"According to His abundant mercy [He] hath begotten us again—to an inheritance incorruptible; -born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the Word of God."*

Thus to be begotten and born of God, is to be made His children, the seed of Christ, and the heirs of glory. If then to be the children of God, the seed of Christ, and the heirs of glory, implies any thing more than an outward character and condition,-if all this implies real holiness, to be born again implies the same. Pray, are none the children of God, the seed of Christ, and the heirs of glory in a higher sense than as members of the visible Church? If they are, is that higher sense any where expressed in the Bible? If it is, in what terms unless in those now under consideration? But if in the true and proper meaning of these terms the higher sense is contained, then when they are applied to the visible Church, they are applied to it as visibly possessing this character. Thus we every day call a visible church a collection of Christians, without meaning to say that the whole Christian character is an outside thing. But in whatever sense men are the children of God, the seed of Christ, and the heirs of glory, whether visibly or really, in the same sense, and no other, are they begotten and born of God. But to limit the meaning of the new birth to a relation to

* John i. 12, 13. Rom. viii. 17. and ix. 8. Tit. iii. 5, 7. 1 Pet. i. 3, 4, 23. 1 John iii. 9, 10. and v. 1, 2.

the visible Church, is to say that men are really, and in the highest sense, born of God, when they only visibly become His children and heirs.

Let us now descend to a more particular examination of the meaning of these terms, begotten and born of God, children of God, and seed of Christ.

Begotten and born of God. These terms denote a change absolutely necessary to salvation ; and that is more than any of us would be willing to say of a union with the visible Church. "Verily, verily I say unto thee, Except a man be born again he cannot see the kingdom of God." They denote such a change as took place in Paul, not when he was baptised, but when he fell on the plains of Damascus: "Last of all He was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time." They denote a change which to Nicodemus appeared, after Christ Himself had explained it, altogether mysterious,—a change wrought by the Spirit of God, by operations which can no more be seen, or calculated on, or accounted for, than the motions of the wind. "Verily, verily I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.-The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth; so is every one that is born of the Spirit." "Of His own will begat He us.” "Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, [certainly then not by merely entering the Church,] but of God."

The terms import the production of that faith which accepts Christ, and triumphs over the world: "As many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name; which were born-of God." "Whosoever believeth [truly] that Jesus is the Christ, is born of God.-Whosoever is born of God overcometh the world, and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. Who is he that overcometh the world but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?" The terms import the production of that love which "is the fulfilling of the law," and that knowledge of God which is "eternal life." "Every one that loveth is born of God and knoweth God." The terms import a deliverance from sin, and the production of real holiness: "Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin, for His seed remaineth in him, and he can. not sin because he is born of God." "We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is born of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not." "Ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth, through the Spirit, unto unfeigned love of the brethren,—being born again. -Wherefore, as new born babes, desire the sincere milk of the word.-Ye also as living stones are built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.-Unto you therefore which believe, He is precious.-Ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation." Of course these

terms import the restoration of the divine image: "If ye know that He is righteous, ye know that every one that doth righteousness is born of Him." 66 Every one that loveth Him that begat, loveth him also that is begotten of Him," on account of the resemblance. Finally, these terms import an unfailing title to everlasting glory: "He saved us with the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost, that, being justified by His grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life." "Elect, according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, who hath begotten us again to an inheritance,-reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation."*

That all these ideas are really contained in the terms begotten and born of God, is still more apparent from the description given of

The children of God. These are they who bear the image of God, (a leading idea suggested by the figure,)—the image of God upon their hearts as well as lives. "Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you and persecute you; that ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven, for He maketh His sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust." "Be ye therefore

* John i. 12, 13. and iii. 3-9. 1 Cor. xv. 8. i. 18. 1 Pet. i. 2-5, 22, 23. and ii. 1, 2, 5, 7, 9. 9, 10. and iv. 7. and v. 1, 4, 5, 18.

followers of God as dear children." Of course the children of God are holy, (in some measure,) as He is holy: "Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin.—In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil." "The good seed are the children of the kingdom, but the tares [FALSE PROFESSORS,] are the children of the wicked one." "As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts;-but as Heis holy, so be ye holy." "According as He hath chosen us-before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy, and without blame before Him in love, having predestinated us unto the adoption of children." The children of God possess the filial temper, and are led by His Spirit, which witnesses to their adoption: "As many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear, but ye have received the spirit of adoption whereby we cry, Abba Father! The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit that we are the children of God." "Because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your HEARTS, crying, Abba Father." The children of God are distinguished by faith in Christ: "As many as received Him to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name." "Ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus." The children of God are redeemed, forgiven, accepted: "Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children, to the praise of the glory of His grace,