Concluded their divine service, was an hymn of profound adora tion and worship to the sacred three, when they pronounced these solemn words, "Glory to the Father, the Son and the Holy "Ghost."

I shall only subjoin one or two considerations more, in support of this important branch of our holy religion. The holy Spirit is the author of the inspiration of the scriptures. "Holy men of "God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. All scrip "ture is given by inspiration of God;" therefore, the Holy Ghost is God. And none could foretell all the future events, with such perfect exactness contained in the sacred oracles, but the Spirit of prophecy; and none could be the Spirit of prophecy, but the omniscient Jehovah, to whom all things past and to come, are continually present.

The sin or blasphemy against the Holy Ghost, seems to have a greater punishment annexed to it, and heavier wrath threatened against it, than blasphemy against the 'other per sons of the Trinity. "All manner of sin and blasphemy "shall be forgiven unto men, but the blasphemy against "the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men. And who" soever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be "forgiven him; but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, "it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, nor in that "which is to come." And perhaps this is the same sin which St. John means, when he says, "There is a sin unto death; I do "not say that he shall pray for it."

Now, if all these arguments and considerations be duly weighed, must they not force conviction upon the judgment and cons science of every candid and impartial mind, that the Holy Ghost is really and truly God, that he is of the same being and essence with the Father and the Son, the same in substance, equal in the nature and in all the adorable attributes and perfections of God.

head. "Why hast thou lied unto the Holy Ghost? Thou hast

From this subject, in a way of improvement, we learn

First, The exceeding great importance of the Holy Spirit in the economy of man's salvation. Without this blessed Spirit, it is absolutely impossible for any of the guilty children of men, to obtain everlasting life, or arrive at eternal felicity. "Jesus answer❝ed, verily, verily, I say unto thee, except, a man be born of "water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of "God." Without holiness no man shall see the Lord, and without the Spirit to form the soul to holiness, it is impossible it ever should be acquired. Of what consequence is it, that every one should receive and become partakers of the Spirit; "that the love "of God be shed abroad in our hearts, by the Holy Ghost given un"to us." Happy are all they, who by sweet experience can say, "We have received the Spirit which is of God, that we might "know the things, that are freely given us of God." The graco of our Lord Jesus Christ, the mercy, goodness and love of God, must be all applied and communicated to us by the Spirit of grace. We must be led, guided, instructed and comforted by him, if we hope to be the heirs of eternal glory.

Secondly, We are here taught, how careful and watchful we should be, that we preserve and cherish the motions of the Spirit in our hearts. "Thus saith the word of the Lord, not by might, 66 nor by power, but by my Spirit saith the Lord, shall ye pre"vail. The Holy Ghost, God hath given to them that obey "him." By his assistance and influences, our corruptions are to be subdued, our sins mortified, aud sanctification promoted and increased in our souls. Thus say the scriptures, "Walk in the "Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. And if we "live in the Spirit, let us walk in the Spirit." Let all who believe, diligently and perseveringly use all the means which God hath appointed, for the cultivating the motions of the Spirit. Let

us hear the gospel with attention, meditate with devotion, pray with faith, and in all things seek the glory of God, and look to him through Christ, that he would not take his Spirit from us.

Thirdly, We here learn the great duty of caution; that we never yield to any temptations, or indulge ourselves in sin, whereby the Spirit may be provoked to withdraw from us. The Spirit never withdraws from the christian, but by reason of sin. And how unhappy is the soul of the saint in a season of desertion? He is destitute of light, peace and consolation. Fears and doubts, misgivings of heart, and evil forebodings swallow up all his hopes; gloominess and darkness spread thick clouds over his soul. And in anguish of mind, he often cries out, "Where is "God, my Maker? O that it were with me as in times past," when I enjoyed the light of God's countenance, and experienced the preciousness of Chirst, and the loving kindness of heaven. Let us ever bear upon our hearts the divine injunctions, "Quench "not the Spirit. Grieve not the Spirit of God, whereby ye are "sealed unto the day of redemption."

And that we may be all directed, drawn and led by the Spirit, and be blessed with the consolations of the Spirit, in life, in death, and throughout eternity, may God of his infinite mercy grant, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

SERMON VI

SOME OF THE NATURAL PERFECTIONS OF GOD

CONSIDERED.

PSALMS CXLV. 3.

Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised, and his greatness is unsearchable.

PROPER meditations on the glorious attributes and perfece tions of Jehovah, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, the one living and true God, are productive of useful instruction, and great pleasure and delight. Writers on the lofty subject of the divine attributes, often arrange them under two eminent heads, to wit, his greatness and his goodness. Under the former, they compre hend all his natural-and under the latter, all the moral perfec tions of God. The greatness of Jehovah, is indeed a grand and exalted subject. When we set ourselves to meditate upon, and contemplate the same, how should we raise, enlarge and expand our souls? How should we lift our hearts in fervent and devout supplication to the throne of grace, that our understandings may be eradiated with light from on high, with rays from the sun of righteousness, and that beams of glory may shine around us, as they did around Moses of old, when God in splendor passed by, and proclaimed his name before him.

The greatness of God is beautifully expressed in this text, by the sweet singer of Israel. "Great is the Lord, and greatly to

"be praised; and his greatness is unsearchable." David here, as was usual with him in his Psalms of devotion, is extolling and praising God, upon the account of the transcendent glory of his greatness, as well as of his other adorable perfections. Hence, let others do whatsoever may seem meet to them; let them "speak of the might of his terrible acts;" as for my part, I will make it supremely my employ, "to declare his greatness." Truly, "great is the Lord, and greatly to be feared and praised. I "will speak of the glorious honor of thy majesty, and of thy won"derous works." He is not only engaged in the dignified work of praising the Most High himself, but his whole spirit is exerted in inducing others also to praise him. "Let all flesh bless his "holy name forever and ever. They shall abundantly utter the "memory of thy great goodness, and shall sing of thy righteous"ness." And he was not merely engaged, that the then existing people should celebrate in their praises, the exceeding greataess of their Creator and Redeemer, but that this should be the business of all future generations. "One generation shall praise "thy works to another, and shall declare thy mighty acts." How exalted and expanded is the idea contained in these words, "Great is the Lord ?" His presence is unbounded, his glory inconceivable, his power irresistable, his brightness insupportable, his majesty awful, his dominion infinite, and his sovereignty incontestable. Surely then, "Great is the Lord, and greatly to be "praised." He is greatly to be praised by all intelligences; by Cherubim and Seraphim, by all the hosts of heaven, and all the myriads of inhabitants on earth; he is to be praised, to the utmost extent of their abilities, and those abilities wrought up to the highest pitch of energy, with all the most exalted circumstances of devout and holy solemnity. The greatness of God is declared to be altogether inscrutable: "His greatness is unsearch"able." No created mind can conceive or exhibit his greatness. He is higher than the heavens, what can we say? Who by searching can find out God? This inconceivable summary of the divine attributes, cannot be comprehended. Its height, and depth,