posed against the impressions of divine faith, and captivate av vonua, every conceit and device of ours to the obedience of Christ and his discipline. Well, therefore, did St. Paul pray in behalf of his Ephesians, that God would bestow on them the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the acknowledgment of him, and that the eyes of their mind might be enlightened, so as to know the hope of their calling ;' that is, to understand and believe the doctrines of Christianity. * * * * "We proceed now to the peculiar offices, functions, and operations of the Holy Spirit; many such there are in an especial manner attributed or appropriated to him; which, as they respect God, seem reducible to two general ones: the declaration of God's mind, and the execution of his will; as they are referred to man, (for in regard to other beings, the Scripture doth not so much consider what he performs, it not concerning us to know it,) are especially the producing in us all actions requisite or conducible to our eternal happiness and salvation: to which may be added, the intercession between God and man, which jointly respecteth both. "First, it is his especial work to disclose God's mind to us; whence he is styled the 'Spirit of truth, the Spirit of prophecy, the Spirit of revelation;' for that all supernatural light and wisdom have ever proceeded from him. He instructed all the prophets that have been since the world began, to know, he enabled them to speak, the mind of God concerning things present and future. Holy men (that have taught men their duty, and led them in the way to bliss) were but his instruments, 'speaking as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.' "By his inspiration the Holy Scriptures (the most full and certain witness of God's mind, the law and testimony by which our life is to be di rected and regulated) were conceived. He guided the apostles into all truth, and by them instructed the world in the knowledge of God's gracious intentions towards mankind, and in all the holy mysteries of the gospel: That which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit. Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him; but God hath revealed them to us by his Spirit, saith St. Paul. All the knowledge we can pretend to in these things doth proceed merely from his revelation, doth wholly rely upon his authority. To him it especially belongs to execute the will of God, in matters transcending the ordinary power and course of nature. Whence he is called the 'power of the most High,' (that is, the substantial power and virtue of God,) the finger of God; (as by comparing the expression of St. Luke and St. Matthew may appear ;) and whatever eminent God hath designed, he is said to have performed by him; by him he framed the world, and (as Job speaketh) garnished the heavens.' By him he governeth the world, so that all extraordinary works of providence, (when God, beside the common law and usual course of nature, doth interpose to do any thing,) all miraculous performances are attributed to his energy. By him our Saviour, by him the apostles, by him the prophets are expressly said to perform their wonderful works; but especially by him God manages that great work, so earnestly designed by him, of our salvation; work ing in us all good dispositions, capacifying us for salvation, directing and assisting us in all our actions tending thereto. "We naturally are void of those good dispositions in understanding, will, and affections which are needful to render us acceptable unto God, fit to serve and please him, capable of any favour from = him, of any true happiness in ourselves. Our minds naturally are blind, ignorant, stupid, giddy, and prone to error, especially in things supernatural and spiritual, and abstracted from ordinary sense. Our wills are froward and stubborn, light and unstable, inclining to evil, and averse from what is truly good; our affections are very irregular, disorderly, and unsettled; to remove which bad dispositions, (inconsistent with God's friendship and favour, driving us into sin and misery,) and to beget those contrary to them, the knowledge and belief of divine truth, a love of goodness and delight therein; a well composed, orderly, and steady frame or spirit, God in mercy doth grant to us the virtue of his Holy Spirit; who first opening our hearts, so as to let in and apprehend the light of divine truth, then, by representation of proper arguments, persuading our reason to embrace it, begetteth divine knowledge, wisdom, and faith in our minds, which is the work of illumination and instruction, the first part of his office respecting our salvation. "Then by continual impressions he bendeth our inclinations, and mollifieth our hearts, and tempereth our affections to a willing compliance with God's will, and a hearty complacence in that which is good and pleasing to God; so breeding all pious and virtuous inclinations in us, reverence E towards God, charity to men, sobriety and purity as to ourselves, with the rest of those amiable and heavenly virtues of soul, which is the work of sanctification, another great part of his office. "Both these operations together (enlightening our minds, sanctifying our wills and affections) do constitute and accomplish that work, which is styled the regeneration, renovation, vivification, new creation, resurrection of a man; the faculties of our souls being so improved, that we become, as it were, other men thereby; able and apt to do that for which before we were altogether indisposed and unfit. "He also directeth and governeth our actions, continually leading and moving us in the ways of obedience to God's holy will and law. As we live by him, (having a new spiritual life implanted in us,) so we walk by him, are continually led and acted by his conduct and help. He reclaimeth us from error and sin; he supporteth and strengtheneth us in temptation; he adviseth and admonisheth, exciteth and encourageth us to all works of piety and virtue. "Particularly he guideth and quickeneth us in devotion, showing us what we should ask, raising in us holy desires and comfortable hopes, disposing us to approach unto God with firm dispositions of mind, love, and reverence, and humble confidence. "It is also a notable part of the Holy Spirit's office to comfort and sustain us in all our religious practice, so particularly in our doubts, difficulties, distresses, and afflictions; to beget joy, peace, and satisfaction in us, in all our performances, and in all our sufferings, whence the title of Comforter belongeth to him. "It is also another part thereof to assure us of God's gracious love and favour, and that we are his children; confirming in us the hopes of our everlasting inheritance. We, feeling ourselves to live spiritually by him, to love God and goodness, to thirst after righteousness, and to delight in pleasing God, are thereby raised to hope God loves and favours us; and that he having by so authentic a seal, ratified his word and promise, having already bestowed so pure a pledge, so precious an earnest, so plentiful first-fruits, will not fail to make good the remainder designed and promised us, of everlasting joy and bliss." Let no man be afraid or ashamed of maintaining opinions on the divine energy, which are thus supported by the first of scholars and philosophers, Isaac Barrow. SECTION IX. Bishop Bull's opinion on the Evidence of the Spirit of God on the Mind of Man, and its union with it; the loss of that Spirit by Adam's fall, and the recovery of it by Christ. "THE second way," says Bishop Bull, " by which the Spirit of God witnesseth with our spirit, that we are the sons of God, is by enlightening our understandings and strengthening the eyes of our |