2. But _without holiness no man shall see the_ Lord, shall see the face of God in glory. Of consequence the new birth is absolutely necessary, in order to eternal salvation. Men may indeed flatter themselves (so desperately wicked and so deceitful is the heart of man!) that they may live in their sins ’till they come to the last gasp, and yet afterwards live with God. And thousands do really believe, that they have found a _broad way which leadeth_ not _to destruction_. What danger, say they, can a woman be in, that is so _harmless_ and so _virtuous_? What fear is there that so _honest_ a man, one of so strict _morality_, should miss of heaven? Especially, if over and above all this, they constantly attend on church and sacrament. One of these will ask with all assurance, “What, shall not I do as well as my neighbours?” Yes, as well as your unholy neighbours; as well as your neighbours that die in their sins. For you will all drop into the pit together, into the nethermost hell. You will all lie together in the lake of fire, _the lake of fire burning with brimstone_. Then, at length you will see (but God grant you may see it before!) the necessity of holiness in order to glory: and consequently, of the new birth, since none can be holy, except he be born again.
3. For the same reason, except he be born again, none can be happy even in this world. For it is not possible, in the nature of things, that a man should be happy who is not holy. Even the poor, ungodly poet could tell us,
No wicked man is happy. The reason is plain. All unholy tempers are uneasy tempers. Not only malice, hatred, envy, jealousy, revenge, create a present hell in the breast, but even the softer passions, if not kept within due bounds, give a thousand times more pain than pleasure. Even _hope_, when _deferred_ (and how often must this be the case?) _maketh the heart sick_. And every desire which is not according to the will of God, is liable to _pierce us through with many sorrows_. And all those general forces of sin, pride, self-will and idolatry, are in the same proportion as they prevail, general sources of misery. Therefore as long as these reign in any soul, happiness has no place there. But they must reign, ’till the bent of our nature is changed, that is, ’till we are born again. Consequently the new birth is absolutely necessary in order to happiness in this world, as well as in the world to come.