which enables the mind to apprehend the truth, and the heart to love it. All the work of renovation is the work of the Spirit. When, then, we entitle this work enthusiastic, and confound those who are the subjects of it with fanatics and madmen, do we not sin against the Holy Ghost? Those who are not willing to seek the Spirit for themselves, should be very cautious not to aggravate their own condemnation, by deriding or underrating His work in others. There are undoubtedly weaknesses in men which mingle themselves, and which are, sometimes, mistaken for the operations of the Spirit; but, even in speaking of them, it becomes us to speak with caution. Instead of dogmatic condemnation, or loud raillery, we should rather exercise tenderness; aware that we ourselves may be mistaken, and, haply, be found fighting against God. We should be careful to "try the Spirit," each for himself. "Who art thou that judgest" thy brother? Each for himself should compare his experience with the word of God: Each for himself should avoid the illusions of fancy: Each for himself should see that he has the "fruits of the Spirit." We should be careful not to suppose that the Spirit makes any new revelation. The volume is sealed, and a wo is pronounced against us if we add to or diminish.* *Rev. xxii. 18, 19. We should be careful not to dogmatize about the peculiar set of speculative opinions which we for ourselves may draw out of the scriptures. In talking about "the things of the Spirit," we should remember that we are on holy ground, and so far from allowing the violence of our selfish feelings to be manifested, and a lust for supremacy in argument to break forth, we should rather be disposed to bow down and worship. Each for himself-we should all be careful to secure for ourselves the operations of the Spirit. If we be not "renewed in the temper" of our "minds," we can never enter the kingdom of Heaven. We ought then to enquireHave we been transformed? Are we now adding to "faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; and to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; and to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity." If we find we are not, we should immediately "seek the Lord," for the aid of His Spirit. We shall never have another opportunity of obtaining its holy aid. If we go out of this world without them, we must dwell with the depraved forever. "The Lord opened” the “heart of Lydia:"* He can, beloved; open your hearts. "Faith is † Acts. xvi. 14. His gift:* repentance and remission are entirely from Him. You must seek them if you would obtain. The forerunner of Christ declared He should "baptize with the Holy Ghost." Approach unto Jesus, and you may obtain that baptism.‡ "The natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God." Implore, then, the Spirit; if you would not abide in darkness. "According to" God's "mercy, he" saveth "us, by the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost." We are washed, we are sanctified, we are justified, in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.¶-Ah then, beloved hearers-the whole congregation-draw nigh to the fountain of the Spirit, and never rest until you obtain its renovating impulse. Have you been "enlightened"? Have you "tasted of the Heavenly gift?" Implore the Spirit to lead, to strengthen, to comfort you. "As many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God."**-The prayer of David, "Take not thy Holy Spirit from me,”†† it becomes all to offer. Without holiness-no man shall see the Lord," and the Spirit it is that is the Author * Eph. ii. 8. Titus iii. 5. Heb. xii. 14. Acts v. 31. Matt. iii. 11. 1 Cor. ii. 14. **Rom. viii. 14. †† Ps. li. 11. of all holiness. Living "in the Spirit," we walk in the Spirit, and do not fulfill the lusts of the flesh:*-we crucify "the flesh with the affections and lusts:"t-we "put off-the old man which is corrupt:-we adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour."|| Without the Spirit there is no comfort. "Uphold me with thy free Spirit,"§ we should continually pray." The love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost. TThe Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God.**-The God of hope" fills us "with all joy and peace in believing, that" we "may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost."++ Without the Spirit we can never overcome the enemies of our souls. With the Spirit "we are more than conquerors." We are "strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man."‡‡ * Gal. v. 16. † Gal. v. 24. Eph. iv. 22. Tit. ii. 10. § li. 12. Rom. v. 5. ** Rom. viii. 16. †† Rom. xv. 13. ‡‡ Eph. iii. 16. 10* REFERENCES. Character of our Lord. Gen. iii. 15; xii. 1-3 compare Gal. iii. 8, 16 and Mat. i. 1; Genesis xiv. 17-22, with Hebrews vii. 1-10; Genesis xxvi. 2-5, 24; xxviii. 13, 14; xlviii. 15, 16; xlix. 10, 18; Exodus xvii. 7, with 1 Corinthians x. 9; Numbers xxiv. 17; Deut. xviii. 15-19; 1 Sam. ii. 10; Job xix. 25-27; Psalm ii. with Acts iv. 25, 26, xiii. 33, Hebrews i. 5 and v. 5; Psalm viii. with Hebrews ii. 6—9; Psalm xvi. with Acts ii. 31 and xiii. 35; Psalm xxii. quoted 20 times in the New Testament; Psalm xxiii. with John x. 16, 1 Peter v. 4, again Psalm c. 3 with John x. 3, xxi. 16 and 1 Peter v. 2; Psalm xxiv; xl. with Hebrews x. 1-14; Psalm xlv. with Heb. i. 8, 9; Psalm lxviii. 17, 18 with Eph. iv. 7, 8; Psalm lxix; Ixxii; lxxviii. 56 with 1 Cor. x. 9; Ps. lxxxix. with Col. i. 15 and Rev. xix. 16; Psalm xcvii. 7 with Heb. i. 6; Psalm cii. with Heb. i. 10-12; Ps. cvi. 14 with 1 Cor. x. 9; Ps. cx. with Mat. xxii. 41-45; Prov. viii. with 1 Cor. i. 24, Col. ii. 3, and Heb. i. 1-3; Prov. xxx. 4; 2 Sam. vii. 14 with Heb. i. 5; Amos iv. 10, 11; vi. 8; Hos. i. 6,7 with Luke ii. 11; Hos. iii. 5; xi. 1; xii. 3-5; Isaiah ii. 22 with Psalm xlix. 7, 8; Isaiah vii, 14 with Mat. i. 18-23; Isaiah viii. 13-15 with 1 Peter ii. 7, 8 and Rom. ix. 33; Isaiah ix. 6; ix. 7 with Luke i. 31, 32; Isaiah xi. 1-3 with Rom. xv. 12, compare Mat. xii. 21, and Jer. xvii. 5; Isaiah xxviii. 16; xxxv. 3-5 with Mat. xi. 2-6; Isaiah xl. 3-5 with Mark i. 3; Isaiah xl. 9, 10 with Rev. xxii. 12; Isaiah xl. 11 with John x; Isaiah xliv. 6 with Rev. i. 8, 11 and xxii. 13; Isaiah xlv. 15; xlv. 22, 23 with Rom. xiv. 9-12, and Phil. ii. 10; Isaiah xlv. 24, 25 with 1 Cor. i. 30, 31; Isaiah xlviii. 17; lii. 7 with Rom. x. 15; Isaiah liii. 13 &c.; liv. 5 with John iii. 29; Isaiah lv. 4 with Acts xiii; Isaiah Ixiii. 1—6; Micah v. 2; Jer. xvii. 5-8 with general tenor of scripture; Jer. xxiii. 5, 6; xxxiii. 15, 16; Ez. liv. 23, 24, 29; Dan. ii. 24, 25, 44, 45; vii. 13, 14; ix. 17, 25, 24-27; Hag. ii. 6-9; Zech. ii. 10, 11; iii. 7, 8; vi. 12, 13; ix. 9 with Psalm ii. 6 Jer. xxiii. 5, xxx. 9, Hosea iii. 5, John i. 49, compare Mark xi. 10, and Luke xix. 38; Zech. x. 12; xi. 12, 13, compare Mat. xxvii. 9, 10; Zech. xii. 10, compare John xix. 37; Zech. xiii, 7, with Phil. ii. 6, and Zech. ii. 8-11; Zech. |