Justification implies pardon for our sins, past and present--something that God does for us; and regeneration is something done within us. Justification is generally understood to embrace both pardon and regeneration. They are, however, so near together as to belong to the same family; in fact, they are twins, and, taken together, they imply--first, reconciliation to God. In our natural condition, we are enemies to Him--made so by the sin of our first parents; secondly, by our own wicked works. “Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So, then, they that are in the flesh cannot please God.” Jesus says, “Without me, ye can do nothing;” so that in our natural, unsaved condition we cannot do the will of God. Reconciliation implies Godly sorrow for sin, and a confession of the same, and obedience to the divine law. “Who so confesseth and forsaketh them, shall have mercy.” Again, it implies making wrongs right. If we have taken in deal, or in any other way, that which did not belong to us, we shall promptly restore. If we have wronged another in his character, we shall hasten to make it right. “Whoso keepeth the whole law, and yet offendeth in one point, is guilty of all.” Many are in the dark in regard to their Justification; but there is no necessity for that, for where this work is wrought in the heart there are evidences that are unmistakable. For, says the Apostle, “Ye have not received the Spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, ‘Abba, Father.’ The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit that we are the children of God.” Here are two unimpeachable witnesses to the fact of a man’s conversion to God. First, the Spirit of God witnesses to the fact; that is, God the Holy Ghost divinely impresses the soul that the work is wrought--an inward conviction that our sins are forgiven; that so far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us. Again, our spirit or our mind is turned inward, and being illuminated by the Holy Ghost can discern or perceive the great change wrought within; and the witnesses uniting declare the great transaction done, and the soul cries out instinctively, “I am my Lord’s, and he is mine.” Glory to God! Amen. Again the fact that the kingdom is fixed within, bringing forth its legitimate fruit--righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost--is positive assurance that reconciliation to God has been consummated. “That being translated from the kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of God’s dear Son,” the soul is exquisitely happy, and in joyous exclamation sings, “Tongue cannot express the sweet comfort and peace of a soul in its earliest love;” and so long as the soul retains pardon, it can sing, “Jesus all the day long is my joy and my song, O, that all his salvation might see.”