2 of God? Who can say I have not sinned?1 Can we find one that hath never been angry, that hath not hated his brother? Who hath so made a covenant with his eyes, as not to incur the guilt mentioned, Matt. v. 28? Who never set his heart on some earthly thing, in which he took more delight than in God ? And if in his heart there be murder, adultery, and idolatry,5 can he be without sin? He that keepeth the whole law, and yet offendeth in one point, is guilty of all; and cursed is every one that continueth not in all things written in the law to do them. I hope therefore, you see the good stand in need of pardon, as well as the bad; and if either have a better ground for hope, it is he who feeleth the heaviest burden for his sin. The whole need not a physician, but they that are sick. It was this true sight of himself which made St. Paul say, this is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; and he acknowledged himself the chief.19 Job was the most holy man then upon earth; and yet when it pleased God to try him by sore affliction, it made him see his own righteousness as filthy rags; and no sooner had his chastisements answered the desired end, but he cried out, I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear, but now 9 1 John i. 10. 2 Matt. v. 22. 3 John iii. 15. 4 Ezek. xiv. 3. 1 Cor. x. 7. 5 Col. iii. 5. 6 Jam. ii. 10. 7 Gal. iii. 10. Matt. ix. 12. 8 Matt. xxi. 31, 32. Luke xvi. 15. mine eye seeth thee: Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes.1 P. But is baptism of no efficacy with respect to grown persons? D. Baptism has two parts; the first, or outward, is water; the inward, and most essential, is a death unto sin, and a new birth unto righteousness. Whoever receives this inward and spiritual grace, receives the full efficacy of baptism: This you will find explained in the homily for Whitsunday: "Such is the power of the Holy Ghost to regenerate men, and as it were to bring them forth anew, so that they shall be nothing like the men that they were before. Neither doth (the Holy Spirit) think it sufficient inwardly to work the spiritual and new birth of man unless he also dwell and abide in him." And at the conclusion we have the following words: "humbly beseeching (God) so to work in our hearts by the power of the Holy Spirit, that we being regenerate and born again in all goodness, sobriety, and truth, may in the end be made partakers of everlasting life in his heavenly kingdom," again, "they that truly repent, must be clean altered and changed, they must become new creatures; they must be no more the same they were before." P. Have you any thing more to say: or shall we begin the service? D. Why are you so soon weary of hearing the truth? I am sure that you of all others, have need of instruction; and should rejoice to re 1 Job xlii. 5, 6. 2 Catechism. ceive it. Remember what I have told you.1 Hear also the wise man: If thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding, then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God. For the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the holy is understanding. Then your hope would be just, your faith sound, your life holy, your judgment right, and your end eternal blessedness. For understanding is a well-spring of life to him that hath it. But this is not your case, therefore I have more to say; seeing you are ready to drive the doctrine of Inspiration out of the world. P. And with good reason; for I am fully persuaded there is no such thing. D. This is plain and honest; and had all your pulpits said the same at your ordination, we should not then have been in so deplorable a condition. P. What do you mean by inspiration? D. "I mean that work of the spirit on the souls of men, whereby they are restored to the divine image in which they were at first created. This begins with his convincing them of sin; with repentance from dead works." Then he is given to them as a spirit of grace and supplication, so that by his powerful influences they draw nigh to God, that he may draw nigh to them. By the same spirit they receive power 8 1 Page 27, 28. 4 Prov. xvi. 22. 7 Zech. xii. 10. 2 Prov. ii. 2. 5. 3 Ch. ix. 10. 6 Heb. vi. 1. 2 to believe, and to become the sons of God. 1 And being made the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus, God sendeth the Spirit of his Son into their hearts, by which they call him Father. This spirit also bears witness with their spirits that they are the children of God;4 and by him they know the things which are freely given to them of God. This is the earnest of their inheritance. From him proceeds love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith; and by his act on the soul they are sealed to the day of redemption." So that whatever power they receive through the influence of this Holy Spirit; whether to enlighten the mind, or affect the heart; whether to show their sin and danger, or excite them to flee to Christ as their city of refuge; whether to wait partiently, or pray earnestly; or when by his operation they receive, through believing, the pardoning love of God with power over sin, and grow in every grace;-I esteem all this, to be the inspiration of the Holy Ghost. P. But what has this to do with you? D. It has to do with no one more than me: my directions are full of it. I teach all men to pray. "That the healthful spirit of grace may be sent down upon all bishops and clergy, and all congregations committed to their charge "9 "That God would cleanse the thoughts of their hearts by the inspiration of his Holy Spirit."19 1 John i. 12. 2 Gal. iii. 26. 3 Gal. iv. 6. Jer. iii. 19. 4 Rom. viii. 17. 5 1 Cor. ii. 12. 6 Eph. i. 14. 7 Gal. v. 22. 8 2 Cor. i. 22. Eph. i. 13. iv. 30. 9 Prayers. 10 First collect in the Com. Service. And "inspire continually the universal church with the spirit of truth." But to let you see yet more clearly the spirit's operation on the heart, mind and understandings of men, attend only to the following passages: 66 grant us his Holy Spirit, that those things may please him. which we do at this present, and that the rest of our life may be pure and holy."-"Take not thy Holy Spirit from us."3 "Send to us thine Holy Ghost to comfort us.' "Grant that thy Holy Spirit may in all things direct and rule our hearts. "Grant that by his holy inspiration we may think those things that be good. "Grant us by the same spirit to have a right judgment in all things, and evermore to rejoice in his holy comfort."7 "The fellowship of the Holy Ghost be with us all evermore. 274 "Come Holy Ghost our souls inspire, And lighten with celestial fire &c."9 776 P. This is a christian country. I cannot conceive of what use inspiration would be at pre sent. D. Is there then no need to make those who are such in name only, christians in deed and in truth? And to establish the power of grace where there is a mere outside profession? Do you seriously ask of what use it can be? Read the Articles and Homilies; and why did you 6 Fifth 1 Prayers for the church militant. 2 Absolution. 3 Responses after Lord's prayer. 4 Sunday after Ascension. 5 Nineteenth Sunday past Trinity. Sunday after Easter. 7 Col. for Whitsunday. clusion of Morning and Evening Service. Creator. 8 Con9 Veni |