gently constrain it to comply with the precepts of God in the Gospel. For this reason, his actings upon true converts are likened to the operation of "the wind, which bloweth where it listeth." Happy they who are attracted by his power to serve God acceptably! Persevering in the way of obedience, they will be translated, after death, to abodes of bliss; in which they shall worship him, in a more perfect With reference to his work, it may be remarked, that all the operations of the Holy Ghost are spiritual; they are designed to raise our minds to the contemplation of heavenly things, and to beget in us a relish and love for them; they are intended to "make us partakers of the Divine Nature," in order that we may be qualified to associate with God, and to share in the employments and joys of the angelic Host'. It is, therefore, our bounden duty to encourage his gracious influences; and to pray that he may take up his residence in our hearts, as our Purifier from corruption, as our Instructor in righteousness, and our Comforter in sorrow and tribulation. The great objects which the Spirit proposes by his instructions, are twofold-to dissuade men from evil, and to excite them to the practice of godliness. These beneficial ends he effects, by displaying before us the malignant qualities of sin, and the incomparable beauties of holiness." He reproves the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgments." 2. It is, then, an important part of his sacred office, to convict men of sin. This is no easy task to perform, when our proneness to self-righteousness and self-justification is considered. Difficult, however, 1 Pet. i. 2-6. • John iii. 8. vi. 44, 45. • Jolm xvi. 812. وو as it is to open our eyes to discover the frequency with which we transgress the laws of God, and to induce us to confess, in sincerity, that" we have erred and strayed from his ways like lost sheep ;" yet the work is easily accomplished by the Spirit of all might, when he "sets our sins in the light of our countenances," shews us clearly our guilt, and makes us willing to acknowledge, "Behold, we are vile!" Now, there is no wish, as before, to cover and palliate sin; but it is seen as an evil of the darkest complexion, which deserves execration, because it is hateful to the Lord, at the same time that it is destructive of the souls of men. Now, the trembling penitent freely admits that God would have been just in taking vengeance on his transgressions; and attributes his escape from merited wrath solely to Divine forbearance h Having led the convinced sinner to confess his iniquities, the Spirit of illumination next awakens in his breast a real sorrow on account of them. A remembrance of offences committed against the lights of reason and the warnings of Scripture and conscience, fills his soul with unfeigned shame and confusion. He is alarmed at a review of his conduct; by which he has so greatly dishonoured God ; and, were it not for the hope which the invitation of Christ inspires, he would sink under the pressure of his guilt. He is directed, by the same hand which inflicted the wound, to Jesus, who heals it by the application of his sanctifying gracei. Thus a pardon is vouchsafed, as a pledge of that everlasting forgiveness which the righteous Judge will hereafter proclaim in heaven". Job xl. 4, 5. xlii. 5, 6. tah Lam. iii. 22 23. : Now, gratitude to God, for having broken asunder the chains which bound him, prompts the contrite man to make sincere resolutions to forsake all unrighteousness: but feeling his need of strength superior to his own, to carry his pious wishes into execution, he most thankfully accepts the assistance of the Holy Ghost, that he may effect the object on which he is so devoutly intent. From Him he derives renewed supplies of grace, which fortify his soul against the assaults of sin, and enable him to resist its fascinating allurements. 3. The Spirit of the Lord is equally efficient in producing good dispositions within us; and His operations are requisite for that purpose. The state of uncultivated ground is a fit emblem by which to represent the condition of an unsanctified heart. As thorns, and briars, and weeds, and noxious plants, spontaneously grow and abound in the former; so the bitter and deadly fruits of sin are the natural produce of the latter. Hence the soul must be renewed in righteousness, in order to give it a proper bias towards God, and to counteract and mortify its depraved inclinations. Now, impossible as it is, by any human means, to effect the regeneration of the heart, the arduous task is easily performed by the Spirit of God, “ from whom all holy desires, all good counsels, and all just works, do proceed **.* kk " This change, from a state of nature to a state of grace, is brought about by a rational process. The Holy Ghost first removes our ignorance respecting the malignity of sin; and then enlightens our minds, to discern the excellence and suitableness of spiritual blessings. . By his holy inspiration on the mind, he excites a dislike to the one, and a lively desire after : John iii. 3-8. * Second Collect for Evening Prayer. the other. In this manner, he takes away the carnal taste, which "savours only the things that be of men," and imparts a spiritual taste, by which we are led to estimate aright" the things which be of God'." Nor is this removal of our blindness and communication of celestial light a superfluous work; for, without such illumination, we must, however sagacious in other respects, remain ignorant of what it is most important to understand. "The natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness unto him; neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned".' After we are thus brought, by Divine teaching, to see" what we must do to be saved;" still, through the palsying influence of sin, we have occasion for spiritual aid, to enable us to practise our duty. We must be "endued with power from on high:" for a man can receive nothing of this kind, except it be given him from above. The Spirit of wisdom and might, in renovating our fallen nature, "not only, by his especial grace preventing us, puts into our minds good desires, but enables us, by his continual help, to bring the same to good effect" Every faculty of the enlightened mind feels the animating influence of the Holy Ghost, which leads to actions that demonstrate the existence of a principle within, as holy in its origin as it is mighty in its operation Hence it is no wonder if the souls of devout Christians, when wrought upon by the Spirit, should abound "in all the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the praise and glory of God." What is there which is honourable in the sight of Jehovah, or truly estimable amongst men, which does m 1 Cor. ii. 14. 'Mark viii. 33. 'n John xix. 11. not result from His work of grace within us? It is He who first awakens the soul from the death of sin to the life of righteousness; who, from being miserable outcasts, adopts us into the family of heaven, and vests us with all the dignity and privileges of the sons of God". It is "the Holy Ghost who sanctifieth us, and all the elect people of God;" who "witnesseth with our spirits that we are the children of God";" who favours us, during our pilgrimage, with sweet communion with the Father and Son'; who vouchsafes us a lively earnest of future glory", and "seals us unto the day of final redemption." It is He that produces within us humility, repentance, faith, joy, supreme love to God, spirituality of mind, and "the peace of God, which passeth all understanding:" it is He that "takes of the things of Christ, to impart them to our souls';" and disposes us with cheerfulness to submit to the Divine will in every dispensation: and it is He that, after having comforted us in all our afflictions, guided us safely through every danger and difficulty, and wrought in us a capacity to enjoy the pleasures of endless life, puts us in possession of them, and, with the Father and Son, as one God, will become an object of our adoration throughout all eternity. 4. The Spirit of Truth freely communicates his grace to those who sincerely desire it. Are you sensible that his enlivening grace is necessary to quicken your soul? Do you lament before God, that, notwithstanding you see the path in which you should go, you deliberately walk in the way that he condemns? And are you at all anxious to have your feet turned unto his testimonies? Then beseech God |