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soul。 No religious statement is kind and charitable which is not
strictly true。 To keep back any part of God's truth； in order to appear
kind； is not only a mistake but a sin。 The way to do good is to warn
people plainly； that they must not suppose they are regenerate because
they are baptized。 They must be told to examine themselves whether they
are 〃born again；〃 and not to believe they are regenerate； except they
have the scriptural marks of regeneration。
20。 But is it really necessary to attach such importance to this
doctrine of regeneration？ Is it not sufficient to teach people that
they must be 〃good；〃 and go to church； and be 〃in earnest；〃 and do
their duty； and that then they will get to heaven； somehow； at last；
without telling them in this positive dogmatic way； they must be 〃born
again〃？
The answer to these questions is short and simple。 Christians have no
rule of religious faith and practice except the Bible。 If the Bible is
true； regeneration is absolutely necessary to salvation。 It is written；
〃Except a man be born again； he cannot see the kingdom of God；〃 〃Ye
must be born again'〃； 〃Except ye be converted and bee as little
children； ye shall in no wise enter the kingdom of heaven〃 （John 3：3…8；
Matt。 18：3）。 It is possible for people to enter heaven and be saved；
like the penitent thief； without baptism； but no one can be saved and
go to heaven without regeneration。 The penitent thief； though not
baptized； was 〃born again。〃 Regeneration； therefore； is a doctrine of
primary and first…rate importance。
21。 But if these things are true； and no one can be saved without
regeneration； are there not many professing Christians who are in a
very dangerous position？ Are not those who are without the marks of
being 〃born again〃 in imminent peril of being lost for ever？
Of course they are。 But this is exactly what the Bible teaches from
first to last about them。 It is written； 〃Wide is the gate and broad is
the way that leadeth to destruction； and many there be which go in
thereat。〃 It is written again； 〃Many walk of whom I tell you weeping；
that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ； whose end is
destruction〃 （Matt。 7：13； Phil。 3：18）。 It is the most miserable part of
many people's religious condition； that they fancy they will go to
heaven because they are baptized and go to church； while in reality；
not being regenerate； they are on the road to eternal ruin。
22。 Can ministers of the Church of Christ give regenerating grace to
their people？
Most certainly not。 St。 John expressly says that those who are born of
God are born； 〃not of blood； nor of the will of the flesh； nor of the
will of man； but of God〃 （John 1：13）。 〃It is the Spirit that
quickeneth。〃 Paul may plant； and Apollos may water； but God only can
〃give the increase〃 （John 6：63； 1 Cor。 3：7）。 Ministers； like John the
Baptist； can baptize with water； but Christ alone can 〃baptize with the
Holy Ghost〃 （Mark 1：8）。 To give spiritual life； as well as physical
life； is the peculiar prerogative of God。 Man can neither give it to
himself； nor to another。
23。 But supposing these things are true； what aught those unhappy
persons to do who have no marks of regeneration about them； and feel
that they are not born again？ Are they to sit still in hopeless
despair？
The Bible gives a simple answer to that question。 If a man really feels
his need of regeneration and desires it； he must seek Christ； the
fountain of life； and cry mightily to Him。 He must ask Him who baptizes
with the Holy Ghost to baptize his heart； and to give him grace。 It is
written； 〃To as many as received Him； He gave power to bee the sons
of God〃 （John 1：12）。 He must pray for a new heart。 It is written； 〃Your
Father will give the Holy Spirit to them that ask Him〃 （Luke 11：13）〃 He
must seek life diligently in the use of God's Word。 It is written that
〃faith eth by hearing。〃〃 Of his own will begat he us with the Word
of truth〃 （Rom。 10：17； James 1：18）。 No man ever sought grace honestly
in this way； and sought in vain。 He that will not take the trouble to
seek in this fashion does not really desire regeneration； and is not in
earnest about his soul。
24。 But supposing a person finds in himself some reason to hope that he
really is born again； and has the true marks of regeneration； what is
he to do？ Is he to sit still； and take no more trouble about his soul？
Certainly not。 He must strive daily to 〃grow in grace and in the
knowledge of Christ〃 （2 Pet。 3：18）。 He must seek to deepen and
strengthen the work of the Holy Spirit within him； by diligently
exercising the grace he has received。 He must 〃cleanse himself from all
filthiness of flesh and spirit； perfecting holiness in the fear of God〃
（2 Cor。 7：1）。 He must endeavour to 〃abide in Christ〃 more closely； and
to live the life of faith in the Son of God。 He that thinks he is
regenerate； and does not feel a continual desire to be more holy and
more like Christ every year he lives； is in a very unsatisfactory and
unhealthy state of soul （John 15：4…5； Gal。 2：20； 2 Pet。 1：5…10）。
25。 Have Evangelical Churchmen who hold the views of regeneration
maintained in this paper any cause to be ashamed of their opinions？
None whatever。 They can safely defy any one to prove that their views
are not in harmony with Scripture； with the Thirty…nine Articles； with
the Prayer Book； with the Catechism； with the Homilies； and with the
writings of many of the best divines in the Church of England。 Those
who occupy such a position as this have no cause to be ashamed。 The
last day will prove who is right。 To the judgment of that day we may
safely and confidently appeal。
I conclude this paper with one general remark about the great principle
on which the 〃Book of mon Prayer〃 was at first piled。 It is one
which runs throughout the Liturgy from end to end。 The mischief which
has arisen； and the false teaching which has flowed from gross
ignorance or neglect of this principle； are simply incalculable。 Let me
show what it is。
The principle of the Prayer Book is to suppose all members of the
Church to be in reality what they are in profession； to be true
believers in Christ； to be sanctified by the Holy Ghost。 The Prayer
Book takes the highest standard of what a Christian ought to be； and is
all through worded accordingly。 The minister addresses those who
assemble together for public worship as believers。 The people who use
the words the Liturgy puts into their mouths are supposed to be
believers。 But those who drew up the Prayer Book never meant to assert
that all who were members of the Church of England were actually and
really true Christians！ On the contrary； they tell us expressly in the
Articles； that 〃in the visible Church the evil be ever mingled with the
good。〃 But they held that if forms of devotion were drawn up at all；
they must be drawn up on the supposition that those who used them were
real Christians； and not false ones。 And in so doing I think they were
quite right。 A Liturgy for unbelievers and unconverted men would be
absurd； and practically useless。 The part of the congregation for whom
it was meant would care little or nothing for any Liturgy at all。 The
holy and believing part of the congregation would find its language
entirely unsuited to them； and beneath their wants。
How any one can fail to see this principle running through the
Prayer…book Services； is one of those things which I must frankly say I
fail to understand。 It is quite certain that St。 Paul wrote his
Epistles in the New Testament to the Churches upon this principle。 He
constantly addresses their members as 〃saints〃 and 〃elect；〃 and as
having grace； and faith； and hope； and love； though it is evident that
some of them had no grace at all！ I am firmly convinced that the
pilers of our Prayer Book drew up its Services upon the same lines；
the lines of charitable supposition； and it is on this principle alone
that the book can be interpreted； and especially on the subject of
Baptism and Regeneration。 ＇20＇
__________________________________________________________________
＇20＇ Those who wish to study this subject more deeply are advised to
read Canon Faber's Primitive Doctrine of Regeneration； 8vo。 Dean Goode
on The Effects of Infant Baptism； 8vo。 Canon Mozley on Baptismal
Regeneration； 8vo。 Canon Mozley on The Baptismal Controversy； 8vo。
__________________________________________________________________
CHAPTER XIX
Tit。 2：6。
THOUGHTS FOR YOUNG MEN
WHEN St。 Paul wrote his Epistle to Titus about his duty as a minister；
he mentioned young men as a class requiring peculiar attention。 After
speaking of aged men and aged women； and young women； he adds this
pithy advice； 〃Young men likewise exhort to be sober…minded〃 （Tit。
2：6）。 I am going to follow the Apo