SECTION IV. From this metaphor, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God, and other parallel expressions in the Holy Scriptures, we may learn that the change here intended

is SUPERNATURAL.

When I say it is a supernatural change, I mean that it is what man cannot by his own power effect, without superior or divine aid. As we are by nature in a state of enmity and opposition to God, so this is what we cannot "of ourselves" remove or overcome. The exercise of our own rational powers, the persuasion of others, the application of all moral motives of every kind, will be ineffectual without the special operation of the Spirit and grace of God. Thus the apostle John describes those who believe in the name of Christ: "Which were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God." And thus the apostle Paul expresses himself: "Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost." There is no part of the Scripture doctrine which the natural man hears with greater aversion, or opposes with greater violence. It gives so humbling a view of our own character and state, and stands so directly opposed to pride and self-sufficiency, that it cannot be truly acceptable to any, till they are brought to a saving acquaintance with its power and efficacy. However, it hath been this "foolishness of preaching," or rather, this commonly esteemed foolish part of preaching, that God hath

most remarkably blessed for the salvation of souls. I will therefore endeavour to show, in as plain and satisfying a manner as I am able, that this is the doctrine of the Holy Scripture, and then to vindicate it from the chief objections that are usually raised against it.

How many passages of Scripture are there, that speak in the strongest terms, not only of our miserable, but helpless state before conversion! Thus the apostle to the Ephesians, " And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins." And again, "But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ; (by grace ye are saved)." In his Epistle to the Colossians he repeats the same thing: "And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses.' The reader must know, that in many other passages the same truth is to be found, couched under the same or like metaphors; such as, "blindness, darkness, hardness of heart." The force of the expression is seldom sufficiently attended to. Suffer me then to put the question, Do you give credit to the Holy Scriptures? Do you form your opinions, without partiality or prejudice, from them? Then you must receive it as truth, that man, in his natural state, can do nothing of himself to his own recovery, without the concurrence of superior aid. If there is any meaning or propriety in Scripture language, we must yield to this. What more could be said, than that we are "dead" in sin? What more incapable of action than one who is entirely deprived of life?

But lest there should be any remaining exception, the thing is asserted in plain and explicit terms, without any metaphor, by the apostle John, from our Saviour's own mouth : "No man can come unto me, except the Father, which hath sent me, draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day. It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man, therefore, that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me." I shall mention only one passage more, in which, under the similitude of a wretched outcast infant, the prophet Ezekiel represents the natural state of Jerusalem : "And as for thy nativity, in the day thou wast born thy navel was not cut, neither wast thou washed in water to supple thee; thou wast not salted at all, nor swaddled at all. None eye pitied thee, to do any of these unto thee, to have compassion upon thee; but thou wast cast out in the open field, to the loathing of thy person, in the day that thou wast born. And when I passed by thee, and saw thee polluted in thine own blood, I said unto thee, when thou wast in thy blood, Live; yea, I said unto thee, when thou wast in thy blood, Live." Here all the circumstances are collected that could signify at once a miserable and weak, wretched and helpless condition, or that could serve to make our deliverance at once a signal instance both of grace and power.

This leads me to observe, that the same truth will receive further light from those passages of Scripture in which the real agent in this great change is pointed out, and which celebrate the efficacy of his power. As in the text it is asserted, that "except a man be born again, he cannot enter into the king

dom of God," so, in other passages, true believers are said to be "born of God-born from aboveborn of the Spirit." The power of God exerted in the renovation of the sinner, is described in language taken from the first formation of the world: "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them." And, "If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." See the prophecies of the Old Testament, respecting the plentiful effusion of the Holy Spirit in the times of the gospel; they contain a clear description of divine, supernatural influence. Thus the prophet Isaiah," For I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground. I will pour my Spirit upon thy seed, and my blessing upon thine offspring; and they shall spring up as among the grass, and as willows by the water-courses." the same purpose the prophet Ezekiel, "Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you. A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you; and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh and I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes; and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them." Let it not seem tedious to any that I have collected so many passages of Scripture on this subject. It is no light thing, and indeed it is no common thing, to believe it from the heart.

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But

let us now affirm it, on divine testimony, that regeneration is the work of the Holy Ghost.

I would not build this truth upon any other evidence. When we stand in God's room, bear his message, and speak in his name, nothing should be affirmed which cannot be supported by a " Thus saith the Lord." But having done so, I think I may warrantably observe how much the visible state of the world corresponds with the Scripture declarations on this subject. I hope this will be neither unsuitable nor unprofitable, considering what an inward aversion men have to receive and apply them. Do we not daily see many instances of persons, of first-rate understandings and great natural abilities, who yet continue blind to their duty to God, and the salvation of their souls? As they are born, so they continue to show themselves through their whole lives, "wise to do evil, but to do good they have no knowledge." What proofs do they often give of the power and influence of habits of wickedness over them! How frequently does it happen, that their attachment to sin in general, or to some particular sin, is such as to bear down before it all regard to their own interest, temporal and eternal! while at the same time persons of unspeakably inferior talents, enlightened by the Spirit, and sanctified by the grace of God, shall stand firm against the most dangerous temptations, and escape the pollution that is in the world through lust. This our blessed Lord adores as a part or proof of the sovereignty and unsearchable wisdom of his heavenly Father: "In that hour Jesus rejoiced in spirit, and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou hast hid