as has been before described? O, let every one put home to his conscience this question, Am I born again ? And know that neither circumcision, nor uncircumcision will avail you any thing, but a new creation s. You must be born again, or perish ]
2. The regenerate —
[St. Peter, writing to such persons under the severest persecution, begins his Epistle with congratulations': and St. Paul bids us under the heaviest calamities to be thankful for renewing grace11. Do ye then bless God in every state, and " shew forth the virtues of him who hath called you to his kingdom and glory x" Let your renovation be pro- gressive ; and never think that you have attained any thing as long as any thing remains to be attained.]
8 Gal. vi. 15. * 1 Pet. i. 1, 3, 4.
u Col. i. 11—13. x 'Ajocroc 1 Pet. ii. 9.
John iii. 14, 15. As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wil- derness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up : that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
A MORE instructive portion of Scripture than this before us we cannot easily find. The conversation of our Lord with Nicodemus was intended to lead him to the knowledge of salvation: and, being directed to a person of his rank, and high attainments in mo- rality, it will serve as a model for our instructions to the greatest and best of men. The first point which our Lord insisted on was the necessity of a new birth : for, whatever our attainments be, it is impossible for us to enter into heaven till this has taken place in our souls ; since we brought nothing into the world with us but what is carnal; and we must possess a spiritual nature, before we can be capable of enjoying a spi- ritual kingdom. But besides this, it is necessary also that we be interested in his atoning sacrifice: for, having once contracted guilt, we must be purged from that guilt, before we can be admitted into the Divine