CHAPTER XIII 



THE BIRTH FROM ABOVE 



WE have no doubt of the spiritual birth that comes 

 in a moment of time. We have no word of dis- 

 couragement for those who are seeking to secure 

 the instantaneous conversion of adults from sin 

 to holiness. Let that problem be considered and 

 advanced as much as possible by those who have 

 responsibility for it. All we need to say just now 

 is that the workings of the Holy Spirit are not 

 confined to it, and that manifestly it does not ap- 

 ply to infants and children. The unconscious 

 birth from above as experienced by children is 

 scarcely in need of defense; it has been experi- 

 enced by so many eminent Christians. G. Camp- 

 bell Morgan "can not recall any definite time of 

 his conversion. He believes that the gift of grace 

 may be unconsciously received, especially by chil- 

 dren who have been taught from earliest years 

 that they belong to Christ." Another writer, a 

 profound student of this question, says : " To one 

 who has handled the material of these psycho- 

 logical studies it becomes very clear that at the 

 conclusion of the adolescent period, or shortly 

 after, no important difference can be discovered 



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