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But, there is another and a stronger interpretation of which the passage is susceptible. It is this-He that is born of God, as such, sins not at all-there is in him a regenerate soul, an indwelling, living principle of grace and holiness, whose natural and constant bias is, to holiness. "He (the new man) cannot sin, because he is born of God." "He cannot sin"--why? "because his seed remaineth in him"-and what is that seed? 1 Peter i. 23. "Incorruptible""Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible." In accordance with Christ's own words, "That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit." It is spiritual, holy, "from above"-the "divine nature"-it " CANNOT sin, because it is born of God."

Here then is the great evidence of regeneration. Let not my reader mistake it. Aware how tender the conscience of a dear child of God often is,how acutely alive to every view of truth that appears condemnatory,-how prone to self-accusation,-writing hard and bitter things,-calling that nature which is grace,-extracting, sometimes from the very consolations of God's word, material for self-condemnation, I would here tenderly caution the Christian reader, against a misinterpretation of what we have advanced in the preceding sections.

We are far from asserting that, sin does not still exist in the regenerate. The very contrary of this. Paul himself speaks in Rom. vii. 20, of the "sin that dwelleth in me." And the entire testimony of God's word, and the histories of all the saints recorded in its pages, go to confirm the doctrine of indwelling sin in a believer. The Lord has wisely, we must acknowledge, so ordained it, that sin should yet remain in his people to the very last step of their journey. And for this he has graciously provided his word as a storehouse of promises, consolations, cautions, rebukes, admonitions, all referring to the indwelling sin of a believer. The covenant of grace-all its sanctifying, strengthening, invigorating, and animating provision, all was designed for this very state. Yea, the gift of Jesus,-all his fulness of grace, wisdom, strength, and sympathy, his death, resurrection, ascension, and advocacy, all was given with an especial view to the pardon and subjection of sin in a child of God. Perfect holiness, entire sinlessness, is a state not attainable in this life. He who has settled down with the conviction that he has arrived at such a stage, has great reason to suspect the soundness, or at least the depth of his real knowledge of himself. He, indeed, must be but imperfectly acquainted with his own heart, who dreams of perfect sanctification on this side

of glory. With all meekness and tenderness, I would earnestly exhort such an individual to review his position well. To bring his heart to the touchstone of God's word,-to pray over the seventh chapter of the epistle to the Romans,and to ascertain if there are not periods when the experience of an inspired apostle, once "caught up to the third heaven," will not apply to him.— "I am carnal, sold under sin"-the "sin that dwelleth in me." The writings and the preaching of men,―mistaken views of truth,-yea, I would add, even what was once a sincere and ardent desire for sanctification, either of these, or all combined, may have led to the adoption of such a notion as sinless perfection, the nature and tendency of which is, to engender a spirit of human pride, self-trust, self-complacence; to throw the mind off its guard, and the heart off its prayerful vigilance, and thus render the man an easy prey to that subtle and ever-prowling enemy, of whose "devices" (and this is not the least one) no believer should be "ignorant."

Oy yes, sin often deep and powerful, dwelleth in a child of God. It is the source of his greatest grief, the cause of his acutest sorrow. Remove this, and sorrow in the main, would be a stranger to his breast. Go, ask yon weary, dejected, weeping believer, the cause of his broken spirit→→→

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his sad countenance, his tears-“Is it," you enquire, "that thou art poor in this world?" "Nay."-Is it that thou art friendless?" "Nay." "Is it that worldly prosperity shines not upon thee-thy plans blasted-thy circumstances trying-thy prospects dark?" "Nay."-" What is it then that grieves thy spirit-clouds thy countenance and that causes those clasped hands and uplifted eye?" "It is sin," the soul replies, "that dwelleth in me--sin is my burthen-sin is my sorrow-sin is my grief-sin is my confession -sin is my humiliation before my Father and God;-rid me of this, and the outward pressure would scarce be felt." Truly does the apostle say, --and let the declaration never be read apart from its accompanying promise," If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." "If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us." 66 My little children, these that ye sin not. And if any man sin we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous."

things write I unto you

Again, we beg the reader to mark this great evidence of regeneration ; "Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin." He doth not commit

it with the total, absolute, and complete assent and concurrence of the renewed will. He does "not give himself over to sin with greediness." "He would do good." "He hates sin." Grace reigns, not sin. Sin dwells in him, but does not govern-it has power, but does not rule-it torments, but does not reign with a continued, unbroken supremacy; in accordance with the promise, "sin shall not have dominion over you." It may for a moment triumph, as it did in David, in Solomon, in Peter, and in a host of other eminently holy men, yet still the promise is verified, as we see in the restorings of the blessed Spirit in their spirit and conduct, in their humblings and confessions, and holy and upright walk with God in after years, "sin shall not have dominion over you." Reader, hast thou ever been made sensible of the inward plague? What dost thou know of the warfare within-of "the flesh lusting against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh." Thine honest reply will decide the great question, whether thou art born of God?

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Second,-But there is a positive mark of rege1 John ii. 29. "Every one that doeth righteousness is born of him." Negative holiness,—the abstaining from outward sins, does not always describe a regenerate soul. Associated with this, there must be the positive evidence-" Every

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