2. Not that we are to expect any minute, philosophical account, of the _manner how_ this is done. Our Lord sufficiently guards us against any such expectation, by the words immediately following the text: wherein he reminds _Nicodemus_ of as indisputable a fact, as any in the whole compass of nature: which notwithstanding the wisest man under the sun, is not able fully to explain. _The wind bloweth where it listeth_, not by thy power or wisdom, _and thou hearest the sound thereof_: thou art absolutely assured, beyond all doubt, that it doth blow. _But thou canst not tell, whence it cometh, neither whither it goeth._ The precise manner how it begins and ends, rises and falls, no man can tell. _So is every one that is born of the Spirit._ Thou mayst be as absolutely assured of the fact, as of the blowing of the wind: but the precise manner how it is done, how the Holy Spirit works this in the soul, neither thou nor the wisest of the children of men is able to explain.
3. However it suffices for every rational and Christian purpose, that without descending into curious, critical enquiries, we can give a plain scriptural account of the nature of the new birth. This will satisfy every reasonable man, who desires only the salvation of his soul. The expression, being _born again_, was not first used by our Lord in his conversation with _Nicodemus_. It was well known before that time, and was in common use among the Jews, when our Saviour appeared among them. When an adult Heathen was convinced, that the Jewish religion was of God, and desired to join therein, it was the custom to baptize him first, before he was admitted to circumcision. And when he was baptized, he was said to be _born again_: by which they meant, that he who was before a child of the devil was now adopted into the family of God, and accounted one of his children. This expression therefore which _Nicodemus_ being _a teacher in Israel_, ought to have understood well, our Lord uses in conversing with him: only in a stronger sense than he was accustomed to. And this might be the reason of his asking, _How can these things be_? They cannot be literally. _A man_ cannot _enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born_. But they may, spiritually. A man may be _born from above, born of_ God, _born of the Spirit_: in a manner which bears a very near analogy to the natural birth.