The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-01-21

| theH peihs. ms type are OF those de
! scribed by Prof. Coe: Desiring 10 dedi
cate themselves 10 the Master, yet un
able TO put their experience OF spiritua
| realities into the forms OF bookkeeping
| they hesitate. postpone action are ha
rassed by doubts OF their personal sta
| tus."
There Is a third type OF the religion.
spirit which begins a grain Of mustar,
seed and grows into a great tree IL (,
represented by the young growing up II
An atmosphere OF truth anl righteous
ness knowing no evil. They are those
privileged souls sheltered on lifes dess
from the sand and storm. Gradually thei,
lives unfold into the richness Of Christ.
love and having learned the lesson o
service I'm childhood IL becomes the hope
OF youth the JOY OF the middle years and
bears the reward OF old age. Blessed
are those who have had mothers knee
as their first altar and a mothers love
as their first inspiration. From this type
OF the religious life have come and are
coming those who have been and are 10
be the strength and the hope OF the
Christian church.
Suffer little children 10 conne unto
me and forbid them not, for ~ sucl Is
the kingdom Of God"
MANY COMMENTARIES.
upon this chapter OF the gospel OF St
John commentaries in abundance upon
this picturesque and almost weird meet
Ing between Nicodemus coming by night
and our Lord. But the truest commen-
tary that we have upon this incident is
the quiet yet strong unfolding OF the
life OF a little child growing up in the
nurture OF mothers love. love that
has been born In Heaven and consecrated
In the mystery OF a new life
lt Is the lesson that such a life teaches
US that leads us back TO read anew the
gospel message and 10 see In quiet
growth and gentle unfolding the truth
that Jesus would impart. We are set
right when we learn what Jesus said
Not, we must be born again, but ''Ye
must be born from above"
Immediately the point Of emphasis
changes. Jesus Is enforcing a contrast
but IL is not a contrast between one time
and another. II is contrast between
two worlds. the world OF the flesh and
the world OF the spirit.
IL Ia not a contrast between Yesterday
and today, hut n controst between the
higher and the lower. Nicodemus does not
understand the point Jesus has In mind
The idea OF birth Immediately suggests
physical birth. The hindrance to such a
birth Is found In years. This birth. SAYS
Jesus. is of the spirit. It is from above
OLD QUESTION UNNECESSARY.
This point Of view makes the old ques-
tion unnecessary. have / been born
gain II makes new question impera-
i've, am l living the life OF the spirit
now. II is not question as TO what
change took place in my nature ten
years ago or yesterday. IL Is a question |
whether ! am guided today by the life |
Of the flesh or the life of the spirit
The man who passed through the re- |
aavlg0 ..
reason TO boast in his old age because OF |
hat. for the question is no longer one OF |
what change took place in youth but |,
what is the quality and character of his |
ife today. That past experience has no |
value except In so far as IL has been a /
starting point for new and large expert |
,nces.
Yet still Nicodemus questions the possi-
'ilities OF IL just as that second type we |
lave mentioned question II today. Thou
lands OF men outside the pale OF religion |
question Il.
This change OF heart how ridiculous!
{ Is only hgment OF theology II can
lever be matter OF certainty only n
question OF speculation. Jesus, however.
emoves IL from the realm OF specula ton.
IN REALM OF CERTAINTY.
He says we speak that We do know
nd bear witness OF that which we have |
cen. He places the matter in the realm
4 certainty not by argument but by a
ew point OF view. IL the conception of |
eing born again constituted the point OF |
mphasts. there must ever remain the |
oubt I'm mems minds as 20 whether that |
irth had actually taken place II must
axe place TO. be sure IL one IL born from |
boye
The birth from above, however, Is It's
wn witness, conscious OF that, there is
o question about having been born
gain. A man may not be conscious OF
ny vital change In the past; but every |
ian can be conscious, is indeed con- ]
cious. or what his preference Is In the |
resent Do you prefer that which Is low, |
elnsh and debaslng or do you prefer |
nat which eNhalts and ennobles. Are
on interested merely in your own good
: Is your interest centred in the wider
ood OF home. society, humanity.
we know that we have passed from
eath 70 NE. Because we can put one
niger upon some definite change i'm our
YES at some definite time in the past? |
ot at all. Rather because now We love |
le brethren We prefer their good in ev-
~ crisis 10 our own selfish interest A
IAN has only TO stop and reflect on the
isily suing Of his life as one stands upon
le bank and sees the motion OF the |
ream and notes the dtrectioS OF the
lrrent. TO be able TO decide whether he
born from above or Is held stilI in the
-ison house and death house of his own
'lnsh inclination.
NOT ALWAYS CONVINCED.
Yet afler all how can these things be7
icodemus is not convinced. We are not | .
ways convinced. We too are the least I
'nvinced at times where there ought 10
! the most conviction. From the point
view of an observer we often have the
ost doubt about certain lives their | ,
urce and value. when those who live
10 life have tho least question. Our ,
'ubt and questioning extends 10 that ,
rd type we have suggested. IL centres
those who have grown UP In the at ,
osphere of righteousness. They have :
ssed on step by step. and half uncon- :
ious 10 themselves. from the home
rough the sabbath school. into the
urch and out 10 the world.
Yet after al are they Christian
hen has God spoken 10 them and how7l
ich thoughts troubled the mind OF NIco- |
mus
BORN or THE SPIRIT.