26. * To seek for any thing in religion, but a _new nature_ fitted for a new world, is knowing neither it, nor ourselves. _To be born again_, is to be fit for Paradise in whatever part of the universe we live. _Not to be born again_, is continuing where the sin and death of _Adam_ left us, whatever church, or sect of religion we have fellowship with. All ways and opinions, all forms and modes of worship, stand on the outside of religion. They certainly are helps to the kingdom of God, when we consider them only as the _gate_ to that _inward life_, which we want. But this is unquestionably true, that our _salvation_ consists wholly in our inward renewal by the Holy Ghost. When this begins, our salvation begins; as this goes on, our salvation goes on; when this is finished, our salvation is finished. This alone saves the soul, because this alone restores the first paradisaical, divine nature, which is the true image of God, and which alone can enter into the kingdom of heaven. 27. If we had only a _notional knowledge_ that our first father had sinned, and knew no more of his _sinful condition_ than history tells us of it; if we had only _instituted types_ and _figures_ to keep up the remembrance of it in our minds, we should be never the worse for his sins. We should have no hurt by _owning_ ourselves to be children of a sinful father, if his nature, _life_ and _spirit_ were not propagated in us. So, if we have only a _notional belief_ that Jesus is become the _second Adam_, to redeem, and regenerate the fallen nature; if we know this only in the _notion_ and history kept up in our minds by _outward_ figures and _ordinances_: tho’ we contend ever so much for this belief of a Saviour, and write _volumes_ in defence of it; yet he is not our Saviour, till his nature, life and spirit, be in us. If there be any man in the world, in whom the _nature_ of _Adam_ is not, he has no _sin_ from _Adam_. If there be any man in whom the life of Jesus is not, he has no _righteousness_ from him. We must have life and righteousness in the same _truth_ and _reality_ in us from the second _Adam_, as we have sin and death in us from the first.