SERMON XI

"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 three discourses we have endeavoured to lay our views of
the new birth thus far plainly before the reader, and wish him to bear
in mind that the three sermons, preceding those on the new birth, are
also to be read, and carefully kept in view, so that, from the whole
connexion, the gospel doctrine of salvation by _faith_ may be made
clear to his understanding. We dwelt so long, and laid so much stress
upon _faith_, because it is the _first_ christian grace, we are
exhorted to put on, and is the _first_ assent of the mind to the great
and interesting _truth_ revealed in the gospel of Jesus Christ, which
is _life and immortality_ for the human family.

We have shown that the new birth has a higher signification than
simply to be converted from the evil of our doings, as was required
under the first dispensation. The new birth, so far as it concerns the
present existence, embraces not only _conversion_, but the whole
spiritual life of the christian's soul, denominated the kingdom of
heaven within. This mental felicity--this "weight of glory," cannot be
enjoyed, but by the exercise of a living faith in Christ. Such a faith
begets a sincere obedience in our life and conversation. It is a faith
"that works by love, purifies the heart and overcomes the world." The
great apostle to the Gentiles exclaims--"the life that I now live in
the flesh, I live by the _faith_ of Son of God, who loved me and gave
himself for me." We therefore "walk by _faith_, not by _sight."_