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unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things." That Holy One is the Lord Jesus; the unction is the Holy Spirit; the things known are the things freely given to us of God. Again he says, "The anointing which ye have received of him abideth_in you.' The Spirit once given, abides; as Jesus said, "I will send you another Comforter, who shall abide with you for ever." The Holy Spirit sets us apart for God, leads us to engage in the service of God, enables us to perform the will of God, blesses us to the Churchof God, and first enables, and then honours us, in being witnesses to the world for God. Without the Spirit, therefore, we have no title to church privileges-no fitness for the Lord's service-no enjoyment of spiritual fellowship-no consecration to the Lord's glory.

The consequences of not having the Spirit, hereafter will be truly dreadful. Make what profession we may, pass muster among the saints now as we will, we shall be detected then. The chaff will be separated from the corn, the tares from the wheat, the sheep from the goats, and the foolish virgins from the wise. We shall be disowned. Jesus will say, "I never approved of you." In vain shall we plead, "Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name, and in thy name cast out devils, and in thy name done many wonderful works," for then will he say unto us, "I never knew you, depart from me." We

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shall be shut out of the marriage chamber. The wise virgins, all who have oil in their vessels, or all who have the Spirit, will be admitted within: but it will be in vain for us to come, stand without and knock, crying, Lord, Lord, open to us," for he will answer, "Verily I say unto you. I know you not.' We shall be exposed. Our folly will be made manifest unto all. Our portion will be shame and everlasting contempt. To be treated with contempt by devils, and by all the scum of God's creation, after being treated with respect both by saints and sinners here, will be dreadful-unspeakably dreadful! Everlasting contempt! Oh, how fearful! How humbling! How degrading! We shall be punished. Positively punished. We shall know what the wrath of God means.

We shall understand what the curse of God is. We shall feel the terrible force of the expressions, "weeping, wailing, and gnashing of teeth." We shall suffer all that is intend. ed by a consuming fire, everlasting burnings, fire and brimstone, and a horrible tempest. We shall be where the worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. Then, then we shall find that it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. Reader, reader, have you the Spirit? Do you profess to have? If so, see to it that you have it in reality; for if you have not, in a very little time you will certainly be detected-you will be publicly exposed-you will be openly dis

owned by the Judge of all—you will be shut out of heaven, and shut into hell-you will be treated with contempt by all God's creation, and be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power.

It is of little consequence what a man has then, if he has not the Spirit; for all real religion begins, is carried on, and completed by the Spirit. He breathes the first breath of life in us, he feeds and fosters the life he imparts, and he completes the work which he begins in the day of the Lord Jesus Christ. As no substitute can be found for the Holy Spirit and his work, we should carefully examine ourselves, whether we have received the Holy Ghost or no. Paul supposes the Lord's people will know it, hence he says, “What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price; therefore, glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's." Lest we

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should be deceived, let us not be satisfied with less than the fulness of the Spirit. We read of the saints of old, that " they were filled with the Holy Ghost," "he was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost," Stephen, full of faith, and of the Holy Ghost." Nor are we to suppose that this was a peculiar privilege, to be confined to the few, for Paul exhorts the members of the Church at Ephe

"Be not

sus to be "filled with the Spirit.” drunk with wine, wherein is excess, but be filled with the Spirit." On this fulness of the Spirit, let us set our hearts-for this fulness of the Spirit, let us seek-without this fulness of the Spirit, let us not be satisfied. Our heavenly Father is disposed to give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him. Let us, therefore apply, and apply in downright earnest, pleading for the Spirit, as the Spirit of love, power, and a sound mind-as the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Christ-as the Spirit of adoption, and the Spirit of Christ-as the Spirit that teacheth, guideth into all truth, helpeth our infirmities, and sealeth us unto the day of redemption. Father of mercies, fill us with the Holy Spirit! Gracious Saviour, give us the Comforter in fulness and in power, to abide with us for ever! Holy Spirit, come and make our hearts thy home, and let us be filled with thy presence, power, and glory: yea, let us be filled with all the fulness of God! Amen.

Great Comforter, we cry to thee,
Spirit of Jesus come,

And make our willing waiting souls
Thine everlasting home.

O let us feel thy saving pow'r,
That faith and love may grow,
Present salvation we desire,
This, this on us bestow.

A CHILD IN THE WELL.

My brother sometimes sends me a subject for my pen, and a letter just received from him contains the following. 66 A child in the well! A CHILD IN THE WELL! It is now more than fifty years since I heard that cry. It was a terrible scream, and it is as fresh in my memory, as when it was first uttered by that affrighted woman. A boy had been sent by his mother to the well to draw water, and had taken his little brother with him, and while he was engaged in drawing it, the child unperceived by him, as it is supposed, was looking down into the well, and fell in. The wonder was that he was not killed in the descent, by striking against the large bucket. The excitement was great. The neighbourhood was aroused, and all were filled with alarm, as the well was un. usually deep. But it happened that a young woman came for water at the very moment, and in her fright she dashed her pitcher to pieces, and screamed out, “A child in the well! A CHILD IN THE WELL!" This piercing cry reached the ear, and entered the heart of a poor man, who was at his dinner hard by. He flew to the rescue,

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