6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. 8 The 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. 9 Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be? 10 Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things? 11 Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness. 12 If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things? 13 And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven. 14 TAnd as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up; 15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. 16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only-begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. WHERE did we leave our Lord, in the last lesson? Do you recollect what was the last thing we learned in that lesson ? Now we are going to consider some conversation, which Jesus had with one of the Jewish rulers, about the state of the heart; should you think Jesus could tell exactly what the heart needed? Ch. 2: 25. 1. WHAT Was this ruler's name ? Of what sect of the Jews was this man? 2 AT what time did he come to Jesus? Why do you suppose he made his visit by night? Should you think he had great respect for him, : What reason did he give for this conviction? 3 VERILY means certainly here it is repeated, and signifies most certainly. Is not this a most solemn and important declaration ? Does it concern you as truly as it did Nicodemus ? What could he not see or enjoy, if he was not changed in heart, or born again? 4 WHAT did Nicodemus say? Did he understand what the Savior meant ? 5 Or what did Jesus then say a man must be born? By this, must not Nicodemus clearly see he did not refer to any earthly condition? Did John teach that repentance was necessary, in order to be baptized? - See Matt. 3: 8. Can you tell what repentance is ? By being baptized, a person makes public declaration that he has repented, and loves Jesus; what does he say of such as would not confess him before men? Matt. 10: 33. Did Jesus require that his disciples should be baptized? Matt. 28: 19. Who is it that changes men's hearts from the love of sin to the love of holiness and God?. y. 6, and chap. 1:13. Well, do you think you have been born of the Spirit? Have you not some dear friends from whom you will be separated for ever, if you are not a Christian? 6 WILL you tell, in your own language, what the first part of this verse means? Have not all children such hearts, that they do not love a God of justice and holiness? In Gal. 5:19, 20, 21, what are said to be the fruits of a fleshly or wicked heart? And in vs. 22, 23, what are said to be the fruits of the Spirit? Which do you think the best, the fruits of the flesh, or of the Spirit? Which does your heart produce? Then are you prepared for heaven? 7 WHAT did Jesus tell Nicodemus not to wonder at ? Does the surprise of Nicodemus show that he was deceived, in regard to the state of his own heart? If men's hearts naturally produce such fruits, do you wonder, that the heart must be changed, before they can be truly happy? 8 WHAT does Jesus say of the wind? What effects of the wind have you seen on trees, on the water, or the snow, or the dust? But did you ever see the wind itself? Do you know where it comes from, and where it goes? And may we, in like manner, feel the influence What does Jesus tell Nicodemus is like this? Now read Acts 9:20, 21, 22. Do you not think there was a great difference in his conduct on these different occasions? At this time is it not evident, by Paul's conduct, that there was a change in his mind ? 9 WHAT did Nicodemus then say ? Do you understand how the grass grows? Does anybody? But you believe that it does grow, do you not? Then may not you, and all persons, properly believe some things which you cannot comprehend? Do you not suppose, Nicodemus had thought, before this, that he should be saved because he was a Jew? 10 WHAT did Jesus then say ? Do men who have no Bible, know that their hearts must be changed? 11 What did he tell Nicodemus about these things? How did Jesus Christ know that it was necessa ry, that men should be born again, to be happy in heaven? - Chap. 2: 24. If a child has disobeyed his father, and feels guilty, will it make him happy to go and stay in the room with him? Then do you think, if wicked men could go to heaven, and be WITH GOD, they would be happy, if their hearts were not changed? Do they readily receive the declaration, that men must be born again? Do you really feel that this is true? 12 WHAT did Jesus then say? Does it not seem very plain to you, that this is necessary? If Nicodemus could not understand these plain truths, could he expect to understand all that the Lord Jesus would tell him about the heavenly world, from which he came ? 13 HAD Nicodemus acknowledged that Jesus was a teacher sent from God? Then should he not hear his heavenly teaching with full confidence ? Who did he say was the only person that had ascended into heaven? Could any other, then, speak of the things in heaven with such certainty, as he could? What do you know about heaven, except what the Bible says? 14 ON what occasion was it, that Moses set up the figure of a serpent ? Numb. 21: 9. To what did Jesus refer, when he said he must be lifted up? 15 FOR what purpose did he say this must be done? What is meant by perishing, in this place? Mark 16 16. Are all in danger of losing their souls by sin, as the Israelites were in danger of losing their lives by the serpents ? How will any escape ? What shall they have, who believe on him? 16 WHAT is said of God's love to the world? Will this love prevent his punishing those who are guilty? - Ex. 34:7. Do you think of any instance of such love among LESSON VI. Condemnation of Unbelief. Testimony of John concerning Christ. Cн. iii. 17-36. 17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 18 THe 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. 19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. 21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest that they are wrought in God. 22 After these things came Jesus and his disciples into the land of Judea; and there he tarried with them, and baptized. 23 And John also was baptizing in non, near to Salim, because there was much water there; and they came, and were baptized: 24 For John was not yet cast into prison. 25 T Then there arose a question between some of John's disciples and the Jews, about purifying. 26 And they came unto John, and said unto him, Rabbi, he that was with thee beyond Jordan, to whom thou bearest witness, behold, the same baptizeth, and all men come to him. 27 John answered and said, A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven. 28 Ye yourselves bear me witness, that I said, I am not the Christ, but that I am sent before him. 29 He that hath the bride is the bridegroom but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the |