REGENERATION. 349 to your integrity and your acceptance with him l Call it over again, and make use of it against the discourage- merits which arise from your present darkness, and which keep you from sharing in the consolation ten- dered to you in this word of grace. DIRECTION 1V. A due spiritual consideration of the causes and effects of regeneration, is the ordinary means whereby the souls of believers come to be satisfied con- cerning this work of God in them. The principal causes of this work are the Spirit and the word. He that is born again, is born of the Spirit, John, 3 : 6 ; and of the word : " Of his own will begat he us by the word of truth." James, 1 : 18. " We are born again by the word of God that abideth for ever." 1 Peter, 1 : 23. Wherever, then, a man is regenerate, there has been an effectual work of the Spirit and of the word upon his soul. This is to be inquired after, and ordinarily it will discover itself. Such impressions will be made upon the soul, such a change will be wrought and produced in it, as will not escape a spiri- tual, diligent search and inquiry. And this is much of the duty of such as are in the dark, and, uncertain con- cerning the accomplishment of this work in themselves. Let them call to mind what have been the actings of the Spirit by the word upon their souls; what light has thereby been communicated to their minds; what dis- coveries of the Lord Christ and the way of salvation have been made to them ; what sense and detestation of sin have been wrought in them; what satisfaction has been given to the soul in choosing, accepting and ac- quiescing in the righteousness of Christ ; what resig- nation of the heart unto God, according to the tenor of
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