10. Here then is the sum of the perfect law, this is the true _circumcision of the heart_. Let the spirit return to God that gave it, with the whole train of its affections. _Unto the place from whence all the rivers came, thither_ let them flow again. Other sacrifices from us he would not; but the living sacrifice of the heart he hath chosen. Let it be continually offered up to God through _Christ_, in flames of holy love. And let no creature be suffered to share with him: for he is a jealous God. His throne will he not divide with another: he will reign without a rival. Be no design, no desire admitted there, but what has him for its ultimate object. This is the way wherein those children of God once walked, who being dead, still speak to us, “Desire not to live but to praise his name; let all your thoughts, words and works, tend to his glory. Set your heart firm on him, and on other things, only as they are in and from him.” “Let your soul be filled with so entire a love of him, that you may love nothing but for his sake.” “Have a pure intention of heart, a stedfast regard to his glory in all your actions.” “Fix your eye upon the blessed hope of your calling, and make all the things of the world minister unto it.” For then, and not till then, is that _mind in us which was also in_ Christ Jesus, when in every motion of our heart, in every word of our tongue, in every work of our hands, we “pursue nothing but in relation to him, and in subordination to his pleasure:” when we too, neither think, nor speak, nor act, to fulfil our own _will, but the will of him that sent_ us: when whether we _eat or drink, or whatever we do, we do all to the glory of_ God. SERMON XVIII. THE MARKS OF THE NEW BIRTH. JOHN iii. 8. _So is every one that is born of the Spirit._ 1. HOW is every one that is _born of the Spirit_? That is _born again_? _Born of_ God? What is meant by the being _born again_? The being _born of_ God? Or, being _born of the Spirit_? What is implied in, The being a _son_ or a _child of_ God? Or, having the _Spirit of adoption_? That these privileges, by the free mercy of God, are ordinarily annexed to baptism, (which is thence termed by our Lord in the preceding verse, the being _born of water and of the Spirit_) we know: but we would know what these privileges are? What is _The New Birth_? 2. Perhaps it is not needful to give a definition of this, seeing the scripture gives none. But as the question is of the deepest concern, to every child of man, (since _except a man be born again, born of the Spirit_, he _cannot see the kingdom of_ God) I propose to lay down the marks of it in the plainest manner, just as I find them laid down in scripture.