e we faint not; but though our outward man
perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.--2 Cor. 4:16.

Our heavenly Father makes known to his children the things necessary
for their instruction in the way of a holy life, that they may do his
will in all things and live well-pleasing to him at all times. To this
end many precious promises are held up to our spiritual vision, and
many encouragements set forth to animate us to love and duty. Hence
Paul says: "For this cause we faint not. Even though our outward man
perish," that is, show signs of decay and approaching death, "yet the
inward man is renewed day by day." This natural body in which we live
and move, in which we serve and suffer, is what Paul calls "the
outward man." Elsewhere it is called "a natural body." It is the
offspring of the natural act of generation between the father and
mother, and is in its nature bone of their bone and flesh of their
flesh. This is why it is called a natural body. In the text it is
called "the outward man," because it is the external part of the man;
is visible; has weight; may be handled and felt; and is the medium of
direct sensation. It is also the seat of suffering and sin, and is
subject to death and decomposition as its end. Of this body it is
written: "Dust thou art; and unto dust shalt thou return." Paul says:
"In me, that is, in my flesh, there dwelleth no good thing." He is
very particular to tell us in which part of him it is where no good
thing dwelleth. He says: "In my flesh."

But there is "an inward man" about which none of these things can be
said. This is elsewhere called "a spiritual body." It is so called
because it is born "not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of
the will of man, but of God." It is also called "a new creature in
Christ Jesus." Generation, in a natural sense, implies the begetting
and bringing forth of the "natural body" the "outward man," "the old
man;" but regeneration implies the begetting and bringing forth of
"the spiritual body," "the inward man," "the new man," which after God
is created in righteousness and true holiness. Peter says: "Born
again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of
God, which liveth and abideth forever."

But it matters not how good a thing may be, if it is out of our reach
or beyond our power to get, it can do us no good. But the new life in
the soul, the eternal life of the spirit, is not out of the reach of
any, is in r