REGENERATION. 355 often an important circumstance. In the affirmative, when it is known, it is of great use, tending to stability and consolation ; but yet it is but a circumstance such as the being of the thing itself does not depend on. He that is alive may know that he was born, though he know neither the place where nor the time when. And so may he that is spiritually alive, and has ground of evidence that he is so, that he was born again, though he know neither when, nor where, nor how. And this case is usual in persons of quiet natural temper who have had the advantage of education under means of light and grace. God often in such persons begins and carries on the work of his grace insensibly, so that they come to good growth and maturity before they know that they are alive.- Such persons come at length to be satisfied in saying, with the blind man in the Gospel, How our eyes were opened we know not; only one thing we know, whereas we were blind by nature, now we see. Even in this matter also we must, it may be, be con- tent to live by faith, and to believe as well what God bath done in us, if it be the matter and subject of his promises, as what he bath done for us, the ground whereof also is the promise, and nothing else. There is another head of objection against the soul's receiving consolation from an interest in forgiveness, arising from the consideration of its present state and condition as to ACTUAL HOLINESS, DUTIES AND SINS. Souls complain, when in darkness and under temptations, that they cannot find that holiness nor those fruits of it in themselves which they suppose an interest in pardoning
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=