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النشر الإلكتروني

CHAPTER XIII.

Regeneration.

Q. 1. In what does the new birth or regener

ation consist?

A. 1. It does not consist in baptism by water, nor in external reformation of manners, nor in conversion from one religious sect or denomination to another, nor in the communication of any new natural faculties to the soul, nor in any succession of terrours or consolations, nor in any revelation or impression of God's will or purpose to save, nor in a modification of any religious principles, nor in mere conviction of sin:

But,

2. It does consist in a radical holy change in the affections of the heart, or in the commencement of holiness in the soul. Regeneration is a moral and not a physical change.(a)

Q. 2. Does regeneration render the soul completely holy?

(a) 1 John 4. 7. Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and honoureth God. Rom. 13. 8. Owe no man any thing, but to love one another; for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law. 2 Cor. 5. 17. Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature, old things are passed away, behold all things are become new. Gal. 5. 24. And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. Eph.4. 22-24. That ye put off, concerning the former conversation, the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind; and that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

A. It does not. The soul is sanctified but in part in this state of existence;-it does not become perfect in holiness till at death. It is contrary to Scripture to suppose, that any ever have or ever will arrive at sinless perfection in this life.(b)

Q. 3. Is regeneration progressive or instantaneous?

A. It is instantaneous. There is no time when, in a spiritual sense, a person is neither dead nor alive, neither a saint nor a sinner, neither for Christ nor against Him. Of course, there was a moment of time, when the renewed in heart became changed. Regeneration, or the commencement of holiness in the soul, is consequently instantaneous. This idea seems to be taught also by the language frequently used in Scripture to represent regeneration, as "passing from death unto life," "new birth," "new creation." These events-resurrection to life, birth, creation, are sudden, and instantaneous. God, however, may be longer or shorter in preparing the soul by the operations of His Spirit for the reception of the divine life, or for holy affections.

But what is termed sanctification, or the increase of holiness in the soul is progressive. The subject of it goes on from one degree of grace to another, until he becomes perfected for heaven.

Q. 4. Is the time when regeneration takes place always known to its subjects?

A. It frequently is known, though not always. The experience of Christians differs in this respect. (c)

(b) Eccl. 7. 20. For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not. Job 9. 20. If I justify myself, mine own mouth shall condemn me; if I say I am perfect, it shall also prove me perverse. Rom. 7. 24. O wretched man that I am, who shall deliver me from the body of this death. (c) Acts 2. 41. Then they that gladly received the word were baptised; and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.

Q. 5. Is regeneration indispensably necessary to salvation?

A. It is, for the following reasons.

1. None but holy beings can be happy in heaven, where all is holiness. The unrenewed in heart would be totally unqualified and incapacitated for the employments and enjoyments of the heavenly world, because of their entire sinfulness and disrelish of every thing holy.

2. Were the unregenerate admitted to heaven, God could not behold them with approbation and delight. But he will approve of, and take complacence in all those, that dwell in His presence. Hence the wicked must be changed in heart, in order to become inhabitants of heaven.

3. The Scriptures explicitly and expressly declare, that none but the regenerate shall see the kingdom of God. (d)

Q. 6. When must this change take place?

A. In the present period of our existence. This life is the only day of grace and probation allotted to man; the next is a state of retribution. There will be no alteration in the character of men after death. (e)

(d) John 3.3. Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Heb. 12, 14. Follow peace with all men; and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord. Gal. 6. 15. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature. Rom. 8. 7, 8. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. 1 Cor. 2. 14. But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness unto him, neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

(e) Rev. 22.11. He that is unjust let him be unjust still; and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still; and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still; and he that is holy, let him be holy still.

Q. 7. Who is the Author of regeneration? A. God the Holy Ghost. He is the great and efficient Agent in regeneration (f)

Q. 8. Does God act as a sovereign in regenerating the hearts of men?

A. He does. He renews whom, and when, and by what means He pleases.(5)

Q. 9. Is the moral freedom of man impaired or destroyed, in regeneration?

A. It is certainly neither destroyed nor impaired. God does not act upon man as a mere machine. The Divine influence is adapted to the nature of the human soul. The Holy Spirit operates upon the understanding, affections, and will, according to the essential properties and laws of each, and without doing violence to the principles of an intelligent and moral nature. Divine agency, though above our comprehension, is nevertheless real and consistSinners are perfectly conscious, that in the change, effected in regeneration, they act just as they choose, and that they feel no compulsion.

ent.

Q. 10. Are the influences of the Holy Spirit in regeneration common or special?

A. They are special. That they are not common, every day's experience proves. Were this the case all mankind would be regenerated. This, however, is very far from being fact. That they

(f) Ezek. 36. 26. A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you; and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. John 1. 13. Which were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. Titus 3. 5. Not by works of righteousness, which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost.

(g) Rom. 9. 16. So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that showeth mercy. 1 Cor. 3. 6, 7. I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase. James 1.18. Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of first fruits of his creatures.

are special is evident, because they are applied to some and not to others, and because they produce effects, which are not common to mankind in general. They may also be properly called, not irresistible as they frequently are, but, unresisted; for God makes the subjects of them willing in the day of His power, and thus prevents all resistance. The common influences of the Spirit, to whatever degree extended, leave the heart unwilling to be saved upon the terms of the Gospel; but His special influences, however low in degree, make the heart willing to accept of this salvation.

Q. 11. Why are the influences of the Spirit necessary to change the heart?

A. Not because man has not the natural ability, that is, all the faculties requisite to cease to love the world supremely and begin to love God; but because he will not do so. It is his unwillingness to do his duty that renders the influences of the Spirit necessary. This necessity, therefore, so far from excusing his impenitence, is the strongest evidence of his inexcusableness.(h)

12. Is man active, or passive, in regeneration? A. In one sense he is active, and in another sense he is passive. He acts freely, while he is acted upon by the Holy Spirit. There is a sort of coincidence in the Divine and human agencies, though not, in strictness of language, a co-operation. This is evident from the consideration, that man is required to make himself a new heart, and that God gives the new heart.(i)

(h) John 5. 40. And ye will not come to me, that ye might

have life.

(i) Ezek. 18. 31. Cast away from you all your transgression, whereby ye have transgressed; and make you a new heart and a new spirit; for why will ye die, O house of Israel? Ezek. 36. 26. A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you, and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.

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