II.

SECT. ushered into a new ftate of existence, and is endowed with thofe powers, which are effential to his temporal welfare. From the helpless feafon of childhood, when he requires the conftant affiftance of others, he gradually paffes through the ftages of

"empt from a body compofed of the five elements. Thus muft "the chief of the twice born, though he neglect the ceremo"nial rites mentioned in the Saftras, be diligent alike in "attaining a knowledge of God, and in repeating the Veda. "Such is the advantageous privilege of thofe, who have a "double birth, from their natural mothers, and from the "gayatri, their spiritual mother, especially of a Brahmen; "fince the twice born man, by performing this duty, but

not otherwise, may foon acquire endless felicity." Chap. xii. 89. The expreffion of " twice born" perpetually recurs throughout the whole of this fingular compofition, and is always used in oppofition to those who have received only a natural birth.

A deep fenfe of the corruption of human nature produced the fame doctrine among other ancient nations, as well as the Indians. "They had facrifices denominated "those of regeneration, and thofe facrifices were always pro

fufely stained with blood. The Taurobolium, a ceremony "in which the high prieft of Cybele was confecrated, was a "ceremony of this kind, and might be called a baptifm of "blood, which they conceived imparted a fpiritual new

birth to the liberated fpirit-Nor were thefe baptifms "confined to the priests alone; for perfons not invested "with a facred function were fometimes initiated by the ceremony of the Taurobolium; and one invariable rule in "these initiations was, to wear the ftained garments as long "as poffible, in token of their having been thus regene"rated." Maurice's Ind. Antiq. vol. v. p. 957.

boy

III.

boyhood and youth, to that which confti- CHAP. tutes the perfection of his nature, the complete developement of his reafoning faculties. In the mean time he is occafionally fubject to a variety, and even to a complication of diforders, which retard his growth, and impede his progrefs. He now burns with a feverish heat; and now shivers with an unnatural coldnefs. His faculties are fometimes benumbed with the torpor of a lethargy; and at other times, the whole of his animal frame experiences the baneful influence of the leprofy. From these diftempers he frequently recovers; but he is more or lefs fubject to them, till death interpofes, and rescues him from their dominion.

Such, in brief, is the natural history of the human fpecies; and exactly analogous to it is the fpiritual life of the Chriftian. The effects of the fall were a total depravation of our faculties, and a complete perverfion of our affections. Man, in a state of nature, loves that, which he ought to hate, and hates that, which he ought to love. He has no inclination to retain even the knowledge of God"; and still lefs to

"Rom. i. 28.

SECT. ferve him in fpirit and in truth. He is toII. tally given up to a reprobate mind; the

service of Satan is his pride and his pleafure; and he works all uncleannefs with greedinefs."

It is the office of regeneration, to restore man to the priftine innocence of Adam; to rescue him from the flavery of fin; to turn him to the love of God; and to convert every affection into its former channel. This change is described, in the metaphorical language of Scripture, as a second birth, as an introduction into a new ftate of existence. The ideas, wishes, and inclinations are fpiritualized; the love of God is now the reigning principle in the foul; and the whole man becomes, as it were, a new creature. His morality is

* Thus Dr. Ifaac Barrow. "We are naturally void of "thofe good difpofitions in understanding, will, and affections, which are needful to render us acceptable unto God, "fit to ferve and please him, capable of any favour from "him, and of any true happiness in ourselves-To remove "which bad difpofitions,-and to beget thofe contrary to "them,-God in mercy doth grant to us the virtue of his "Holy Spirit; who, firft opening our hearts,-begetteth "divine knowledge, wifdom, and faith in our minds, which "is the work of illumination and inftruction—Then by conti"nual impreffions he bendeth our inclinations, and molli

cr

"fyeth

now no longer built upon mere worldly CHAP. efteem; but he strives to lead a holy life, III.

"fyeth our hearts, and tempereth our affections to a willing

I compliance with God's will, and a hearty complacence in "that which is good and pleafing to God,-which is the "work of fanctification, another great part of his office. "Both these operations together (enlightening our minds, fanctifying our wills and affections) do conftitute and accomplish that work, which is styled the regeneration, renovation, vivification, new creation, refurrection of a man; "the faculties of our fouls being fo improved, that we be"come, as it were, other men thereby; able and apt to do that, for which before we were altogether indisposed and " unfit." Barrow's Works, vol. ii. p. 504.

In a fimilar manner Bp. Hall; "Wait thou on the "Lord, and keep his ways, and he shall exalt thee. He will "make all things new. And shall all things be made new, "and our hearts be old? Shall nothing but our fouls be out "of the fashion? Surely, beloved, none but new hearts are for "the new heavens: except we be born anew, we enter not into life. All other things fhall in the very inftant receive "their renovation; onely our hearts must be made new beforeband, or elfe they fhall never be renewed to their glory. "St. Peter, when he had told us of looking for new hea

66

vens, and new earth, infers this use upon it; Wherefore, "beloved, feeing ye looke for fuch things, be diligent, that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameleffe. Behold, the new heavens require new and Spotleffe inhabitants. As ever, therefore, we looke to have our part in this bleffed renovation, let us caft off all our evill and corrupt affections, put off the old man with his "works, and now with the new yeere put on the new : "labour for a new heart, begin a new life. That which St. "John faies here, that God will fay and doe in our en"trance to glorification; Behold I make all things new;

"St..

II.

SECT. because he believes it to be pleafing to God. He is now no longer content with a bare abftinence from evil; but is eager to render himself actively useful. He will not admit any deed to be good, till he has first ascertained its motive. And even then he deeply laments its imperfection; and, inftead of claiming any merit from its performance, he is rather difposed to smite upon his breaft, and exclaim, God be merciful to me a finner.

Still he remains in a fort of fpiritual childhood. His perceptions want that clearness, which mature age is alone able to confer; and he requires the continual aid of God's holy Spirit, united with the daily use of the means of grace, in his progress to the higher ftages of Christian existence. Meanwhile, as he advances in holinefs, he advances alfo in humility; and the deeper infight he obtains into his own heart, the more deeply is he convinced of its extreme finfulness and imbecility. Con

"St. Paul faith he hath done it already, in our regeneration; "Old things are paffed away, all things are become new. "What means this, but that our regeneration must make way "for our glorification, and that our glory must but perfect our "regeneration ?" HALL'S works, p. 428.

tinually