The work of the Holy Spirit ; or, The new birth

Prefatory Note

If my brethren in the ministry, Sabbath-school teachers, and other thoughtful Christians, find suggestions in these pages which help them, either in their own Christian culture or in their efforts to win souls to Christ, my chief object in this publication will be gained. I cannot but hope, also, that thinking men who do not own the Christian name will find here the Way of Salvation, commended to them by the same intuitions and calm reasonings by which they are accustomed to judge of truth in other things.

AUSTIN PHELPS.

CHAPTER I. Page

CONVERSION — ITS NATURE II

I. Faith or Common Sense in the Necessity op

Conversion 11

II. Biblical Emblems of Conversion ... 16

III. Conversion not a Ritual Change ... 22

IV. Conversion not a Constitutional Change . 24

Conversion more than Miracle 28

Conversion a Fact in Experience .... 30

Conversion a Reasonable Change . . * . 31

Constitutional Conversion not a Duty ... 36

V. Conversion not a Mystical Change ... 38 v

VI

CONTENTS

VI — Conversion a Radical Change

Counterfeits of Conversion . . • A Converted Man, a New Man . •

Character under a Law of Perpetuity • Conversion the Supreme Change • •

Pa ga

. 44

. 47

. 51

. 62

. 66

CHAPTEE II.

REGENERATION THE WORK OP GOD ... 58

I. — What do we mean bt Divine Sovereignty in Regeneration ? 59

II. —Regeneration a Solitary Disclosure op God . 63

III. — Biblical View op the Supernatural in the New

Birth 67

IV. — Experience op the New Birth suggestive op a

Supernatural Cause . . ... . • 71

God suggested hy the Manner of Conversion . • 73

God suggested by the Magnitude of Conversion . 78

God suggested by the Phenomena of Revivals . . 81

God suggested by Unconscious Conversion . . 84

CONTENTS Vii

Pag#

V. — Moral Uses op the Doctrine op Supernatural

Regeneration 90

The Profound Nature of Depravity . ... 90

The Harmony of Truth with Mind .... 94

Man’s Renewal, a Work worthy of God ... 95

The Lowliness of God 96

The Holy Spirit a Personal Friend .... 99

The Law of Dependence •••.•• 100

Chapter III. Truth The Instrument Of Regeneration . 103

I. — Biblical View op Truth as a Power . • 104

H. — The Instrumentality of Truth a Fact in IIe-

GENERATION 109

The Instrumentality of Truth Invariable . . 112

The Regeneration of Infants 115

III. — The Mode in which Truth acts in Regenera-

tion 110

IV. — The Simplicity op Regeneration . . . 124

V. — The Evidences op Conversion intelligible to

Common Sense 129

Viii CONTENTS .

Pago

VI. — Creed Essential to Character .... 132

VII. — Christianity Independent of Fine Art • . 335

VIII. — The True Ideal of the Pulpit .... 140

u Great Sermons” ....... 143

Affectations of the Pulpit • • • . • 146

Popular Criticism of the Pulpit • • • • 150

Bepose in Truth .•••••• 155

CHAPTER, IV.

RESPONSIBILITY AS BELATED TO SOVEREIGNTY

IN THE NEW BIRTH 159

I. — Difficulties of the Subject practical . . 162

II. — The Sense of Responsibility an Intuition . 165

III. — Responsibility not Destroyed by Depravity . 168

IV. — Biblical Theory of Responsibility . . . 173

V. — Ability the Measure of Obligation . . .177

“I can, because I ought” . . . • .178

Ability the Teaching of Common Sense . . .181

VI. — Responsibility and Sovereignty Harmonious . 186

CONTENTS . IX

Pago

VJLL. — How to Answer the Inquiry, “What must I do

TO BE SAVED” 190

Repentance and Faith Practicable, like other Duties 192 The Dependence of Guilt more Absolute than the

Dependence of Necessity . • • t ,196

Grace not Justice ....... 203

Encouragement to Immediate Repentance • • 206

The Ruin of a Soul its own work • • • • 210

Chapter V. The Indwelling Of The Holy Spirit . . 214

I. — The Sacredness op a Christian’s Being . . 215

The Indwelling of the Spirit not an Incarnation • 218

IL — The Restoration op Lost Self-respect . . 221

The Tyranny of Remorse . • • • • 221

Discoveries of a Pure Conscience .... 224

Courage in the Day of Judgment . • . .272

CONTENTS

Page

HI. — The Intensity op Regenerate Life . • .229

Latent Piety Unnatural . . . . . .230

Is Regenerate Experience Fanatical ? • • .232

IV. — The Working op the Spirit by Discoverable Laws .........

The Law of Harmony with other Revelations of God The Law of Harmony with the Nature of Mind

The Law of Co-operation

The Law of Sanctification by Prayer ... The Law of Trust in a Divine Plan . • • •

239 243 246

THE NEW BIRTH.