elevated above them, and finally finds rest on the mountains of Ararat, especially when the figurative dove comes to him in the evening, with an olive leaf plucked off ([[Bible (King James)/Genesis|Gen. viii. 11). For what can this olive leaf plucked off mean, but some small portion of the truth of faith, grounded in the good of charity, which, in the regenerate mind, survives all trouble, and is a convincing proof that the waters are abated from off the ground?
177. Jesus Christ speaks of a two-fold regeneration, when He says to Nicodemus, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God; and except a man be born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God (John iii. 3–5). For to see the kingdom of God, has relation to the regeneration of man’s understanding; and to enter into the kingdom of God has relation to the regeneration of the human will. To see the kingdom of God has relation, therefore, to man’s reception of the light of the divine truth, which is absolutely necessary, to conduct him to the higher reception of the divine good. But to enter into the kingdom of God, has relation to man’s reception of the purity of the divine good, which is the final blessed consequence of a dutiful obedience to the light of truth. This latter regeneration is accordingly called a birth of water and spirit, because water is significative of truth, and spirit is significative of good, and both united are figures of the eternal conjunction, or marriage, of those two principles, by virtue of which marriage, man not only sees, but enters into, the rest which remaineth for the people of God. The subject is of the first interest and importance.
