“Stay, my dear,” interrupted her grandmother; “that is the very subject I was thinking of. You could not have named a better; and if you will give me all your attention, I shall try to open up this great doctrine to you as simply as I can.
“Do you remember what I told you about _Justification_?—What God does to the sinner when He justifies and adopts him?”
[Sidenote: Difference between Justification,] “He changes his _state_,” replied Emma. “He brings him from a _state_ of _wrath_ to a _state_ of _grace_,—from a _state_ of _condemnation_ to a _state_ of _pardon_.”
“You have given me just the answer I wanted,” said her grandmother—“that it is a change of _state_ or _condition_. In Justification, from being a _rebel_, the sinner is pardoned by [Sidenote: Adoption,] his Sovereign. In Adoption, from being a _prodigal_, he is received back into his Father’s lost home. Now, dear,” continued she, “did I say that in these there is produced also any change in _character_?”
“You are right; and you will instantly see how well it is that I should speak to [Sidenote: And Regeneration.] you about Regeneration to‐night, which is the very word which tells about this great change of _character_ or _mind_, which is as necessary to salvation, as the great change of _state_ and _condition_ of which I have already spoken. What is your own idea, my dear child, as to the meaning of Regeneration?”
“Indeed, grandmamma,” replied Emma, “it is such a long and difficult word, that I am ashamed to tell, though I have often heard it mentioned in Mr R――’s sermon, I never understood it aright.”
“You should never be ashamed, my dear, to ask those older than yourself to explain Bible difficulties to you. Many grow up to be big people, in great ignorance, owing to this false shame.”
“Is it the same, grandmamma,” said Emma, “as _Repentance_? I think I understand _that_ word better.”
[Sidenote: Bible Terms about Regeneration.] “Yes, my child, there are many words in the Bible used to denote this same great change, and which you must often hear ministers speaking about. ‘The _new birth_’—being ‘_born again_’—‘_Conversion_’—‘_Repentance_’—‘_Regeneration_;’ but the meaning of them all may be summed up in this,—the necessity of a new heart, produced by the Holy Spirit, who turns the old heart from the service of sin to the service of God.”