him is to despise God (6). To blaspheme him is an unpardonable sin j and the only unpardonable sin (/)• He is denominated the Spirit (d); the Spirit of God 0); the Spirit of Christ (/); the Spirit of Truth(g); the Eternal Spirits); the Comforter (/). He is said to search all things, even the deep things of God (Æ). His distinct agency is frequently specified in the Scriptures. "The Spirit said unto ** Philip; Go near, and join thyself to this chariot "(/):" and afterwards "the Spirit of the Lord "caught away Philip," and conveyed him to Azotus. Unto St. Peter "the Spirit said, Behold three ** men seek thee: arise therefore and get thee "down, and go with them, doubting nothing: for "I have sent them."—" The Spirit bade me go "with them (?«)," faith St. Peter, reciting the same event. "The Holy Ghost said, Separate me Bar"nabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have "called them (w)." Afterwards, when Paul with Timothy " had gone through Phrygia and the regi P "on (i) i Thes. iv. 8. (c) Matt. xii. 31, 32. Mark, iii. 28, 29. Luke, xii. 10. The sin is probably unpardonable, at not to be followed by repentance: for they who blaspheme the Holy Ghost, blaspheme that spirit who alone worketh repentance. (</) Acts, xi. a, xvi. 7. 1 John, V. 6. (e) Rom. viii. 9. (/) Gal. iv. 6.. 1 Pet. i. 10, 11. compared with 1 Pet. i. 21. (<? ) John, xiv. 17. xv. 26, and fee I John, v. 6. (A) Heb. ix. 14. («') John, xiv. 16. 26. xv. 26. xvi. 7* (i) I Cor. ii. 10. (/) Acts, viii. 29. 39. (ra) Acts, x. 19, 20. xi. 12. (n) Acts, xiii. 2. "cn of Ga'atia, and were forbidden of the Hoiy "Ghost to preach the word in Asia; after they ** were come to Mysia they allayed to go into Bi"thynia: but the Spirit susfered them not (o)."— ** Feed the church of God," faith the same apostle, ** over which the Holy Ghost hath made you over"seers (^ )." He it was who spake by the mouth of the ancient prophets (j): and who revealed to Simeon that he Ihould not die, until he had seen the Mefliah (r). He visibly descended in a bodily shape on Jesus Christ, when baptised (i): and was given without measure to the Son of God now become maa (/). Our Saviour promised to his disciples that after his own departure, he would fend to them from the Father the Holy Ghost, the Comforter, to teach them all things, to shew them things to come, to bring to their remembrance whatsoever Christ had said to them, to guide them into all truth, to endue them with power from on high, and to enable them to make good their cause against worldly opposition (*0* These promises were faithfully accomplished. On the day of Pentecost the Holy Spirit descended on the apostles, and ever afterwards abode with them (v). He empowered them to speak various languages (») Acts, xvi. 6,7. (/>) Acts.xxix. 28. (f) Mark, xii. 16. Acts, i. 16. xxL 11. xxviii. 25. 3 Pet. i. ai. Heb. jii. 7. (r) Luke, ii. 16. (/) Luke, iii. 22. (/) John, iii. 34. («) John, xlv, 16. x». ar. xvi. 7, 13. Matt. x. 18—20Mark, xiii. 11. Luke, xii. Iti 12. xxi. 12—15. xxiv. 49. Acts, i. 8. (t>) ohn, xiv 16. * . languages previously unknown to them; to attain to extraordinary degrees of wisdom, of knowledge, and of faith; to prophesy; to heal.diseases; toperform many other signal miracles; and by imposition of hands to convey to others the gifts of the Spirit (u>). These miraculous powers and endowments were calculated for the infancy of the Christian church. They qualified the apostles to preach the religion of Christ to the inhabitants of far distant countries; and in every country to produce indif* putable credentials that they came ambassadors From God (xj. In process of time, when Christianity had taken such sirm root in different parts of the 'world, that it no longer needed for its support and progress such visible and wonderful interpositions of Divine power, they were gradually withdrawn. The influence of the Holy Ghost has since continued to be exercised principally in another most important office, an office in which it was also employed no less actively in the days of the apostles, that of enlightening and purifying the heart of each particular Christian. It is " God that worketh in us «* both to will and to do (j)" that which is right: and he worketh by the agency of the Holy Ghost. ** Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, "he cannot enter into the kingdom of God (z)." We are to be "iav.d by the renewing of the Holy "Ghost (sl)." By him we are to be changed into P 2 the (to) Acts, ii. 4. viii, 17. Rom. xv. 19. 1 Cor. xii. 4- &e. (*) 2 Cor, v. 20. - (y ) Phil. ii. 13. '-y (as) John, iii. 5. (a) Tit. iii. 5. the image of Christ (£). "Love, joy, peace, long"suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, "temperance," are enumerated by the apostle as u the fruits of the Spirit;" in opposition to a list of the most flagitious crimes, which he denominates '" the works of the flesh," the works to which the corrupt nature of man disposeth him: with respect to which latter works he solemnly asfirms, that they who do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God (/). But have we full assurance that the assistance of the Holy Ghost, essential as it is to our salvation, will be afforded? Our Saviour has anticipated the question. "Aflc, and it shall be given "you: seek, and ye shall find: knock, and it ** (hall be opened unto you. If ye, being evil, ** know how to give good gifts unto your children: "how much more shall your Heavenly Father give "the Holy Spirit to them that ask him (d)?" How then may his blessed help be secured? By fervent prayer to God, and by earnest endeavours to "grow in grace fV); to improve day by day in piety and good works. Think not that the Divine assistance will be bestowed unasked, unsought, unsolicited. Nor think that it will be bestowed that it may supersede the necessity of your own exertions j that it may enable you to lead a careless life, without labouring to ** work out your salvation with "fear and trembling (/£." Alk in the name of Jesus (*) 2 Cor. wi. >ff. (/) Gal. v. 18—23. (</) Luke, xi. 9. 13.. (e) a Pet. iii. 18. (/) Philip, ii. 12* Jesus Christ for the sanctifying aid of Divine graces and it will not be withheld; study to improve by that which is bestowed, and more will be granted. But "grieve not" by transgression the "Holy Spirit "of God (g);" lest you be abandoned to yourself, "and given over to a reprobate mind (t>)." CHAPTER VIII. ON THE CHARACTER OF JESUS CHRIST. -L H E great pattern which a Christian is uniformly to propose for his imitation, is the character of his Saviour. "Learn of me; for I am meek and "lowly in heart : and ye shall find rest unto your "souls (ct)."—" I have given you an example, that "ye should do as I have done (*)."—" Christ suf"fered for us, leaving us an example, that ye "should follow his steps (c)."—" Be like-minded "one towards another, according to the example 11 of Christ Jesus (d)."—" Let that mind be in' *• you, which was in Christ Jesus (<?)." When 1 our (g) Ephes. iv. 30. (b) Rom. i. 28. (a) Matt. si. 29. (I) John, xiii. 15. (c) 1 Pet. ii. 21. (d) Rom. xv. 5. in the marginal translation. |