first to have supposed that our Lord referred to a bodily change. And therefore he asks, 'How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?' Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.'

Thus our Lord explained Himself; and let us see that we understand Him. When He spoke of being born of water,' He evidently I think referred to that holy ordinance by which we make our first entrance into His kingdom-that sacrament of baptism, by which we become members of His Church.

6

But you observe he also spoke of the birth of the Spirit ;' of a change wrought in the heart; of an inward and spiritual washing, of which the outward cleansing of water was but an emblem. For He adds, "That which is born of the flesh, is flesh (or fleshly); and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit (or spiritual).'

Every man must have, as it were, two births one earthly, and one heavenly—

one of the body, the other of the soul. Without the first (the earthly birth), he cannot see or enjoy life; without the last (the heavenly birth), he cannot see enjoy the kingdom of God.

This was the great truth that Jesus wished to press upon Nicodemus. He saw that it was a difficulty to him; but still he must receive it if he would be one of His. He must be outwardly baptized with water, and he must be inwardly baptized with the Holy Spirit, or else there could be no discipleship for him.

And so must it be with ourselves. For to us Jesus says, as well as to the Jewish ruler, Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.' It is not merely the heathen, who has been living a wild, savage life, that must become a changed man. It is not the thoroughly bad one, who has been wallowing in sin during a long life, that must become an entirely new creature if he would be a candidate for heaven. But all of us must become so, if we would have our portion among Christ's true people. This new birth signifies the renewing of the whole soul in

righteousness and true holiness. It is not a matter of indifference, so that we can do either with or without it: it must take place, for if we have not a heavenly mind we can never enter heaven. We We may not see the necessity; we may not feel it; our hearts may be startled at it; they may even rebel against it. But Christ takes each one of us aside, as He did Nicodemus, and whispers in our ears, Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.'

6

And how can this be? Was the Ethiopian ever known to change his skin, or the leopard his spots? Never. Neither was man ever known to change his own heart, or to alter his own nature? And yet Christ says it must be; and He tells us how. He declares that it is God's work, the work of the Almighty Spirit; 'The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth; so is every one that is born of the Spirit.'

When the wind blows, we instantly feel its power. The waves of the sea are moved by it. The sturdy tree is rocked

from side to side by its force. The solid building staggers. And yet we cannot see the wind, or tell from what treasure-house it comes forth, or where its hiding-place is. So is it with the Holy Spirit. We cannot see the Holy Spirit. We cannot say, 'He is here,' or 'He is there.' But when a soul is brought under His influence, then the effect is plain enough. The dull, slumbering heart is stirred up; every proud thought is humbled; the whole man is changed.

But Nicodemus still hesitated. He could not yet take in this new truth. 'How (he asked) can these things be? Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things?' Have you taken upon you to guide others, and know not the truth yourself?

เ

Our Lord then reminds Nicodemus that what He had declared was with authority; We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness. If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye

believe if I tell you of heavenly things?' That which he had now put before him was a great truth; but He had even greater truths to announce to him. The New Birth was a matter that concerned man's state on earth; and yet how hard it was to persuade him to receive it! How would it be if He spoke to him of things still higher—for instance, of His own ascension into heaven, and of His own existence there as God, even whilst He walked this earth in the form of man?

These things could not be learnt from man; for no man hath ascended up to heaven, but He that came down from heaven, even the Son of Man, which is in heaven.' No one has gone to heaven, and come back to tell us of these things. But our Lord had come from heaven itself; yea, was there as God, at the very time when He was speaking with Nicodemus on earth.

This, as far as I can see, is what Jesus meant in the eleventh and two following verses. The words are a little difficult; but I think our Lord meant what I have now stated. He intended to show that if