SERMON LVIII. THE BAPTISMAL GIFT OF THE HOLY GHOST. Whit-Tuesday.1 ROMANS V. 5. (latter part.) THE LOVE OF GOD IS SHED ABROAD IN OUR HEARTS BY THE HOLY GHOST WHICH IS GIVEN US. THE secret workings of the HOLY SPIRIT in our hearts are so wonderfully and mysteriously developed, that the natural man knoweth not whence they come, or whither they tend; so that we cannot comprehend how we are influenced, encouraged, or comforted, unless we call in Faith to our aid, and by faith ascribe all the good and charitable feelings which spring up and blossom within us, to the Third PERSON of the HOLY TRINITY. And because we know that He is GOD, co-equal and co-omnipotent with the FATHER and the Son, we believe and acknowledge, that from HIM proceed all that grace, virtue, and sanctification, which is meet for "such as shall be saved," and which GOD hath promised through JESUS CHRIST and His Apostles, to grant to all such as shall be by Baptism added to His Church: and all those parents who care for their children's welfare and acceptance by GOD, 1 See also Sermon XIV., First Series: "The Keystone of Edification," by the Rev. J. E. N. Molesworth, D.D. · are anxiously impatient to obtain for them this promise. For CHRIST hath declared, that "our Heavenly FATHER will give the HOLY SPIRIT to them that ask HIM;"" and there remaineth no promise or hope whatever, for them that ask HIM not. On the contrary, "he that believeth, and is baptized, shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned."" When we bring a child to be baptized, we acknowledge thereby its sinful nature, we acknowledge our belief in the Holy Scriptures that God hath concluded all under sin, on account of Adam's transgression, according to that confession of the Holy Psalmist, Behold, I was shapen in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me." We acknowledge the need of some change taking place in the child to make it acceptable to GOD. For our SAVIOUR instructed Nicodemus, that "no man can enter into the kingdom of God" (that is, become a Christian, a subject of GOD's spiritual kingdom) without being regenerated "by water and by the SPIRIT," that is, without Baptism and the Spiritual Grace attending it." There must be some cleansing of the body from sin to make it a fit tabernacle for the HOLY GHOST to dwell in ; and therefore, as JESUS CHRIST Commanded the little children to be brought unto HIM, and rebuked those who forbad them,—as He ordained His Apostles, and sent them forth to baptize all nations of every age, country, and language, “in the Name of the FATHER, and of the Son, and of the HOLY GHOST,"8 so would all righteous parents, through faith, obey that command, 5 1 Luke xi. 13. John xvi. 23, 24. 3 Psalm li. 5. 2 Mark xvi. 16. John xii. 48. 4 John iii. 5. Quoted from Dr. Barrow's Sermon on the gift of the HOLY GHOST. 61 Cor. iii. 16. 7 Mark x. 14. 8 Matt. xxviii. 19. even if there were no promise attached to it, and make it their first care, that their child should "seek first the kingdom of GOD and His Righteousness."'1 But when they are further taught that many other " other "things shall be added unto them," if they obey God's Word; many and excellent gifts, such as "love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance, " which St. Paul assures the Galatians are the fruits of the SPIRIT: and when they are afterwards assured that "through our LORD JESUS CHRIST," (that is, through His Intercession and Redemption, and through the fulfilment of His Commandments, and a belief on His Words,) "we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in the hope of the glory of GoD ";" they become still more anxious not to lose these glorious privileges, but to obtain them for their children also; that having this hope sure and steadfast, an anchor to the soul in all troubles, temptations, and adversities, they may boldly resist the Devil, and make him flee from them, without fear, or sorrow, or shame in their thoughts, for "Hope maketh not ashamed, because the love of GOD is shed abroad in our hearts by the HOLY GHOST which is given unto us." Such, my Brethren, are some of the fruits of the SPIRIT, and the Love of GOD, spoken of in the text, is at the head of them, placed so by St. Paul himself, and very properly too, as I hope, by GoD's blessing, to show you; for, on the Love of GoD depends the enjoyment of all the other gifts, which without that cannot be any ways perfect. When the HOLY GHOST was poured upon the Apostles, as at this season first, we are told of the power 1 Matt. vi. 33. 2 Gal. v. 22, 23. 3 Romans v. 1, 2. 2 which was given them to speak, in a language understood by all," the wonderful works of GOD." And that which they enlarged most upon, was the Love of GOD manifested to men in the Redemption of the world by the gift of His Son to die for all. We know what sorrow filled their hearts, when their MASTER was taken from them; and how earnestly their eyes strained after HIM into Heaven, when a cloud received HIM out of their sight. They loved CHRIST because they had seen HIM, associated with HIM, had eaten and drunk with HIM, they had seen His miracles, and heard HIм speak as never man spake, they had been persecuted with HIM, ordained by HIM to teach, preach, and baptize, and had received from His most holy hands, the Blessed Sacrament of His most precious Body and Blood. No wonder then that they loved JESUS CHRIST, for it required the hardened guilty heart of a Judas to hate and betray HIм. They loved JESUS because they knew HIM, but they did not perfectly love God the FATHER, because they knew HIM not, till the SPIRIT gave them knowledge of HIM. And indeed, though they loved JESUS CHRIST as their fellow man, they did not perfectly love Him as God, while He was on earth with them, for "no man can say that Jesus is the LORD but by the HOLY GHOST.”’ It is true they liked to be with HIM, to see the miracles which He wrought, and to hear HIм speak "as never man spake," but they expected that they should receive some earthly reward. They knew not of His Heavenly glory, and did not therefore value it. When He was taken prisoner, "they all forsook HIM and fled "; and they had not faith in His glorious king 1 Acts ii. 11. 2 Acts i. 9. 4 Matt. xxvi. 56. us. I dom, for we hear them thus rebuked: "If ye loved Mɛ, ye would rejoice because I said, I go unto the FATHER."" But they knew not the FATHER, they understood not His glory, and it was therefore that St. Philip asked to see the FATHER, and know more of HIM-"LORD, show us the FATHER, and it sufficeth My Brethren, if we reflect that the Holy Apostles entertained such feelings; that their LORD and MASTER told them, that they required the grace of God's HOLY SPIRIT to enlighten their hearts, and fill them with the Love of God; that they had need of the help of the SPIRIT of Truth to guide them into all truth: then we shall understand more fully the meaning of those words, "It is expedient for you that I go away, for if go not away the COMFORTER will not come unto you, but if I depart I will send HIM unto you." It was expedient for them that CHRIST should leave them, that their love might follow HIM to Heaven, and centre there in the three PERSONS of the HOLY TRINITY, co-operating in the work of man's salvation. It was expedient for them that they should give proof of their faith, and be strengthened to carry out of themselves, without the visible Presence of their Master, the work which He gave them to do. Much need had they of that Love of GOD, upon which they afterwards depended so mainly in all their afflictions. I would ask you, what was it that strengthened the Apostles to endure the stripes and imprisonment which the Jews inflicted on them, and gave them utterance to the bold and unwavering language which they used, when Peter and the other Apostles answered their persecutors and said, "We ought to obey God rather than men: 994 |