He might have heard them with indifference, or have rejected them with scorn: he might coldly have assented to them with the understanding, or presumptuously have converted them into encouragements to sin but never would he have heartily believed, embraced, obeyed, and practised them. Destitute of the accompanying influences of the Spirit, the grand scheme of redemption must have been utterly frustrated, The remedy would have proved insufficient for the disease. And notwithstanding the astonishing spectacle exhibited on Mount Calvary, every soul of man would have eternally perished, in obstinate impenitence, in proud unbelief, in incorrigible enmity to God and holiness. Behold the Gift of God.

II. We may observe from the text that the Holy Ghost is represented also as the Gift of Christ. Our Lord tells the woman of Samaria, that he would have given to her living water. From first to last, the merits of Christ are the only procuring cause of our redemption. Whatever deliverances, whatever blessings, whatever privileges are conferred upon us in the covenant of grace, they are derived through this single channel. Are the influences of the Spirit vouchsafed to turn our hearts, to make us meet for the inheritance of the Saints in light? They are vouchsafed to us in consequence of what Christ has done and suffered

for us. Whatever measure of grace had been imparted to man from the beginning, had been imparted in virtue of that atonement for sin, which Christ, in the fulness of time, was to make by the sacrifice of himself. But on this very account they were dispensed before his coming in the flesh with a less liberal hand, and in a less striking manner. The larger communications of the Spirit were réserved for that important period, when the satisfaction for sin should be actually accomplished by the death of Christ on the cross; when the sufficiency and acceptance of that satisfaction should be incontestably proved by his resurrection from the dead, and his exaltation to glory that the source from whence this blessing devolved, might be fully disclosed; and the whole dispensation of grace redound in the clearest manner to the honour of the Redeemer. Therefore it was declared by St. John, even during our Saviour's ministry, that the Holy Ghost was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified*. And hence the blessing of the Spirit may justly be denominated the Gift of Christ. It was the purchase of his blood, the fruit of his mediation. It was conferred on us solely for his sake: to magnify the value of his sufferings; to proclaim the efficacy of

* 1 John, vii. 39.

his intercession; to enhance the glories of his triumph./

But there is another and more appropriate sense, in which the Holy Ghost may be called the Gift of Christ. As Mediator of the covenant, he has obtained the disposal of this Gift. It hath pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell*. In his hands the whole dispensation of the Spirit is vested for the benefit of his church; for the establishment, increase, and consummation of his universal kingdom. When he had received all power in heaven and in earth, the first act of his kingly office was to give gifts unto men. In accomplishment of the predictions of his forerunner St. John, he baptized his followers with the Holy Ghost. In fulfilment of his own most gracious promise, he sent the Comforter to his apostles. What is the language of St. Peter on the day of Pentecost? Speaking of the miraculous effusion of the Spirit, he tells the Jews, that the same Jesus whom they had taken, and by wicked hands had crucified and slain, being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, had shed forth this which they now saw and heardt. In perfect unison with this testimony, are other declarations of

* Col. i. 19.

↑ Acts, ii. 33.

the word of God. What is the confirmation

of St. Paul? Unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the Gift of Christ*. Of his fulness, says St. John, have all we received, and grace for gracet. Hence the Holy Spirit is occasionally called in Scripture, the Spirit of Christ; the Spirit of the Son. Hence those operations which are wrought by the peculiar agency of the Spirit, are frequently mentioned as if performed by Christ himself. Christ is styled, the Light of the world; our Wisdom and Sanctification; the Author and Finisher of our faith; who is exalted as a Prince and a Saviour to give repentance unto men. Hence he declares to the tempted apostle, My grace is sufficient for thee; and to the woman in the text, that He would have given her living water.

III. We may observe from the text, that Prayer is the appointed instrument to be employed for obtaining the Gift of the Spirit. Christ says to the woman, thou wouldest have asked, and he would have given thee living water. While he declares his readiness to bestow the Gift, he intimates the necessity of application on her part, for the attainment of the blessing. He knew her wants; he was able and willing to relieve them: but he ex

Ephes. iv. 7.

+ John, i. 16.

2 Cor. xii. 9.

pected that she should ask of him that relief of which she stood in need. With this representation, the tenor of the word of God throughout accords. Though salvation be of grace, though the whole work and glory be the Lord's, the knowledge of this truth precludes not the use of the appointed means. What says the apostle in opposition to every perverse conclusion of this kind? Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure*. Numerous and decisive indeed are the testimonies with which the Scriptures abound of the necessity and duty of prayer. When the Almighty discloses the rich profusion of mercies which he had still in reserve for the Jewish people, he subjoins this remarkable declaration: I will yet for this be inquired of by the house of Israel to do it for them. The gifts and privileges of the Gospel are freely offered to all: but to whom are they promised? To those who seek them by faith and prayer. In what manner did our Lord on many occasions conduct himself towards the persons who applied to him for bodily cures? He knew their wishes: he designed to comply with them: but previously to bestowing the Gift, he drew from their lips

* Phil. ii. 12, 13.

↑ Ezek. xxxvi. 37.