OF THE HOLY SPIRIT'S INFLUENCE.

75

body, ye shall live.”* "But ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified, in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God."y "The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance."-"That blessed Spirit who thus meetens for immortal life all who come to Jesus, is represented as assisting them in prayer. "We have access by one Spirit unto the FaThe Spirit also helpeth our infirmities."—He helps them to persevere. That good thing which was committed unto thee, keep by the Holy Ghost which dwelleth in us."b To promote spiritual comfort also appears peculiarly his office. The Lord Jesus said, "I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever."

ther." 66

Besides other passages in which the work of the Holy Spirit is peculiarly mentioned, the Scriptures contain multitudes in which the necessity of divine influence is declared, or its benefits described in a more general way as benefits bestowed by God. "We are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works."d "God worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure." "The very God of peace sanctify you wholly; the God of all grace make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you." "The God of peace make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is well-pleasing in his sight." "Without me ye can do nothing."

If a partaker of the Saviour's love, surely you now acknowledge "By the grace of God I am what I am."i

§ 9. The subject presents an important view of the Christian character. The representation given of the Christian as the temple of God, or of the Holy Spirit, is of a peculiarly pleasing, solemn, and awakening nature. The temple was a place solemnly set apart for God. It was devoted to the worship and service of God; was favoured with his special presence; and, as far as any place on earth could be so, was described as his abode. How important therefore is this representation of a real Christian! the temple of God-redeemed from the world, and solemnly consecrated to the worship and

(x) Rom. viii. 13. (a) Eph. ii. 18. (d) Eph. ii. 4, 5, 9, 10. (g) Heb. xiii. 20, 21.

76

EVIDENCES OF POSSESSING

service of the Most High-Holiness to the Lord inscribed upon this temple, and God, by his Spirit, there taking up his abode. This is a description of the Christian character which cannot possibly comport with a life of worldliness, ambition, sensuality, or pride.

As reasonably and as truly might a temple of Dagon, or of Moloch, or of Juggernaut, be called the temple of Jehovah, as a mere nominal Christian be esteemed the temple of God's Holy Spirit. On the Christian's heart this view should have an impressive and awakening tendency. "Am I the temple of God, and shall I not cherish those dispositions which he approves, and seek those graces that should dwell in his temple? Shall I not apply to him for aid, and strive with all my power to banish from this temple those polluting lusts that would fain intrude, and offend its blessed inhabitants? Should pride, or ambition, or selfishness, or covetousness, or malice, or envy, or rancour, or revenge, or love to the world, be cherished in my heart, I should then harbour in this temple the detestable brood of hell. And am I indeed the temple of God? O what manner of person ought I to be in all holy conversation and godliness!

Not

§ 10. Closely connected with this view of the Christian character, is the test of self-examination, furnished by this subject. The Spirit of God operating on the heart, must produce a resemblance of the mind which was in Christ. indeed at once a perfect resemblance, but a resemblance progressively advancing nearer to perfection. The Spirit is declared to lead and guide the submissive soul; will he lead and guide in any path, except the path which Jesus trod? If the Spirit leads the soul, he will lead it to all the mind which was in Christ; and in the narrow path of watchful, humble holiness. The Spirit is declared to renew the mind. In whose image will he renew it, except the image of Christ? The God of truth declares, “If any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his." Christ himself was a pattern of meekness and humility, of gentleness and love, of deadness to the world, of forgiveness to enemies, benevolence to friends, and devotedness to God. The Spirit of Christ will prompt the soul that feels his influence to follow Christ; will renew the soul in the likeness of its Saviour. How important a test for judg

Rom. viii. 9.

THE SPIRIT OF CHRIST.

77

ing of our real character is thus set before us! Christ was humble. Do you indulge ruling pride? If so, you have not his Spirit, you are none of his. Christ was devoted to God. Are you careless of him? If so, you have not his Spirit, you are none of his. Christ in his temper displayed meekness, gentleness, and forbearance. Do haughtiness, and harshness, and violence reign in yours? If so, you have not his Spirit, you are none of his. Christ was forgiving to his enemies. Are you implacable and unforgiving to yours? If so, you have not his Spirit, you are none of his. Christ was dead to this world. Is it the object of your love, and the aim of your life? If so, you have not his Spirit, you are none of his. Christ was holy, harmless, and undefiled. Do you live the willing servant of any lust, the slave of any sin? If so, you have not his Spirit, you are none of his. But do you feel wrought in your soul a strong desire to grow like him? do you find a relish for spiritual objects, a devotedness to Christ? do you experience a prevalent concern to acquire his image? to be holy, humble, self-denying, meek and gentle, dead to the world and all its charms, alive to God, and bent on heaven? You may surely take encouragement from this, and view it as one of the clearest testimonies to your possession of the grace of God; for doubtless the reverse of the solemn declaration, just mentioned, is as true as that declaration itself, If any man have the Spirit of Christ, he is one of his.

§ 11. The promised aid of the Spirit furnishes an encouraging motive for pursuing eminent holiness. "Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God that worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure." Were the Christian left to his own feeble powers, he might be disposed, at times, almost to sink beneath the load of life, and to consider exertion hopeless. But, God worketh in you;What now is wanted to insure the acquisition of every grace? God worketh in you, both to will and to do. He gives the holy desire. He gives ability to execute the desire, to do what the soul longs to perform. Could a promise like this be made in reference to much meaner objects than advancement towards heaven, how powerful would be its effect. Were it said to the pious husbandman, by a voice from heaven, "Till your fields with care, you shall not labour in vain, God works with you." How zealous would be his labour!

78

CAUTIONS AGAINST GRIEVING THE SPIRIT.

How rich a harvest would he anticipate! What an incitement would he feel to activity!

§ 12. Hence we perceive no real Christian can have any sufficient excuse for living the slave of any corrupt habit or temper. We sometimes hear persons that profess religion acknowledge respecting some corruption indulged in their life, temper, or conduct, I know it is wrong, but I cannot help it. If such persons possess the grace of God, this excuse will not avail. They can help what is amiss, for Jesus says, "My is sufficient for thee;" and his apostle declares, "I can grace do all things through Christ that strengtheneth me." For a professed Christian to plead in excuse of improper conduct, "I cannot help it," is either to declare he is no Christian, or to utter a plea which is absolutely false. If he be a Christian, the grace of Christ would, if sought, be sufficient to enable him to discharge the most difficult duties, and to master the most obstinate habits of vice.

nיי

§ 13. The important discoveries which the Holy Scriptures make, respecting the blessed Spirit's agency, are connected with cautions or directions of the utmost moment to man's eternal welfare. "Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lusts of the flesh."""Be ye filled with the Spirit." "Grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption." As our obligations to the Holy Spirit are so immense, as advancement in the divine life, and growing meetness for heaven, depend upon his blessing, to slight or grieve him is unspeakably foolish and wicked. Can the lamp burn without oil to feed its flame? can the cold earth bloom with vernal beauty, without the sun to warm its frozen surface, and to call that beauty forth? can the stream flow whose fountain is dried up? can the limbs move, when the heart has ceased to play? Yet as easily would the lamp burn without oil, the earth bloom without the enlivening sun, the stream flow without a fountain, and the limbs move when the heart is still in death, as man shine in Christian graces without the sanctifying Spirit. Then prize the Spirit. Quench not the Spirit; resist not his gentle motions; stifle not his still small voice. Grieve not the Spirit. This admonition expresses the interest he takes in human welfare. Grieve him not by slighting his blessed influences. Grieve him not by

(A) Gal. v. 16. (m) Eph. v. 18. 1 Thess. v. 19. (n) Eph. iv, 30.

HIS INFLUENCE TO BE SOUGHT.

79

undervaluing his aid. Grieve him not by allowing unclean imaginations, and hateful passions, to harbour in his temple. Grieve him not by lagging in the Christian course, when he prompts you to run the race that is set before you. Grieve him not by cherishing a slothful lukewarm mind, when he is =exciting in your soul desires after fervent piety and distinguished usefulness. Perhaps the Scriptures contain no admonition more momentous than this, yet how is this forgotten! Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not commit adultery, and similar commandments, are frequently recollected, but, Grieve not the holy Spirit of God, is, by many that profess religion, an almost unregarded precept. As you wish to be meetened for eternal blessedness, let regard to this important rule govern your life. Often think," Is there any thing in the dispositions I cherish, or the conduct I pursue, calculated to grieve the Spirit? or am I anxious to enjoy his blessed aid, and to be guided and led by the Spirit ?

;

To these admonitions the Lord Jesus Christs adds, what is in fact a direction to pray for the Spirit's aid, "I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find knock, and it shall be opened unto you. For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. 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?" Encouraging consideration! such a Father will not refuse a blessing so precious!

While we are taught that the Spirit's influence is of so much consequence to our own comfort, holiness, and happiness, we are reminded that it is of equal importance in our endeavours to benefit others. "Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man? I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase."P

§14. An animating motive for gratitude is furnished by the subject of this chapter. Had a kind physician, at an immense expense, ransomed from the gallows a wretch condemned to die, and then cured him of a deadly plague that infused its

(0) Luke xi. 9, 10, 13.

(p) 1 Cor. iii. 5-7.