338 FORGIVENESS 01: SIN. that are regenerate, is spirit : " That which is born of the Spirit is spirit. John, 3 :6. It has a spiritual being, and it is not to be drawn by any means out of the prin- ciples of nature ; so it is said to be "a new creature." 2 Cor. 5: 17. Be it ever so little or great, however it may differ in degree in one and in another, yet its na- ture is the same in allit is a new creature. As the least worm of the earth, in the order of the old crea- tion, is a creature as truly as the most glorious angel in heaven ; so, in the order of the new creation, the least spark of true grace that is from the sanctifying Spirit is a new creature no less than the highest faith or love that ever were in the chiefest of the apostles. Now that which is spirit and that which is not spirit, that which hath a new spiritual being and that which hath none, whatever appearance of agreement there may be among them, do yet differ specifically from one another. And thus it is with the saving grace in the re- generate, and those common graces in others which are not saving. So that these states are eminently dif- ferent and distinct the one from the other. III. We proceed to consider the inquiry, Whether this state of regeneration be known to him who is really a partaker of it, or to others ? To which I say, that as the difference between these two states is real, so it is discernible: they may be known by the persons them- selves who are in those states, and also by others. It may be known who are born of God, and who are yet children of the devil; who are quickened by Christ, and who are yet dead in trespasses and sins. But here observe,
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