become "new creatures in Christ JesusV in a word, all agree, that, in order to be children of God, we must be " be- gotten of God :" and that being admitted, I am indifferent as to the name by which it shall be called : call it a new birth, a new creation, a renewal in the spirit of the mind, or a conver- sion of soul to God ; only let an entire change of heart and life be included in it, and (though one word may more strictly and appositely express it than another) we are satisfied. Suf- fice it to say, that " a new heart must be given us, and a new spirit be put within us;" and that this change is essential to us, as children of God.]
It is this that distinguishes the Lord's people from all the rest of the world —
[The natural man possesses nothing but what he brought into the world with him. His faculties may be of the first order, so far as they relate to earthly things : yet is he as blind as others in relation to heavenly things. In order to compre- hend these, he must have a spiritual discernment0; which can only be given to him from above. This may be possessed by the poorest and most illiterate man, whilst it is withheld from the wise and prudent. In fact, God has so ordered it, that " what he has hid from the wise and prudent, should be re- vealed unto babes d:" and there are but " few of the wise and learned, in comparison," to whom this gift is imparted ; for " God has chosen the weak and foolish, on purpose to con- found the wise and mighty e." Nor is this a mere conceit: it is proved by the life and conversation of all who are born of God. They shew that they have a view of God and of eter- nity, which others do not possess : and, in consecpience of this view, they manifest a heavenliness, both of heart and life, which others cannot attain. Being born of God, they live no longer to themselves, but unto Him who begat them, and to Him who redeemed them with his blood.]
But in the passage before us we are more parti- cularly led to notice regeneration in,
II. Its causes —
The great efficient cause of it is God —
[Jehovah, in the Old Testament, is called " the God of Abraham :" but to us he is revealed under the more endearing title of the " God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ," and our God and Father in him. In this relation he is considered as
b 2 Cor. v. 17. c 1 Cor. ii. 14.
d Matt. xi. 25, 2G. e 1 Cor. i. 20—29.