incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever."

A turning from darkness to light. 1 Pet. ii. 9. But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light."

A change from enmity to love. Col. i. 21. "And you, that were sometime alienated, and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled." 1 John iv. 19. "We love him." Rom. v. 5. "The love of God is shed abroad in our hearts."

A restoration of the divine image. Col. iii. 10. "And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him." Rom. viii. 29. "For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son." 1 Cor. xv. 49. "As we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly." 1 John ii. 29. "If you know that he is righteous, you know that every one that doth righteousness is born of him."

Thus clearly and emphatically does the word of God speak, when unfolding the nature of true regeneration. Reserving for the next chapter, the consideration of the author and the evidences of

this work, we close the present one by holding up more distinctly and prominently to view, a few of the broad lineaments of the new creature.

The Holy Ghost testifies, that, "if any man be in Christ Jesus he is a new creature." This testimony is true. For, First,-He loves and worships a new god. The natural man is a god to himself. Yea, he has his gods many. Whether it be selfrighteousness, self-gratification, the world, wealth, family, in whatever form it appears, "other lords have dominion over him,” to the exclusion of the one true and living God. The nature of the human mind is such that it must love and worship some object supremely. In his state of innocence, Jehovah was the one and supreme object of the creature's love and adoration. Seduced from that state of simple and supreme affection by the Tempter's promise that, if they eat of the fruit of the tree, forbidden of God, "they should be as gods," in one moment, they threw off their allegiance to Jehovah, renounced him as the object of their supreme love, the centre of their holiest affections, and became gods to themselves. temple was ruined, the altar was thrown down, the pure flame was extinguished, God departed, and other lords" entered and took possession of the soul. But, what a change does grace produce! It repairs the temple, rebuilds the altar, rekindles

The

the flame, and brings God back to man! God in Christ, is now the supreme object of his love, his adoration, and his worship. The idol self has been cast down, self-righteousness renounced, selfexaltation crucified. The " strong man armed” has entered, cast out the usurper, and, "creating all things new," has resumed his rightful supremacy. The affections, released from their false deity, and renewed by the Spirit, now turn to, and take up their rest in, God. God in Christ! how glorious does he now appear. Truly it is a new God the soul is brought to know and love. Never did it see in him such beauty, such excellence, such blessedness as it now sees. All other glory fades and dies before the surpassing glory of his character, his attributes, his government, and his law. God in Christ, is viewed as reconciled now; enmity ceases; hatred has passed away; opposition grounds its weapons; hard thoughts of his law, and treason thoughts of his government subside; love kindles in the soul, and in one precious Christ, the one Mediator, God and the sinner meet, embrace, and blend. Truly they become God says, "Thou art mine." The soul responds, "Thou art my God-other lords have had dominion over me, but henceforth, thee only will I serve, thee only will I love. 'My soul followeth hard after thee, thy right hand upholdeth

one.

me.'

'One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after, that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to enquire in his temple." " God in Christ is his Father now. "I will arise and go unto my Father," is the first motion of a renewed soul. "Father, I have sinned against thee," is the first confession rising from the broken heart. The Father hastens to meet and embrace his child, and clasping him to his bosom exclaims, "this my son was dead and is alive again." Reconciled, he now looks up to him truly as his Father. "And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying Abba, Father." "Thou shalt call me, My Father; and shalt not turn away from me," Jer. iii. 19. Does God speak? it is the voice of a Father he hears. Does God chasten and rebuke? it is from his Father, he feels. Are his hopes disappointed, his plans crossed, his cisterns broken, his gourds withered? "My Father has done it all," he exclaims. Blessed Spirit of adoption! sweet pledge and evidence art thou of the new creature.

God in Christ, is now the object of confidence and trust. Trust in a reconciled God and Father was no mark and portion of his unrenewed state. It was then, trust in self, in its imagined wisdom

and strength and goodness. It was then, trust in the arm of flesh, in second causes. Now, the soul trusts in God. Trusts him at all times and under all circumstances. Trusts him in the

darkest hour, under the gloomiest dispensation. Trusts him when his providences look dark and lowering, and God seems to hide himself: yea, trusts him, "though he slay." Now, "though the fig-tree should not blossom, and there be no fruit in the vine; the labour of the olive fail, and the fields yield no meat; though the flocks be cut off from the fold, and there be no herd in the stall, he will rejoice in the Lord, and joy in the God of his salvation." O how safe he feels in God's hands, and under his government now. His soul, his body, his family, his business, his cares, are completely surrendered, and God is all in all. Reader, this is to be born again.

Second, The regenerate soul possesses and acknowledges a new Saviour. How glorious, suitable, and precious is Jesus to him now. Not so formerly. Then, he had his saviours, his "refuges of lies," his fatal confidences many. Jesus I was to him as a root out of the dry ground, having no form nor comeliness." It may be, he denied his Deity, rejected his atonement, scorned his grace, slighted his pardon and his love. Christ is all to him now. He adores Him as the " Mighty

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