Sermon

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 2527, 10 February 1877, Page 3

Sermon

By D. L. Moody.

m H E NEW BIRTH.

"Except a man he born again, he fannot i«e th« kingdom of God."—JoHh iii. 3. ' He can't even get a glimpse of the kingdom except he be Born again, I believe that we haye the most important subject before us ( that will ever come before us in ,this world. It is the ABC of God's alphabet. If a man is unsound on regeneration, he 14 unsound on everything*.. That is really the foundation-stonej and ..he must get the foundation right. JJTow, he says plainly, " Except^ a, manlbe born again.'.' And, although, 1 regeneration or the new birth is'taugbj; sopjainiq the third chapter of John, 1 don't believe there is any truth in the whoie (J Bjbie..that'the r Church and the world are in such darkness about, as this great truth in theihird chapter of John! There area great many that are like the man that,saw men as, trees waiting. Many Christians ( do not seem to be just in a mind.about ( this"new birth. Only this, afternoon, as I was in the inquiry room, a person'came in, and I said, " Are you a Christian.? " „" Why," ' she says, "of'coixrse r ljam/* , ",Well," I said, ]' how', lpng hkve. ,you been one ? " 11 Oh!, 'sir, il • was, toyn 'ope.'' " OhJ indeed, then I am v jery gJad to take you by the hand!; you are the .first woman 1 1 ever met who was born a Christian; you are. more fortunate /than, others; they are born children of Adam."",, She hesitated a little, and then tried' to,make out that, because she was boi'n in England, she was a Christian. There' are a great many have Jhe idea that, because they are bora in England ,dr a Christian country, they have, been born of the Spirit. Now, in this tbi^d, chapter of John, Vlie new birth ishrought'out so plain, that" if any one , will'^eVd,' it J carefully and prayerfully, I 'thinki l" their eyes'Wil^ so r^i"be opened. (That which is born of the flesh is flesh; it remains' flesh ; and* that- which is born of ihe* Spirit is spirit*, and that'remains spirit. > 86, when a-man is born, of God, he has God's s nature. When a man is born isf his parents,' he receives theic nature, and. they receivedithe nature of , their parents, and you- can trace, it back to Eden. We have .received the nature of the first AdanVibut when a roan is born of God, or born from above, or born of the Spirit—:thttt is the way the Holy 'Ghost puts it'in that third verse—ho receives of God's nature, aud then it is he. leaves the life of the flesh for the life 01 ' the Spirit. SATAN GOING TO CHUECH. Before I go on'l.wact to say one thing, and that' is what this pew birth, or being born q£ tlie Spirft; is not.' A great many think,they'have been born again because 1 they go to ehurqh. Let me say here that there is no onethaS goes to church so regularly "in all London as Satan. He is always th'ere'b'efore the minister, and ho is,tne'last one b'Ujt'of the'church. There is not a church in' London, or a chapel, b'uftnat he is 'a regulaT, attendant of ifc. The idea that he is'oiily down in the slums and lanes and alleys of London is false. Thejdea that lie is only in public* houses—twill confess I think heis there, and that he is doing his work very wellbut to think that he is only there is a false idea. Hel'is wherevfcr the Word is preached'; it^iW his business to be there, and catch/away the seed. Some of you may go to sleep, but he won't! Some or you may not listen to the sermon, but he will. He will be watching, and when the seed, is just entering into some heart he will go and catch it away. May God rebuke Satan to-night, and may the Word of God fall deep into the hearts of many. A CHRISTIAN BECAUSE BAPTISED. " Another class say, " Oh, yes, I am a Christian/ because I was' baptized." ' vow, I want'to say here that baptism is X' «• V*"S» an<* e^nS k°rn again is another, one tu.% r, er son is baptised, you would Because a, v^^ new birth. Would ' not say that tn „ born from aboTe ? . you call that .being , tt into tbe k^. lou cannot baptize a nu. -«, ve men by dom of God. If I could s>l. me baptizing them, you, would not v «»nd preaching. >I .would get' water .. ibaptize them; that would be the quickest way. It would <cbe no use to be praying and pleading for men <to flee from the wrath of God. Bat you can never get into the kingdom of God by baptism. Baptism, is all right in-its place. .lam not here crying down church ordinances ; I am talking about the new birth, and there are a 'great many, I'believe, being deceived -on this•, one point, that because they have been baptized »t some time in. : their;life.they have become Christians. But that 13 not new birth; that is not being born from'jabove and of the Spirit. JOINING THE CHUBCH:. There .is another* class that say, "Oh, yes, I became a Christian when I joined the church—the day r w hen I united with the church." That ain't being born again, There are a greap many united with tbe church who are on their way to death and ruin. A great many"have ( no hope of eternal life who are members of the church. One of the twelve Christ chose to follow Him turned out a hypocrite and a traitor. , My friends, don't build your ' hope of heaven upon some profession of your faith ; but bear it in mind it is the being born of God- Now just let me stop a minute, and you just think, and ask yourselves that question,." Have I been born again ?" It is the most solemn question that will ever,come before you down here—" Have I, been born- .from, above? Have I been born of the Spirit ?'' It ain't making some new reso-^ lutions. You have made enough of them. I never met any one who had not made some good resolution in their life. Ifc ain't trying to do good. A great many say, " I try to do the best I can, and I think it will come out all right." What is,that to do with the new birth and the new creation P It don't say to him that tries to do the best he pan, but to him that _ believeth. or that is born of the Spirit; and " except a man bo bora again he cannot see the kingdom of God." As I said before,' when I was born of my parents I received thoir nature, tbe nature of the flesh ; and I cannot serve God in the flesh. " God is a Spirit, and they that worship Him must wovship Him in spirit and in truth." And before a , man can worship God he must be born of ' God. Then with this new life, he can serve God. Then the yoke is easy; thenthe burd.eh is light. ■-. A' man may as well try to fly to the moon as to serve God » before he has been bora of the Spirit. It is utterly impossible. The natural man is at enmity against God; his natural heart is at war with God; it always has been and it always will be. And not only '. that, but you cannot make it better. 7 Somebody said that God never mends,

God creates anew; therefore don't be trying to patch up that,old Adam nature. God has just sent it aside.. But He tells us .how w,e are to come into His, presence, and how'we are to get into His kingdom. This is worthy to be borne in mind. You cannot educate men into it. This is what the world is frying to dp. But he that "climbetli'fup, by some'other way than the Lord's way the, same is a thief and a robber. You had better be born into it iriGod'sway.;; "' : V-;.'.V. / ,":' .' /'■'.' ' Vr We Have a" law, in America thatno man shall ;be President" of ;thie TJioited States that has not been, borii ok .AtHeriCan soil. We have a-great many Germans,.Scotch; irien, Irishmen, iii Jfact men from'all parts of the world, whogcome to America, and yet I hate never heard One coinplain of of thatiaw.'; 'They say/Airierica liiis. the right to say; who: shall; bY president.;" I come here'^tQ'youir 'cotintry,' attd I; do flqt icbmplain because" you r bl&ve a" Queen to reign overyotiv What right jiaye I to complaint ?/'; Has'uW; England r< a light to say wlip shall rule it, and who shall be its ;Queen ?: Ab'd .1 would; like to ask' you 1 this question, Has ftp t God ,'a right* to say who shall come into His kingdom,' and,,how'we' shall come ? JN ovv, my friend, God tells us here we are to come into ."hisi kingdom' by the new births We toust be born' from above, born of ;th,e and then Ye get a nature tßatgoes;Out towards ( God. ;If you take a'drunke'n'mah, and piit him on.the very pavement f 'of heaven, lie will not be happy; tHere. v' The driinkard doesn't want; heaven. Whaj, 'is he- to;do *' there ? He' has no'whi>ky;io drijptt th'^rej'and none of his, old compaiiionsi ' "What iis' he to do ?. He]'wpuld yayV' lThishell tome. I don't w r aiit tO" sit here."; A. man that cannot spend one Sabbath oil earth amOnS Gof*'s. people, what v is he to jdo. with that eternal Sabbath,, with those that'have #&shed their robes and made them white in the blood' <>f Lamb.P ■ 'A, mkn must ;hafe a Bpirkt.uat ; naVure before he- -Wa:nW ' t :t6'_ ;gb. heaven,;. tions 'to a.mjin.jint^'he is born:ot?tt; ;.of HeavMjor^e!Spirit;'' f ... ; ". f ; .; ; ]'■ 'V : J;^V ITbwlefrWgo back to this man dh at Christ'said- these-vwords; to. I often rq-: jpice He didn't" say this'to that woman at the vrellj norto that woman Mr Sttnkey has; been singing about tp■night.; If He had said it Ito them;-'people would have; said," Ohr that poor woman needs.to be converted; 1 but lam a' moralist; I don't j Deed to be converted;- Regeneration do lor harlots, thieves.and drunkards, but we do not'need-it.'-*' Buttwho"did Christ cay it to? He said; to to Nicodemus.. Who was he P"He belonged to the house of bishops. He would have been a bishop if he had been v here., j^icodemus stood •very high; be stood as high, as ; any. man in Jeru^aiem,;excep,t,the high,priest himself. : | H e belonged.itp.:the..seventy^ruleri of the Jews ; doctor of. divinity,' and taught./lhe law. There is i|ot one word ..of Scripture, against him.; hq was a nian; .that. stood.. but before the ;; whole nation as of pure and spotless, character.; What does Christ say; to "him.? "Except » rs man.; be borjar.again,;"he.cannot seethe kingdom,of God.". ;> l".c^n just imagine JNicodemus; wasfliketens of thousands of men in London to-day.;. The moment you talk; tp them about .regeneration, there ; is a,scowl;on their forehead.. They say, '*I don't ■; understand. it.% Of course, the natural. man ; don't, sunderstand' spiritual things. .It is a matter;Pf^ '"revejaiibh.' A great; many men/try; to investigate anii find out, God. Suppose you spend a.litlte of your- time in asking ,God to ; reveal Himself to you.. '„'.; - ..'•"..', . . ..; A TALK IK THE SMOKING-BOOM. :' ..

I Beard,- some' time ago; of some commercial travellers who went to bear a man preach. They ckme back to the hotel, and sitting talking; and 'they said the minister did, not appeal -to their reason, and they would not believe anything they could not ; reason out. There was an old man sitting there listening,, and he said, " You say you W;on't believe any thing you can't reason,put?" ISo; we" won't."The old man;said, V As I was coming oh the train yesterday, 1 noticed some sheep; and cattle, and geese, all eating grass/ 3No«v, can you tell rae by what process that grass was turned into fest.bers, hair,: and wool?" <i(-WeH, no, we can?t just; tell you that." 4" Do you believe it is a! fact '? .•"■; ;■'•■ Oh, yes, it^fact." • I thought' you said you would not; believe anything y<<u could not reason outP'':"-Well, we': can't help believing that; that is a fact we see before our eyes." "( "<Welly" said the old nian,'' I can't belp: but believeJin regeneration, arid- a man being/converted, although I cannot explain hows-God converted him." I'have no doubt.'if a man spoke about this- to me; twcnty-orie yeavs ago, 1 should have^said- it was all Greek, and that :I did not? understand what the man was!talking'about. There may be-a-good manyi in this: hall wondering' what that American is talking v about. Born again! I do not understand it. But I understand it now (and .1 can call- hun-_ dreds of witnesses heire)—why ? Because I have been born of the Spirit. ; J^ow/theillustratibri which Gofi used, to !Nicodeuius was tlie'wind,''' The wind bloweth where it : listetli,' and no man knoweth whence it cqmeth nor whether it gbeth." Npwyo." cannot see the Spirit of God work in his audience \ but I hope and pray He may be working now in the hearts of ■ many, convincing them of sin ! Do you believe indre than ever that you are a sinner ! Well, that is the- work of the Holy Ghost." The devil heveiv told you you are a sinner; he tries to/make you believe that! you 'are good enough. If you believe tb-night that you have sinned against" God, that is the work of tho Holy Ghost, tie is here to-night at work. We cannot see Him, but there are a" great many who know He is Here. Suppose I should say I don't believe in the wind. : I have lived thirty-seven years, and have never seen the Ttind.: ]Nq one ever saw the wind. It is all imagination ; it is folly for men to talk about the wind.: I can just imagine that boy there' saying; " Why, I. know more than that mari • I know there is wind,; Tor it blew my hat off this very dayjiito'the mvd 5 and .-I haye often felt it blowing in my fade." -? Vl friends, you have'never felt the'i *: J*iy than I have Mb 1 theSpir"- . ' .Vund more have Dever seen *h " : Vu of Gbd. You more than T 1 _ lie effects of the wind: Spiri* ' : _ nave seen the:effects of the .„ ot God, and there ar.e hundreds of witnesses here tb-night who would testify: tho same thing. : :']',. ;"' ■'•'■■.' ■■■■■ AN APPEAIi,,TO/iHE DHUNKABD. ' '. .^ . • It may lie that I am talking now., to some poor drunkard rhere; he comes into his: house,: hisl children listen, and hear by the footfall: that their father is coming home: drunk, and the little things run away and hide from him as if

he wassome demon, 'His wife begins to" tremble. Many a time has that great, strong arm been brought down on her weak defenceless body. Many a day has she carried about marks from that man's violence. He ought to be h>r protecl|>r. support, and stay; but he has become Her tormcntorl Home is like hell upca earlh ; there is nttjojOhere. -There may be one such here to-night who hears the good newß that he can be born again, and receive a nature from heaven, and receive the Spirit p£ GbcLY 'GjSd can give him power to hurl the infernal "cup from him. God will give him gtface'to trample-£Satan under his feet, and the drunkard will become a sober man. May God convert the drunkard 1 Christians, lift up your hearts for, the poor drunkards of-London. If they trytb lead a better life^'mfe'mighty to save,: Christ the Lord, Will-igiv« them the ,victory,; : for, ; strong ,as. drjnk; mayj.be;; His grace is stronger. ... „ , , THE' WOBTH OP GOOD BESOIVES. . Then some of you may have,been saying, " I wish;Mf'Moody:Wbul3;tell' iaß howwe are to become Christians ; for he says : thatiwe cannot be Christians by? trying;tp . do good2and;by^^-nTiakingtiemresolfltions." Many a time you have been at a meeting like this, and have resolved.-to,-t&rn/sver a ; new leaf, and you -may now form another good, resolution.; If you do,;ypu \fill break it.' : I iwould; jgjve that for i ailyour, resolutions.; What are you ; goin,g itb -; Jf : -it, is anew birth you.are'to' have," ydu cannot create life. Can you jbring totb life a dead fly ? ; All the wise ; men in London cannot dp. it. God a,lone As the' Author of life; aficl if you have' hew birth, it must be Go&Vwork. When the Jubilee Singers .were in; {be north of England my family went4o see them*, and my littleyboyrasked.why?they, didn't wash;the blacken their faces. 1 told^im' because ;they were born—bine k;-— The--EthiopiaTi cannot. chapge^s l |kin,,n,or i the leopard .h|s spptsife^fbU canriot-sa«e-yottrJsel&-2'Tnere Ms a man dying—can.you put new life into [him? Tlmt isHheSro^k of God. Your ; souls are dead in trespasses and sin. May Christ <speak ; life,,-*- Gpd,said,."Let tbe.re ibe'ligfit'; "'anci 'theie was'light.' uin'd^i| ■He says, "Let there be .life," there Will !.beiife;>'-i o?Si !<"Ai:-y* .an-VJ

THE feEGOAH AKD.'THE PBI^C^ OF S^XtXk. ; 1 imagine some of jou will say, *' I .haven't anythin^lj^-ido/'^^Well, you •; haven't. Salvationflias-been worked out for you by another*^";! M&ny go all round Uhe world in search! 'of honor or posses- : Bic(ns.: Salvation *>'• ii -worth;thousaftSß^of {times' more;. but you don't gft.i^fh'atJ way. God has Jbut pne.price/or^alVjalion. •It is, without tfbtfey^in^-witypidt^jtice. ! R'owlana "flili: said'tlidt ftiost; ;a.uipt:ioneers >had hard work to get people jHp-'tojVtheir iprice, but that he.had hard jwqrk.^o< get I people down to his, "^The, wa.ges ypt, sin !is death-but Ihe gift of Gad is eternal life/' ur'Wno wßlhave^f tb-nighW "I%y •to you, young man, will,you.h.ayfi-that. i gift to-night ? Suppose J'was goih!g "over • London-bridge, -aDid^sAw a poor miserable : beggarj;b^r^ footed, cdatless, batless, and rignfcbehind him there was the Prince of Wales with a bag of gold, and the poor beggar was running away: ; frpm him,,as, if he was running away from a demon; and theffPrince^ of Wales was ■hAllboing-iaftieK Jiim, " Oh,r beggar, here is a^bsg of gpld! " Why, we should say, the'beggar had gone mad. Sinner,-, that 4s>t your condition. The PrinWiofiiHfeaven wants to.><lVe you eternEj T .life,..and you sue running away froim Him. 'ftThe wages of sin is death, but the gift of Gpcfis eternaHife." Then you say, 'Mfilhavie?ridtHing-to-idd, what is-going to become of me ?—lf it4s not by working ]n earnest, am I .to be saved ?:".-"f: i)%:B"J: J 13, S-'' IM'~X

It is God's work entirely how you are to be saved, I will tell you; Scripture will icll you—that is better.. Take the illustration (Christ iised tol Nacoidemus^you coultf riot have-IA. betterT 'HeTtooJk him to the remedy:—" As Moses lifted up the serpent jn? thei in fjthe wilderness, even so must the Son of Matf be lifted up, I that whosoever believeth in Him should Inot perish, but" have- eternal life." ■Now there is the remedy. How am I to i.be saTed.?i|Hy looking .for lifej^eternal ilife V just by looking. It's Very cfieap, jvery simple, is'n tit P. Little girl, just look away to the Lamb of God to-night, ■and, be sa?ed>.-,5f.-.'W'hafe; i ,sa,y ; s3 : >.the.^.great w.ilderne&s preacher P :, "JBeho)ji"the h&mh ■ lot. God.'Whiph.taketh^ awaythe.sins of tlieworid.". Ypu might say.the.wh6j(e;pianp^ salvation;,,is i; ml ri ds~Giving,;';!Re-'/ ceiving : God gives ; I receive. Oh, my friends, Christ, the remedy for sin, "btfrebur sins on His own body ori-the itree."; i lf you accept Him as.your; Saviour j you will. be saved. Why will you go down to hell?; Trust in-tGbrist^; Ybung lady, jdoybu^believe, you will, be lost if ypii: joiit your V tru^l. Jn ', 'the >: Son of . J)o ypu: "belief btiy, one wiU'ever' perish 1 looking to thei I'^Lainb' of God, that taketh away the sins of^the" world?" It is utterly impossible; and if there's any one iv this audience w_ho4 w3lUfee':l6st-it isbecaiiso h^s^urned'^o^'*^ remedy. • Ghris^has been given; ;unto the world. Bear in min.d^ it says; " Except a man be born again he cannot »««■ the kingdom of■ God,"—much less inherit it; hefcannot even sje the kingdom of God. .-.--• THE SIGHTS OF EAETH.

You>may.s;ee many things in ; tMs world; I but, bear in mind," if unsavedj you snail never.see the world to come. r You..may f see Paris 1 and allUhVgr^nd'cities ot'thisi world; but, bear in; mind, there is one'" city that Abraham caught sight of, whose builder and maker is God, and your uncircumcised eye shali never rest ; upon ': that city unless you are born agai.ri... You; may look upon the- crown af England— that beautiful ero.w.n'; you;may "glory in it; but, bear m mmd; v the crown of life your uncircumcised eye shall never rest upon unless you are born again, jlt is God that says it:—" Exceptia. man be born again he cannot see the kingdom of God." You may see the throne of' England ; but the great white throne th/at God Himself sits upon you nev^.^aH ge o except you _are born - g^.: ; y ou^a y se e tZM^^.-nvers ;fethis^or\A; but, ' .v. mind, there isone river that flows oy the throne 6f Gbd;" Your uncircumciscd eye shall never rest upon those " that have washed their robes, and made Ihcm white in the blood of the Lamb," that walk upon the banks of ibat crystal river; and you never shall walk there except you are born again. You may cross the Atlantic, and go clear across America to the Pacific Coast, and look uppn those trees that'have been growing there for centuries but bear-in mind there is one tree which grows in-the-Paradise of God, whose leaves are for the healing of the nations, and which bears all manner of fruits, and you shall have a right to that tree if you are bom in the kingdomi of God. You

> shallgp inland' there wiil be j npthir-jj to , prevent you to go to that tree if you have 1 washed your robes and made them jvhtte i in the blood of the Lamb. You may see ! the princes of this earth ; but the Prime , of Glory you shall never see until He r comes to jude;e the world. You may../seei the kings and governors of the earth ; but • th^l^oiF|tingi'iQ>r^^f n€^^®l > unless you are horn again".' Fbung* man, . you may tuijn. now.,.and look. in.tq. ; thajb i mother's face—look into the lovely eyes i of that godly, praying.(-mptliei?;; put.the . time is coming when you will.be separated i from her. Except you are born again you cannot enter the Kingdom of God , ! your mother, with thit praying wife 6P i yours;,,trooth^r,. with, that, dear cjhjld^p^ f yours that has been Slaved, except yotfare • born again. "~~ i 'Oh, that..l,cQulA?ay^somet}iing;tQ|night' f to rouse every"man"andVo'man to^enter' the kingdom of God. Makes _ hasteT press'into'-'the -kingdom; do Hoi, infj .friends, let this night;pass^until you, have pressed into the Kingdom of God, for it is God that says " Except a man be b'dftT' aaa.iu. he-cann.pt soe the; Kingdom of