1 Pet. i. 3 — 5. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, ivhich according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible, and undefded, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
AMONGST the many distinguishing characters of the true Christian, this is not the least remarkable, that he can rejoice in the midst of the heaviest tribu- lations. Others may be patient under them : but no man who is not born of God can attain this high state of feeling, to glory in them. The Christians to whom the Apostle wrote were in a state of very severe affliction, scattered over divers countries, whither they had been driven by the violence of per- secution. Yet, how did the Apostle address them ? in terms of pity or condolence ? No: but in terms of the sublimest congratulation. He thinks not of what man has done against them, but of what God has done for them ; and bursts forth in this rapturous strain : " Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who of his abundant mercy hath be- gotten us again!" The recollection of the mercy vouchsafed to them by regeneration swallowed up all thought of their trials, and superseded, for a time, all mention of their sufferings.
The terms in which regeneration is here spoken of will lead us to consider it in,
I. Its nature —
Regeneration is a spiritual and supernatural change of heart —
[Many, when they hear this word, are ready to merge its import altogether in the rite of baptism. I deny not, but that the word "regeneration" is used in Scripture as synonymous with baptism ; and it was properly so used ; because in baptism there is a real change of state ; and there was good reason to hope that, in the person submitting to that rite there was also a change of nature : nor can I doubt, but that, wherever baptism is duly received, there is a descent of the Holy Spirit upon the soul, to seal it with a blessing from on high. But the strongest advocates for baptismal regeneration will not deny, but that the spiritual gift is that in which we are chiefly interested; and that, without that, the outward act would be of little value. And God forbid that we should be disputing about a term, when our main concern should be about the lilessing connected villi it ! All are agreed, that we must be baptized with the Holy Ghost: all are agreed, that we must be made " partakers of a new and a divine nature*," and
a 2 Pet. i. 4.