Having explained in what the new birth consists, or having shown, according to Barclay, [73] “that the seed is a real spiritual substance, which the soul of man is capable of feeling and apprehending, from which that real spiritual inward birth arises, called the new creature or the new man in the heart,” it remains to show how believers, or those in whose souls Christ is thus produced, may be said to grow up to perfection; for by this real birth or geniture in them they come to have those spiritual senses raised, by which they are made capable of tasting, smelling, seeing, and handling, the things of God.

[Footnote 73:  P. 139.  Ed. 8.]

It may be observed then, that in the new birth a progress is experienced from infancy to youth, and from youth to manhood.  As it is only by submission to the operation of the spirit that this birth can take place, so it is only by a like submission, that any progress or growth from one stature to another will be experienced in it; neither can the regenerated become instrumental in the redemption of others, any farther or otherwise than as Christ or the anointing dwells and operates in them, teaching them all truths necessary to be known, and strengthening them to perform every act necessary to be done for this purpose.  He must be their only means and [74] “hope of glory.”  It will then be that the [75] “creature which waiteth in earnest expectation for the manifestation of the sons of God, will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.”  For [76] “if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature:  old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new, and all things of God.”

[Footnote 74:  Coloss. 1. 27.]

[Footnote 75:  Rom. 8. 19, 21.]

[Footnote 76:  Cor. 5. 17, 18.]

They who are the babes of the regeneration begin to see spiritual things.  The natural man, the mere creature, never saw God.  But the babes, who cry Abba, Father, begin to see and to know him.  Though as yet unskilful in the word of righteousness, [77] “they desire the sincere milk of the word, that they may grow thereby.”  And [78] “their sins are forgiven them.”

[Footnote 77:  1 Pet 2. 2.]

[Footnote 78:  1 John 2. 12.]

They, who are considered as the young men in this state, are said to be [79] “spiritually strong, and the word of God abiding in them, to have overcome the wicked one.”

[Footnote 79:  1 John 2. 14.]

They, who have attained a state of manhood, are called fathers, or are said to be of full age, and to be capable of taking strong meat. [80] “They come, in the unity of faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto perfect men, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ.  They arrive at such a state of stability, that they are no more children tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine; but speaking the truth in