1834 Circular Letter of the Columbia Association

[R]EGENERATION BEING THE IMPLANTING of spiritual life in the soul, it will assuredly be followed by spiritual action, and the regenerated soul will be born again as a new creature or new man being created in righteousness and true holiness, the principles of righteousness and heart holiness, will be manifested in the feelings and acts of the person thus quickened.

The new man being a creation in righteousness, the individual being once regenerated will immediately have his attention directed to the Law as the standard of right, and will thereby test his acts and thoughts. Finding his works not conformed thereto, he will reject them, and turn from them with loathing, and will manifest a hungering and thirsting after righteousness. Finding the law to be spiritual, and his affections to be carnal, and his heart deceitful, he will lose all confidence in his own self-inspired resolutions, and all satisfaction in the excitement of those affections, and will turn from both with disgust, condemning even his tears and prayers as hypocritical. Feeling the justice of his condemnation as a transgressor, both in heart and in life, he acknowledges before God and men, that he richly deserves everlasting banishment from God, and therefore falls, a wretch undone, at the feet of Sovereign mercy to implore pardon, realizing this to be his last resort, and very much doubting, whether even the mercy of God can extend pardon to a wretch, so guilty and vile as he.

And when by faith he has a view of the efficacy and freeness of the atoning blood and righteousness of Christ, as being substituted under the law for helpless sinners like him, a hope of being saved springs up in his breast, a sense of pardon flows through his soul, and he rejoices, not only in hope of acceptance with God, but also in the glorious fact, that in this way, everlasting righteousness is brought in, the law is honored, the sinner is justified and saved eternally, as a monument of the riches and glory of Divine Grace. It is this which makes him ever after cling to, and rely alone upon the righteousness of Christ for his acceptance with God. No, brethren, it is not an antinomian principle, but true righteousness of soul, which leads the believer to renounce all creature works as grounds of acceptance, and to trust only in, and plead only that righteousness of Christ for his acceptance.

How different this, throughout, from that kind of experience or exercise which leads persons to rejoice in, and even boast of their feelings, their reformation, their resolutions, and their wonderful condescension in giving up to be saved by Christ, that is, as they too evidently understand by it, to make profession of his religion. Again as the new man is created in true holiness, that is, heart devotedness to the honor and service of God, the believer will be distinguished from others, by a separation from the principles, the spirit and practices of the world, by an upright, orderly and sober walk and conversation, by meekness, humility, and kindness and forbearance towards others, and a patient submission to the dispensations of God; and by a strict regard to the revealed will of God in all things pertaining to religion; making the word of God his only directory, taking Christ for his only pattern, owning him alone as his sovereign; calling no man master in things pertaining to religion, nor allowing any to impose their contrivances upon him, or to become the directors of his conscience. In a word his life will be marked, not by corruption and lust, but by purity, not by a zeal to do something new and great for God, but to do the will of his Heavenly Father as revealed in his word.

Brethren, is this your experience? If so, you know for yourselves what regeneration is. But, if you know not these things, or if you are of those who ridicule the ideas here advanced as enthusiasm, still be assured, however ignorant others may be of them, we speak what we do know and testify that we have seen, and it still remains good, that no man receiveth our testimony, but as the Holy Ghost maketh him feel the truth of it.