January 30

He saved us by the washing of regeneration and the renewing of the Holy Ghost. - Titus 3:5.

IT is by the agency of the Holy Spirit that we have been made to see our guilty, wretched, undone, and perishing condition-by whom alone our once rebellious will has been bowed to God’s dispensations and to obey his will-by whom also the affections which were once earthly, sensual, and devilish are fastened and feasted on things above, and the memory is made to retain God in its knowledge, and the conscience to fear him, and by whom we are disposed to dedicate all we are and have to the service and glory of God, walking before him in newness of life.

It is he alone that renders the gospel precious by impressing us with the sense of our wants, and showing us every blessing there that is adapted to relieve a fallen, guilty, depraved, helpless, perishing creature. It is he that makes the gospel of peace effectual to relieve the conscience under its pressure of distress, and also to purify the heart by faith, and to fill the life with all the fruits of righteousness, and this is unto the praise and glory, not of the man who exercises it, but of God who produces it.

Thus it is not by works of righteousness which we have done, but by his mercy, he saved us; “for we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works.” Let us, therefore, give him the glory that is due to his holy name.