The work of the Holy Spirit - pagina 349

REGENERATION THE WORK OF GOD Once

309

he can explain its development, but of the inception that precedes he knows absolutely nothing. In this respect The mysignorant he is just as as the most innocent peasant boy. tery can not be penetrated, simply because it lies beyond our obserexisting,

all else

vation

it is

;

And

perceptible only that

life exists.

mystery of our second Post-mortem examination can detect the embryo and its Subsequent manilocality, but spiritually even this is impossible. festations are instructive to a certain extent, but even then much is uncertain and unsettled. By what infallible standard can it be dethis applies in stronger sense to the

birth.

termined how much of the old nature enters into the expressions of the new life? Is there no hypocrisy? Are there no conditions unexplained? Are there no obstacles to spiritual development?

Hence experience ple, it

in this respect

can not avail; tho pure and simis, and not

can reveal only the development of that which

the origin of

life

unborn.

The only source

of truth on this subject is the "Word of God; and in that Word the mystery remains not only unrevealed, but veiled. And for good reasons. If we were to effect regeneration, if we could add to or take from it, if we could advance or hinder it, then Scripture would surely have sufficiently instructed us concerning it. But since God has reserved this work altogether to Himself, man need not solve this mystery any more than that of his first creation, or that of the creation of his soul.

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