66 nature of things be manifest: but I conceive that, as soon as the infant is grown old enough to exercise choice and judgment and conscience, we may expect that it will be seen, if the Holy Ghost, "the Spirit of glory and of God resteth upon" him. (b) Solomon tells us, "Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure and whether it be right." (c) Much more will this be the case, as the person grows up. "He that is of God heareth God's words." (d) They that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit, the things of the Spirit." (e). There may be exceptions to this rule, partial and temporary exceptions; as when the man is under strong temptations, or a backslider, or under circumstances which do not evidently call out the real principles and dispositions of the soul; just as, to use the figure of our text, the wind may sometimes lull, and either drop altogether, or blow so gently, that for the time its effects can scarcely be discerned. But these will be only exceptions; while in general, as we hear the sound and perceive the effects of the wind, even so is it with " every one that is born of the Spirit." He who cannot lie has said, (b) 1 Pet. iv. 14. (c) Prov. xx. 11. (d) John viii. 47. (e) Rom. viii. 5. "A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things." (f) So that his test of false preachers will apply to the discerning of the spirits of all baptized persons. The inward life of God will be evidenced by the outward life of godliness. "By their fruits ye shall know them. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles ? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit; neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit." (g) And now, in conclusion, I would beseech you all to consider earnestly with yourselves, how this subject applies to each of you. My beloved, if you have been made partakers of spiritual regeneration, the fruits and effects of it are certainly manifest, in the eyes of your understanding being enlightened, in sanctified affections, and in holy Christian living. If you are new creatures, you are "created in Christ Jesus unto good works: "(h) and if you are not new creatures, you are not in Christ, except as the dead branches may be said to be in the vine, as wicked Ham was in the ark, and as the tares, the children of the wicked One, grew in the Gospel (f) Matt. xii. 35. (g) Matt. vii. 16-18. (h) Eph. ii. 10. field together with the wheat. And what will this profit you in that coming day, when the dead branches shall be cast into the fire and be burned; when the Lord shall for ever separate the tares from the wheat, "gathering out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them that do iniquity, and casting them into a furnace of fire, where is wailing and gnashing of teeth." (i) Put not, I pray you, this important subject aside; and especially do not deceive your own souls with the idea of your being born of the Spirit, while no fruits of the Spirit appear in your life and conduct. There have been many delusions and wild fancies, connected with the work of the Spirit of God Methodists, Ranters, Quakers, and other sectarians, have grievously confused and distorted this subject: but surely no fancy is more wild, no delusion more groundless, and no enthusiasm more unwarranted by God's word, than the fatal but common idea, that multitudes of careless, worldly, proud, dishonest, sensual, or covetous persons, are regenerate and born of God; while their whole character, life, and conversation declare, that they are not of God, that they are not in Christ, and that the incorruptible seed, which liveth and abideth for ever, does not live and abide in them. The whole general (i) Matt. xiii. 41, 42. : tenor of God's word, as well as many particular passages, declare, if men will receive it, that such characters, though born of water, are not born of the Spirit; though in the Church, they are not the Church; and though they have received the seal and sign of spiritual regeneration, they are still dead in trespasses and sins, yea, like baptized Simon Magus," are in the gall of bitterness and bond of iniquity.”(k) One word more. Let all here who trust that they have received the substance of baptism, the Holy Spirit, bless and thank God for this special grace; and let them evidence it, by abhorring that which is evil, and cleaving to that which is good. "If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit." (l) Let us take heed that we "grieve not the Holy Spirit of God." (m) Let us be as the loving and obedient children of our Father which is in heaven. And lastly, as St. Peter exhorts you, "Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth, through the Spirit, unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently, being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever."(n) (k) Acts viii. 23. (1) Gal. v. 25. (m) Ephes. iv. 30. Macintosh, Printer, Great New-street, London. |