George Hutcheson
6 That which is borne of the flesh, is flesh, and that which borne of the Spirit, is Spirit.
Christ subjoyneth a reason of the necessity of regeneration for attaining salvation, and the certainty of the regenerate mans salvation; because men by nature are corrupt and opposite unto that Kingdome, and a renewed nature is made sutable to it. Whence learn, 1. The corruption of mens nature, being well seene, would soone discover the necessity of a change by regeneration, and none will sleight this, but they who are ignorant of the former; Therefore doth Christ upon this ground presse the necessity of a new birth. 2. Men by nature, or by their natural birth, are altogether corrupt and fleshly creatures, in all the powers and faculties of soule and body; for, he that is borne of the flesh, is flesh, or, one lump of corruption, flesh being taken here for corrupt nature, and so including not outward and fleshly sinnes onely, but even the corruption of the minde also, as Gal. 5.19, 20, 21. 3. The corruption of mens nature is transmitted by generation and propagation from their parents, and, so is the seed of actual transgressions before they break forth; and (however children of Church-members be borne federally holy, and in visible Covenant, 1 Cor. 7.14. yet) every one who cometh of Adam in the ordinary way of generation, is infected with it; for, that which is borne of the flesh, or, of corrupt man, is flesh. 4. Whatever dignity men may be borne to, yet all that we can claime by our natural birth, is, that by it we are secluded from heaven; for, our condition by nature is held forth as a reason why we must be regenerate before we enter into the Kingdome of God. 5. The corruption by our natural birth, and our unfitnesse for heaven thereby, is, to the Lords own, cured and made up by the Spirit of regeneration; for, therefore is it subjoyned, that which is borne of the Spirit, is Spirit. 6. A true evidence of regeneration, and of mens being fitted for heaven by it, is when men become spiritual in disposition, senses and discerning, motions and inclinations, and in actions, leaving a stamp of their dispositions even upon their common actions; and when they labour not onely to have habits of grace, but to have the spirit of these graces; or, the daily influences of the Spirit, to make them lively, fresh and active; for, that which is borne of the Spirit, is Spirit, not by a change of substance, but as is before explained.
