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image which he had lost; hence the gospel proclaims both pardon and purification: and they that believe are freely justified from all things, and have their hearts purified by faith. Thus the grand original law is once more written on their hearts by the finger of God; and they are restored both to the favour and to the image of their Maker. They love Him with all their powers; and they serve Him with all their strength. They love their neighbour as themselves, and consequently can do him no wrong. They live to get good from God, that they may do good among men. They are saved from their sins, are made partakers of the Divine nature, escape the pollutions that are in the world; and, being guided by His counsel, they are at last received up into His glory.

'Now, to Him, who is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, to the only wise God, our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever." Amen.

THE

LOVE OF GOD TO A LOST WORLD,

DEMONSTRATED BY THE

INCARNATION AND DEATH OF CHRIST.

A Discourse

On JOHN iii, 16.

BY ADAM CLARKE, LL. D. F. S. A.

"I am not mad, most noble Festus: but speak forth the words of TRUTH and soberness," Acts xxvi, 25.

66

By manifestation of the TRUTH Commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God," 2 Cor. iv, 2.

A DISCOURSE.

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." JOHN iii, 16.

Ουτω γαρ ηγαπησεν ὁ Θεός τον κοσμον, ωςε τον υιον αυτον τον μονογενή εδωκεν, ένα 8 πως δ πιςεύων εις αυτόν, μη απόληται, αλλ' εχη ζωην αιωνιον.

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THESE words form a part of that most interesting and important conversation which our Lord held with a Jewish ruler, called Nicodemus; who came to him by night, in order to get information on a subject of the utmost consequence to the peace and salvation of his soul. The subject was one generally acknowledged in the Jewish creed; but by most, it was generally perverted or misunderstood. It was, in its spirit, no less than this:--Of what nature is that change which must pass upon the heart of man, in order to fit him for the kingdom of heaven; and by what means can that change be effected? That this was the object of this ruler's inquiry, is evident from our Lord's answer; for, when he had addressed him with Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God," (which he founded on the evidence of his miraculous works,) "for no man can do these miracles which thou doest, except God be with him; Jesus answered and said, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, except a man be born again," or from above," he cannot see the kingdom of God."

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Nicodemus, astonished that this most important business should be put on such an issue, and not clearly understanding the figure used by our Lord, cries out, "How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb and be born?"

I placed the original here, because it is frequently referred to in the discourse.

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