“I FEEL like a baby three days old.” These words were spoken by a man standing six feet, over fifty years of age, and of over two hundred pounds weight — rather notable words from such a man. He was a ship’s boatswain, had braved many ocean storms, had been at last rescued from a disabled steamer an hour before she went down, had been brought into Halifax, and thence shipped on a transatlantic steamer, on board which I met him.
There were two shipwrecked crews on board, to whom, with the “Polynesian’s” own crew, opportunity was given to me to preach the gospel. This man listened. The opening verses of John 3. were used “Except a man be born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.... Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.”
At the close of the address an invitation was given to any of the men to come at any time to the speaker’s cabin for conversation about the things of God. This man came that same evening. The question had reached his conscience, “Why had he been saved from that last shipwreck?” and it seemed to have been answered to him, “To hear the gospel that day.” “Ye must be born again” seemed to be the Word lodged in his conscience. God’s word had its own power and was doing its own work.
There were subsequent conversations. At one of these he said, “I feel like a baby three days old.” What could one do but wonder and admire and praise that divine power which had made this stalwart man to bow and own himself but as a newborn babe. It seemed a real work of grace, and an accomplishment of the new birth.
Another of the same crew came to my cabin. He was a man of twenty or so. “We all,” he said, “were gathered round the funnel — helpless, and expecting the ship to go down. But I had no fear.” “Why?” I asked. “Because two years ago at Liverpool, at a seamen’s meeting, I heard the words, ‘Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest,’ and I came to Jesus, and I have had peace since. So I was not afraid, and I spoke a little to the other men.” Some of his words may have been seed sown in the heart of the boatswain.
Now is it not above all things important to be going on through this world, whether on shore or at sea, in the condition of soul of that younger man of that crew, as, crouched round the funnel of that steamer on that anxious day, he witnessed for Jesus? The young man was then a soul saved. The boatswain was then a soul still unsaved. But there was another opportunity given to the boatswain, and he believed. The Word of God was quick and powerful.
Now, how is it with you, reader? You may be hearing or reading frequently those solemn and momentous words which the Lord Jesus spake when down here to Nicodemus, and through Nicodemus to you, and which had power with the boatswain. The first word to Nicodemus was general and comprehensive of all men. Who is outside its range? Are you, reader? “That which is born of the flesh is flesh.” This is definite and conclusive. It cannot be anything else. “They that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh,” and to have “the mind of the flesh is death.” “And the carnal mind (or the minding of the flesh) is enmity against God: for it is not subject to God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God” (Rom. 8:6-86For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 7Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. 8So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. (Romans 8:6‑8)).
Are you content to be in this condition? Do you deliberately intend to go on in it; for such is your condition — while still in your own nature as man — while still a child of Adam and not a child of God. It is death. Do you not desire life? Answer. Here, then, come in again the words of the Lord to Nicodemus — the second time spoken as more personal and pointed, if one may so say — “Ye must be born again.” You, Nicodemus, “must be born anew, born from above.” This is the new birth, the new life. The Lord went on to unfold that truth to Nicodemus. He did so to the boatswain. He will do so to you, reader, if you be docile and submissive.
Read the whole of the Lord’s instruction to Nicodemus (John 3:1-211There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: 2The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him. 3Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. 4Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born? 5Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. 6That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. 8The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit. 9Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be? 10Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things? 11Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness. 12If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things? 13And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven. 14And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: 15That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. 16For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 18He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 19And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. 21But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God. (John 3:1‑21)). Nicodemus received it, so did the boatswain. So may you, reader, if you will. Nicodemus was saved (see John 19:38-4238And after this Joseph of Arimathea, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, besought Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus: and Pilate gave him leave. He came therefore, and took the body of Jesus. 39And there came also Nicodemus, which at the first came to Jesus by night, and brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about an hundred pound weight. 40Then took they the body of Jesus, and wound it in linen clothes with the spices, as the manner of the Jews is to bury. 41Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden; and in the garden a new sepulchre, wherein was never man yet laid. 42There laid they Jesus therefore because of the Jews' preparation day; for the sepulchre was nigh at hand. (John 19:38‑42)). I believe the boatswain was saved. The word of Jesus had power in both instances. Who can number like instances? They are being added to every day. Will you receive this word and let it have its own power that, like Nicodemus and the boatswain, you too may be saved and know Jesus as your life? “He that believeth on the Son of God hath everlasting life.”
Read John 5:24,24Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. (John 5:24) “But is passed from death unto life.” Yes, passed from death to life! As real a thing that is as one saying, “One thing I know, that whereas I was blind, now I see”; or one saying, “I was in New York yesterday, I am in Philadelphia today.” Reader realize it.
T. M. T.