Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1917-02-25
Regeneration rs Theme Of
Article By Req. E. Thorpe

nor fewer than they were before and
il essence they are the same. Only
in the direction of their operation are
thew changed and in the objects upon
which they are exercised. Regenera-
ton means recoverery. It's work is to
restore men to Holiness but the re-
covery of his faculties is not part Oh
that work. The faculties have never
been lost, they were not destroyed in
the fall. Man had before then as now
the power of apprehending truth-the
power of drawing conclusions from
principles. He possessed also the
capability of loving or fearing, of re-
ioicing and all that belongs to the
receiving of moral impressions. Inc
faculties of his nature have thus re-
NAMED unchanged. They are the
same as heretofore. Regeneration,
therefore. cannot be the recovery or
lost faculties. For the same reason
IL cannot be the originating of new
ones. That would make man constl-
nationally another and different beng.
Co in regard to the nature of these fac
Mites the fall did not change their
nature. II only disordered their ac-
tion Conscience, for instance. was
not DESTROYED but its supremacy and
governing control over the moral
Judgment was broken. So with the
rest in their essential character they
remain the same. Only in their mooe
of action has there been a change and
a weakening. for this too must be al
mitted. Sin has weakened as well as
oisdirected the action of the facul-
ties Thus the perception OF truth Is
weakened-the power of reason is Cd
scured-so is the power OF opserNa-
ton in a degree. Conscience too IS
less vivid and commanding and the
affections are corrupted and misplaced
In the main. however, it is not in the
weakening of the faculties so much
as it is in their misdirected use that
the change lies. In their capaplllty'
essentially. they remain the same. II
is in their disordered action Wnere
the wrong is and it is here that the
divine influence effects its work OF re-
generation in the restoration OF their
nroper and right exercise. 1t is upon
,he moral basis of the nature that the
mower of the Holy Spirit is eXerteo
ard required to be exercised. Uncoh-
verified men have the power to thlnk
and to love and to purpose as others
but the power is exercised wrongly.
They love often wrong objects anu
follow wrong pursuits. 1t is not their
faculties but the use of their faculties
H. 7 resent thoughts and acts that re-
cuire to be changed and rectified. Ana
this is what the divine spirit does. he
does not change the powers OF though
in man. He does not change the pow
ers of affection, nor the powers Oh
will These remain the same. They
cannot, indeed, be changed. They are
the constitutional faculties of our ma
tire. but he changes the direction
and exercise and use. He renews them
NOT in their essential existence, but
in the spirit of their mind, in their
proper, original and right use anu
this is regeneration. The unconverted
have all the faculties God has given
to man. The unconverted have more
They acquire new ones, but those
which they possess become under the
divine influence otherwise and differ
emily directed. They are recovered 10
their proper use and purpose. Moth
ing in the human constitution, nothlhs
in the image of God made humankind
can ever possibly be lost. Neither man
nor angel can destroy any of the rae
ulties of his being. Not by SHINING
nor IN dlNWlS6 w idloON'S''
and he does prostitute and impair Du'
destroy or essentially change them ne
never can. Satan, himself, cannot 90
il. With all the terrible perversloh
OF his powers he cannot annihlate any
one of them. They are essential all
f. his being. They were essential to
obedience at the first. They are es-
sential to the responsible character oil
bis present conduct, and they are also
essential to the full effect of future re-
tribution. 1t is very true that the
language which scripture employs III
regard to this change is of most
pronounced character. 1t represents
it as of radical and entire nature
as in short, a new creation. 1t calls 1t
such. Man are created anew IN christ
Jesus. such language it might seem
Continued on Page g.