THE NEW BIRTH.

Children, do you see how thoughtful that man seems
to be, as he sits beside the Savior ? Jesus has been talking
very earnestly to him. This is what he said: “Except a
man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of heaven.”

Nicodemus, for that was the man’s name, was a ruler
of the Jews. He had heard much about Jesus, and
thought he would go and talk with him. But he went in
‘the night. Why, do you think? He was a proud man,
and did not want anybody to see him going to Jesus, for

Jesus was poor, and many hated him beeause he told them

‘their sins. :
Nicodemus was one of the wise men in Jerusalem, but

he did not know about the way of salvation, and he did well

to talk with Jesus about it. He thought himself to be a

very good man; he went to church on the Sabbath and

observed the forms of worship, and tried to do about right

through the week. But Jesus soon told him that all these
forms of religion could not save him; “He must be born

again,’ or have a new heart.

By this, Jesus meant to teach, not only Nicodemus,

but all of us, that we must be changed. That the old,

sinful heart, which leads us to do wrong, must be made