The New Birth or the Work of the Holy Spirit (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1867. Excerpt: ... m. BIBLICAL VIEW OF THE SUPERNATURAL IN TEE NEW BIRTH. The proof of the fact of Divine Agency in regeneration is derived chiefly from the Word of God. An analysis of a single text may serve as a specimen of the declarative passages in which this truth is taught. "To as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God; which were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God." We cannot press to the quick the significance of the word "power " here. Yet we need not shrink from it through fear of its implication against human freedom. We must concede, however, to an objector against the whole conception of a new birth, that there is here an infelicity, though not necessarily an inaccuracy, in our English version. "Prerogative" is the idea which the word in its connection requires, rather than "ability." "Privilege" it is rendered in the margin of our larger Bibles. "To them assigned he the privilege of being the sons of God." But this is not the vital part of the passage in respect to the truth before us. That appears in the sequel: "Which were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God." That is, this new birth, which entitles men the sons of God, is not the fruit of ancestral dignity. It is not consequent upon the laws of natural generation. It is not the product of human influence. It is a work of God. Language could not be more explicit. A most interesting feature of the scriptural method of teaching this truth is seen in the fact that no timidity is exhibited by inspired minds in their guardianship of it. They do not seem to fear that a change of heart will not be ascribed to God by those who experience that change. The passages are not numerous in which ...