Ye Must Be Born Again by Thomas Boston

This piece emphasizes the absolute necessity of spiritual regeneration for any work to be acceptable to God, arguing that without the new birth, even outwardly commendable actions remain defective and spiritually dead. It contrasts the external appearance of piety with the internal reality of an unregenerate heart, asserting that true faith is a vital act of the newborn soul rather than a product of natural effort. The text warns that unregenerate prayers and struggles against sin are abominations to the Lord, likening them to the howling of a dog or the stench of a rotten grave. The preacher urges listeners to examine their lives through the Word of God, recognizing their misery and the sinfulness of their state, to prepare the heart for the gospel. Ultimately, the message calls for a deep reliance on the Holy Spirit and the preached Word to bring about the conversion that makes one a new creature in Christ.