delivered from corruption to incorruption at the resurrection is certain. [See 1 Cor.

xv: 42.]

You now understand what I mean by the new birth. It is to pass from death to life and immortality, in Christ, beyond the grave, where flesh and blood can never enter. For that which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the spirit is spirit.

We have now pointed out the new birth, and shown that it bears some resemblance to the natural birth, with which Jesus compared it. And how truly sublime and cheering the hought, that the great family of man, who are all born into existence under the certain sentence of death, are to receive a second birth into an existence entirely new, and the whole of his dying family are to be made the children of Jesus Christ by adoption.

In our next, we shall notice the change we experience in this life, called in scripture the new birth, and explain the term, dom of God."

king

SERMON IX.

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. John iii. 3.

In our last, we have shown, that the spiritual birth bears some resemblance to a natural birth with which Jesus compared it—and as the first introduces us into this world,so the second will introduce us into the future and immortal world at the resurrection, where we shall be as the angels of God in heaven, and "be the children of God being the children of the resurrection." There we shall be completely free from sin and pain. There the gushing tear of sorrow shall cease to flow, and the brow of disconsolate humanity be ruffled no more.

We will now attend to the present effects that the truth of this birth has upon us here, and notice at the same the phrase, "kingdom of God."

The question now arises; do not some experience the new birth in this life? They do. But in what sense do they experience it? Ans. by faith. In this world we pass from death to life: not that we have actually been in the grave and brought to life beyond it; but the believer experiences this by faith. And this faith has a most powerful and happifying influence on his affections, and consequently on his life and conduct. All, that God has revealed for the salvation of the world—our justification, our sanctification, our new birth, our heaven, our all-yes, all these important and heavenly changes are summed up,and embraced in our immortal resurrection, and will actually take place through

death; and while in this world we can embrace them, only by faith.

1.

The scriptures declare that "we walk by faith and not by sight." Paul says, "the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.” Paul knew that he had eternal life given him in Christ, before the world began, and faith in that glorious truth produced a happiness-a divine life in his heart, called the kingdom of God within. Let us notice these several points. First; "Christ rose again for our justification." Our justification then exists in our resurrection state, and will there in all its reality take place. But cannot a man be justified here? Yes; he can be justified through faith in that truth. 2. Second; "By the which will, we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all." Our sanctifi cation then, by the will of God, will take place through death. But cannot a man be sanctified while here? Yes; he can he sanctified through faith in that truth! 3. Third; Christ was "put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the spirit." So in his resurrection he passed from death to life, and thus revealed the truth that we shall also pass from death to life by the power of God, and be like him who is the "first fruits." But cannot a man pass from death to life while on earth? Yes; he can pass from death to life through faith in that truth. Jesus says"He that heareth my word and believeth on him that sent me hath everlasting life and shall not come into condemnation but is passed from death unto life." 4. Fourth; our eternal life will be realized beyond death. "The things that are not seen are spiritual and eternal." But can we not enjoy it here?

Yes; "He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life;"-that is, he enjoys it by faith. 5. Fifth; Christ was the "first born from the dead." So we also shall pass the reality of the new birth by faith. But can we not enjoy it here? John says "For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world, and this is the victory that overcometh the . world even our faith.'

Thus it is evident that a man may in this life be justified, sanctified, pass from death to life, may enjoy eternal life, and be born again through faith in these several correspondent facts. His faith, however, can make them no more certain; because they must exist, and be solemn and unalterable facts before he can be called upon to believe them. The truth of the above five facts, we perceive, are embraced in our resurrection. If we are not, in our resurrection, to be justified, sanctified, born again, and obtain eternal life, then we cannot be justified, sanctified or born again here through faith in those truths;because there would be no such truths in existence for us to exercise faith in. If the objector will not allow these facts unalterably to exist previous to believing, what then will he call upon us to believe? Will he call upon us to believe that we have an eternal life in Christ when no such fact exists, and contend that our believing this lie will create the fact? 'This would be the most ridiculous absurdity.

But the truth exists, and the believer by faith enjoys it before hand. He enjoys it by anticipation, not in reality. It can be brought to his understanding or experience no other way, only through the gospel medium of faith. I challenge the objector to show me between the lids of the New Testament, any regeneration, new birth, justification, or sanc

tification, that has already taken place in any other sense than through faith. All these things in their reality are to take place in our resurrection, when we shall be like the angels of God, and by faith we bring them present to our minds and enjoy them here. Dr.

are

Watts says "Faith brings distant prospects home, Of things a thousand years ago, Or thousand years to come." Paul, therefore, exhorts us to forget the things that are behind, and reach forward to those that before-to press to the mark &c. because the reality-the object of our faith lies before us. But persons, who do not understand the operations of faith on the mind in view of its correspondent truth, and who honestly believe that the new birth has in reality already taken place with them,

are

always looking back to the time they were born again, and telling over their "old experiences." Now this is right in them, if they have passed through the reality; for every man ought to look to the substance in which he exercises faith and hope. But certainly the scriptures exhort us to look forward, and anchor our faith und hope within the vail, where our forerunner hath for us entered. It is therefore certain that the reality exists there, and is yet to come. Such persons then, in looking back to their experience, are mistaking the birth produced by faith for the real birth itself. This is just as unreasonable as it would be to suppose that the foretaste, we sometimes enjoy of immortal life, was that life itself. It is true we at times enjoy a heaven on earth. But as it respects the kingdom of immortal glory, "eye hath not seen, ear heard, neither hath it entered into the heart of man to conceive the glory that shall be revealed in us."

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