CHAPTER I I I . THE NATURE OF REGENERATION BY THOMAS BOSTON (1676-1732)
Ì. For the better understanding of the nature of regen eration, take this along with you, in the first place, that as there are false conceptions in nature, so there are also in grace : by these many are deluded, mistaking some partial changes made upon them for this great and thorough change. To remove such mistakes, let these few things be considered : 1. Many call the Church their mother, whom God will not own to be His children. “My mother’s children,” that is, false brethren, “were angry with me” (Cant. 1 :6 ) . All that are baptized, are not born again. Simon was baptized, yet still “in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity” (Acts §: 13-23). Where Christianity is the religion of the country, many are called by the name of Christ, who have no more of Him than the name : and no wonder, for the devil had his goats among Christ’s sheep, in those places where but few professed the Christian religion. “They went out from us, but they were not of us” (1 John 2 :19). 2. Good education is not regeneration. Education may chain up men’s lusts, but cannot change their hearts. A wolf is still a ravenous beast, though it be in chains. Joash was very devout during the life of his good tutor Jehoiada; but afterwards he quickly showed what spirit he was of, by his sudden apostasy (2 Chron. 24:2-18). Good example is of mighty, influence to change the outward man; but that change often goes off when a man changes his company ; of which the world affords many sad instances. 3. A turning from open profanity to civility and sobriety falls short of this saving change. Some are, for a while, very 26
Made with FlippingBook flipbook maker