ciple of a new and divine life, which cannot be hid; that it is the actual work of the Holy Ghost, proceeding from the Father and the Son; creating the soul anew, yea dwelling in it, and giving it a new and divine nature.

I proceed therefore, 3 and lastly, to consider what are the effects of regeneration, where it has taken place. I shall be very brief on this most interesting subject. I will mention but three of the effects of this divine change. First, I would observe that by spiritual regeneration the faculties and powers of the soul are all brought under a new principle, and have a new bent and direction given to them. "If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature:" (c) he is "created in Christ Jesus unto good works:" (d) he is clothed upon with "the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness." (e) It is not, properly speaking, a new faculty imparted to the soul, but the old faculties are brought under a new guidance and impulse. Whereas before they turned away from God, now they turn towards him. Whereas before they were carnal, selfish, earthly, and bent on self-will and self-indulgence; now they are turned towards spiritual things, they become concerned about God's (c) 2 Cor. v. 17. (d) Eph. ii. 10. (e) Eph. iv. 24.

glory, and the welfare of others, especially the welfare of their souls; and above all they aim at holiness, purity, self-denial, and entire submission to the will of God: in our Lord's expressive words, they "hunger and thirst after righteousness." (f) Even so the Scriptures tell us, "Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him; and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. In this the children of God are manifested, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother."(g) And again, "Whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world; and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.” (h)

These are the chief effects of regeneration; this is the grand mark of those who are born of God. They love God and keep his commandments. They wish to live for his honour and glory. The spiritual and divine seed, whereby they were regenerated, remaineth in them; so that they walk in the Spirit, they overcome the world, and live above it: they do not commit sin, as other men do, carelessly, and habitually; but even when they fall into sin, yea, even into the most grievous sins, they do not sin like natural (ƒ) Matt. v. 6. (g) 1 John iii. 9, 10. (h)1 John v. 4.

men. Shame, sorrow, and remorse, and increased watchfulness and zeal, commonly follow their sins; and they cry for mercy, and turn to their God again. Their great feeling is, "It is good for me to hold me fast by God.” (i)

A second mark of spiritual regeneration is the clear perception it gives men of divine things, and especially of the truths of the Gospel. "The eyes of their understanding are enlightened." (k) They are "renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created them." (1) "Ye have an unction from the Holy One," St. John says, "and ye know all things." (m) And again, "We know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true; and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ." (n) And again, "We have known and believed the love that God hath to us." (o) Hence it is written, "Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God." (p) He has that true living faith, "the faith of God's elect," which is of the operation of God, which is to his own soul "the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not

(i) Ps. lxxiii. last ver. Prayer-book version. (k) Eph. i. 18. (1) Col. iii. 10. (m) 1 John ii. 20. (n) 1 John v. 20. (p) 1 John v. i.

(0) 1 John iv. 16.

seen." (q) Yes, brethren, mark it well, all spiritual persons have a full, solid, and effectual persuasion of the truth of the Scriptures, and of "the record that God gave of his Son." They no longer regard this as a doubtful or speculative matter; but they have an inward conviction of its truth and certainty. They "know, and do testify, that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world." (r) They believe with unquestioning faith that Jesus is "the Christ, the Son of the living God;" (s) and that all God's promises in him, concerning pardon, grace, and eternal life,

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are yea and amen." (t) They may at times doubt of their own special interest in these blessings; but as to the things themselves, they no more doubt of them, than they do of their own existence. "Flesh and blood hath not revealed these things to them, but their Father which is in heaven." (u)

Thirdly, I will mention one more effect of spiritual regeneration. It softens and humbles the heart. The natural man is proud and selfish but grace softens the heart, and makes it meek and gentle, lowly before God, and loving and affectionate towards men. Chris

(9) Heb. xi. i. (r) 1 John iv. 14. (s) Matt. xvi. 16. (u) Matt. xvi. 17.

(t) 2 Cor. i. 20.

tian tenderness of heart and conscience, and Christian lowliness and poorness of spirit, are the marks of divine grace most frequently mentioned in the Scriptures. This is that “charity” (v) so much extolled by St. Paul to the Corinthians; and so often mentioned by St. John under the name of "love." (w) It is this which makes men, like the Lamb of God, to go about doing good, to bless those who curse them, and when they are reviled to revile not again. It is from this effect of regeneration that God's people are compared to a little child, (x) or a dove, (y) or a turtledove," (z) or a lamb. (a) They are gentle and forgiving, slow to wrath, and swift to acts of liberality and kindness. By this beautiful disposition of soul the Holy Spirit makes them to resemble Jesus; that they may be blameless and harmless, and blessings to others in this life; and that they may be fitted to dwell by and by in that better country, where nothing fierce or proud or contentious, can ever enter. Such characters are often little valued in this world; but God owns them and dwells in them. "For thus saith the High and Holy One, who inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy, I dwell in the high and (v)·1 Cor. xiii. (w)1 Johniv.7—13. (x) Matt. xviii. 2—4. (y) Cant. v. 2. (2) Ps: lxxiv. 19. (a) Luke x. 3.