Paul is here referring to two events, his natural birth, and his spiritual birth : the one connecting him with the world, the other with the church. The former of these is common to all men, the latter is confined to few. The former affords us no security from the wrath to come : "Because they are a people of no understanding, therefore he that hath made them will not have mercy on then, and he that formed them will show them no favor ;" the latter makes us heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
Both these, therefore, are important. But the one is far more momentous than the other. The multitude are not thus minded. They keep the day of their birth, and are thankful for the continuance of life, but never inquire, Has he who separated me from my mother's womb called me by his grace? Has he made me not only a creature, but a new creature? Am I not only a partaker of that life whose days are few and evil, but of the life which the just live by faith, and which shall endure for ever?
This is the main thing; and you will deem it so when conscience shall be awakened, when heart and flesh shall fail, and the cold hand of death lays hold of you to bring you into the presence of the Judge of all. To this therefore attend, and regard it without delay. We would not have you indifferent to the beauties of nature, and the bounties of providence, but let it be your chief concern to be blessed with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ. Say, with David, I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made : marvellous are thy works ; and that my soul knoweth right well." But Oh, rest not satisfied till you can say. with Paul, "he called me by his grace."
Regeneration is necessary. The nature of religion demands it; the nature of God demands it; the nature of heaven demands it. Ye must be born again." Observe, again. Paul, you see, had been born twice ; and if you are not born twice before you die once, it had been good for you if you had never been born. Those born once only, die twice ; they die a temporal, and they die an eternal death. But those who are born twice die only once, for on them the second death hath no power.
Paul was as fully persuaded of his being called by grace, as he was of his having been separated from his mother's womb. What a satisfaction must this be to the assured individual. All are not equally privileged. Some have fears concerning their conversion. But even this anxiety is a token for good. And let them remember, that there is a certainty attainable not only in Christian doctrine, but in Christian experience, and let them give all diligence, to the full assurance of hope unto the end. Let them wait on the Lord, and keep his way, and read the things that are written unto them that believe on the name of the Son of God, that they may know that they have eternal life.
Little, when Paul was born, did any know what he was destined to be. The father embraced him ; the mother forgot her anguish, for joy that a man was born into the world. His birth was no way distinguished from any other birth. His religious friends could not look into the future, nor conjecture the powers he was to develope, the space he was to occupy in history, the labors he was to perform, the advantages he was to render the human race to the end of time----nothing of all this could they foresee in this helpless babe. But here was the acorn of the oak. God saw the end from the beginning. Gamaliel's pupil, the zealous Pharisee, the blood---- persecutor, the praying penitent, the Christian disciple, the inspired apostle----all, all were present to His view when he separated him from his mothers womb. And even then he had done virtually what he did actually in the journey to Damascus, called him by his grace. Time is nothing with him. Design is accomplishment. Every thing has its season. All the circumstances of life and godliness, of our birth and our conversion, are arranged by infinite wisdom and goodness. Just and true are all thy ways, 0 thou King of saints ; He hath done all things well.
"Heaven, earth, and and fire, and wind,
Show me thy wondrous skill;
But I review my-self, and find
Diviner wonders still.
Thy awful glories round me shine;
My flesh proclaims thy praise:
Lord, to thy works of nature join
Thy miracles of grace."
RETURN
TO REV. WILLIAM JAY'S HOMEPAGE
RETURN
TO REV. THOMAS BOSTON'S HOMEPAGE
