“O, how many unconverted men and women are borne down upon the stream of time, unconcerned, thoughtless, careless of the doom that so surely awaits them!”

Sermon by Elder Daniel Miller (German).

At Lost River Meetinghouse, West Virginia, Sunday, July 3.

TEXT.—­But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:  which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.—­John 1:12, 13.

This Scripture has a very deep meaning; and it should be well understood, since the power in us to become children or sons of God depends on the nature of our birth.  If this be in any other nature than that of God, it is like counterfeit money; it may look to be all right, and pass current for a while, but it will not bear the test of a rigid scrutiny.

Some are born of blood.  Such may be those who adhere to a certain church, and hold certain articles of faith without examining the Word, because their father and mother and other blood relatives held the same, lived and died in that faith, and lie buried in the churchyard where they worshiped.

Some are born of the will of the flesh.  Such may be those who make a profession of religion; but because they cannot have their own way in everything, and take the lusts of the flesh with them under the cloak of a Christian profession, they either forsake the people of God entirely or else never come into their number.

Some are born of the will of man.  Such may be those who suffer themselves to be influenced by others; coaxed, persuaded, nor even induced by the promise of reward, to join a certain church and worship in a certain way, because it is fashionable and in good style.

Some are born of God.  Such are those who out of an honest heart bring forth the fruit of the Spirit unto perfection.

Paul, in his letter to the Galatians, shows the striking contrast between the fruit of man’s fleshly, sensual or animal nature and that of his spiritual or renewed nature.  The first he calls THE FLESH; the last, THE SPIRIT.  Man’s spirit is what is born again.  In one place he designates the new birth as “being renewed in the spirit of the mind.”  In another place as “dead to the world, but alive unto God.”  The prayer of such is:  “Lord, what wouldst THOU have me to do?” Finding a clear answer to this prayer in the Word of Truth, they are willing to follow its leadings.  They descend into the baptismal wave “for the remission of sins.”  They go into the house of God and are not above stooping to wash one another’s feet.  They eat the Lord’s Supper.  They commune with him in the emblems of his broken body and shed blood.  They continue to walk as nearly as they can in all the commands and ordinances of the Lord blameless.