T H E K I N G ' S B U S I N E S S (Eph. 4 :22 ); “ the new man put on” (ver. 24). Man lost none of the rational faculties of his soul by sin: he had an * understanding still, but it was darkened; he had still a will, but it was contrary to the will of God. So in regeneration, there is not a new substance created, but new qualities are infused; light in stead of darkness, righteousness instead of unrighteousness. 2. It is a supernatural change; he that is born again, is born of the Spirit. (John 3:5.) Great changes may be made by the power of nature, especially when assisted by external revelation. Nature may be so elevated by the com mon influences of the Spirit, that a per son may thereby be turned into another man, as Saul was, (1-Sam. 10:6,) who yet never becomes a new man. But in regeneration, nature itself is changed, and we become partakers of the Divine nature; and this must needs be a super natural change. How can we, that are dead in trespasses and sins, renew our selves, more than a dead man can raise himself out of his grave? Who but the sanctifying Spirit of Christ can form ’ Christ in a soul, changing it into the same image? Who but the Spirit of sanctification can give the new heart? Well may we say, when we see a man thus changed: “ This is the finger of God.” 3. It is a change into the likeness of God. “We, beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image” (2 Cor. 3:18). Every thing that generates, generates its like; the child bears the image of the parent; and they that are born of God, bear God’s image. Man, aspiring to be as God, made himself like the devil. In his natural state he resembles the devil, as a child doth his father. “ Ye are of your father the devil” (John 8:44). But when this happy change comes, that image of Satan is defaced,' and the image of God is restored. Christ Him self, who is the brightness of His
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Father’s glory, is the pattern after which the new creature is made. “ For whom He did foreknow, He also did predes tinate, to be conformed to the image of His Son” (Rom. 8:29). Hence He is said to be formed in the regenerate. (Gal. 4:19.) 4. It is a universal change; “ all things become new,” (2 Cor. 5:17). Original sin infects the whole man; and regenerating grace, which is the salve, goes as far as the sore. This fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness; goodness of the mind, goodness of the will, good ness of the affections, goodness of the whole man. He gets not only a new head, to know religion, or a new tongue to talk of it; but a new heart, to love and embrace it in the whole of his con versation. m m BLISTERED FEET A clergyman sitting on a hotel piaz za in Saratoga one morning was ac costed by a young girl. “ Good morning, Doctor.” “ Good morning,” he replied. “ Are you very well this morning?” “ Oh, I am so tired. I blistered my feet dancing last night. By the way, Doctor, what do you think of danc ing?” “ You profess to be a Christian, do you not? Did you ever blister your feet for the Lord?” The young girl felt the question deeply, and turned away. A few days after she spoke to the clergyman again. "Doctor, I have scarcely eaten or slept since you asked me that question, and I want to tell you now I have never blistered my feet for the Lord, but from this time forth I shall work for Him to the best of my ability.” She kept her promise and became an ear nest worker for the cause of Christ.
A CRYING NEED— P. 578
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