habitual purpose and endeavor to overcome all sin and to live for Christ’s service and in obedience to his will.