Blessed change!

(William Nicholson, "Pearls of Great Price!")

"If any man is in Christ, he is a new creature. Old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new!" 2 Corinthians 5:17

But in what sense?

No new physical faculties are given to him; but his faculties have new qualities and applications. They receive a new bias, and are engaged in new and different views and pursuits.

The understanding is enlightened, and has different ideas and sensations of spiritual things.

The desires are fixed on God and holiness.

The will is submissive to the Word and will of God; and the renewed person enjoys peculiar satisfaction and delight in whatever is heavenly and divine. He now . . .
  hates sin,
  conquers the world,
  obeys the divine precepts,
  loves all his brethren in the Lord,
  and pursues holiness in the fear of God.

Blessed change!

Who is the author of it?

The Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, the first and the last, of a Christian's birth and character-is the sovereign mercy of God; and to that mercy, in time and eternity-he may well ascribe all the praise!

"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ-in His great mercy He has has caused us to be born again!" 1 Peter 1:3