that because those who walked with Christ of old received the baptism of the Holy Ghost and fire at Pentecost more than eighteen hundred years ago, therefore all believers have now received the same. As well might the apostles, when first called, have concluded that because at His baptism the Spirit like a dove rested upon Christ, therefore all had equally received the same blessing." We refer with commendation to the recent work of Rev. Charles E. Smith, "The Baptism in Fire," in which this distinction is very clearly recognized, and its implications very ably considered. Also we would recommend the brief treatises, "The Gift of the Holy Ghost," by Dr. John Morgan, Professor of Theology in Oberlin Theological Seminary, and “The Holy Spirit in Man," by Pastor G. Tophel of Geneva. All these works mark a decided advance in the way of thorough scriptural discussion of this important subject. Amid all the kindly and generous criticism which our book has received, this is the principal point which has been raised, that we have insisted on a higher stage of the Spirit's work, the Sealing of the Holy Ghost, logically if not always chronologically separate from regeneration. That we have defined regeneration as, not a change of nature, but the imparting of a new ▾ nature, has also perplexed some of our readers. We mean simply, that the regenerated man has two natures the Adam nature which is not improved, but crucified and to be put off; and the Christ nature which is to be cultured and developed till it is completely dominant in the believer. Therefore in our view Christian growth does not consist in the improvement of the old man, but in its repression; and on the other hand in the development of the new man till we attain unto "the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ." In other words, we hold that sanctification consists, as an eminent writer says, in the twofold process of mortification and vivification— the mortification of the old and the vivification of the new. With these slight explanations we commend our imperfect work once more to the charity of our Christian readers, with grateful thanks for the many kind expressions accorded to it; and to the favor of God, whose glory in the edification of the body of Christ we desire to promote. BOSTON, March 18, 1884. |
