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us all that the Lord Jesus has purchased for us. We, on the other hand, in the exercise of faith and love, ascend, as it were, bosom of our to heaven, and deposit all our cares in the very God: so that it is "not so much we that live, as Christ that liveth in usa," "our life being hid with Christ in God," and "Christ himself being our very life"." I grant, that to a mere nominal Christian all this will appear little better than mystical absurdity, and enthusiastic jargon. But true it is, whether men will believe it or not: and, if its being incomprehensible by us be any reason for denying it, we must, on the same principle, deny the existence and operation of our souls within our corporeal frame. It is not on one or two insulated passages that this great mystery is founded: it is declared again and again, in terms too plain to be denied, and too numerous to admit of doubt.]

Nor is this a mere theory, demanding their assent: for my text further declares,

II. The assured sense which they may possess of their own personal interest in it

This mutual in-dwelling may be perceived and known: "it may be known," as the Apostle tells us, by the Spirit which God hath given us." It may be known,

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1. By the operation of the Holy Spirit within us

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[The Holy Spirit is given unto us as "a Spirit of adoption, whereby we are enabled to cry, Abba, Father." He is given to us as a witness, to "witness with our spirits that we are the children of God." He is given to us as a seal," to mark us as God's property; and to produce such an impression on our souls, that we may know, and that others also may know, "whose we are, and whom we serve." He is given unto us as an earnest of our heavenly inheritances," that we may have already the foretaste of heaven in our souls. Now, how can these operations proceed within us, and we not be conscious of them? It is to no purpose to say that the world knows nothing about them: for our blessed Lord has promised, that " he will manifest himself unto us as he does not unto the world:" and it is by these very operations that he makes to us this glorious discovery: "Lord," said one of his Apostles, "how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, as thou dost not unto the world? And Jesus answering said

a Gal. ii. 20.

c John vi. 56. xiv. 20. 1 John iv. 16.
e Rom. viii. 16.

b Col. iii. 3, 4.

d Rom. viii. 15.

f Eph. i. 13.

8 Eph. i. 14.

unto him, if a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him; and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him"."]

2. By the very works which that Holy Spirit produces in us—

[David prayed, "Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me." And St. James says, "The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envyk." And in this sense we may understand our text: "We know that he abideth in us, by the spirit which he hath given us; that is, we know the cause by the effects. Now, consider the effects, as before contemplated. We perceive not only the manifestations of God's love to us, but the drawing of our souls to him; so that in the habit of our minds we are going forth to him, and delighting ourselves in him. Is this the fruit of nature? Can it have proceeded from any power, but that of the Holy Spirit dwelling in us? Will any one see iron suspended in the air, and not refer it to the magnet? Be assured, when such an effect as this exists, we can trace it to no other source than the agency of the indwelling Spirit within us. Again; the disposition to obey the commandments of the Lord, and especially the sublime commandments of faith and love-is this of man? is the desire from man? How much less, then, can the attainment be? No, verily: "it is God who worketh in us both to will and to do of his own good pleasure:" and when we have in ourselves the evidence that we are "keeping these commands," we may as well doubt who it was that formed the universe, as who the Author is of the work that has been wrought within us. We must say, "He that hath wrought us to the self-same thing, is God'."]

Permit me to IMPRESS this subject more fully upon

you,

1. In a way of complaint

[There is great reason to complain of the world at large, for deriding these things as enthusiasm, when they will not examine the grounds on which they are founded. I will grant, that, never having experienced any thing of the kind in their own souls, they can have no just conception of them. But they might read the Scriptures: they might see what the inspired writers have spoken; and what was the recorded experience of the primitive saints. If persons in a tropical climate were to deny the existence or properties of congealed water, it would be no proof at all that there are not mountains

h John xiv. 22, 23.
k Jam. iv. 5.

i Ps. li. 10.
1 2 Cor. v. 5.

of ice, capable of breaking, by concussion, the largest ship. As well might children deny what their fathers have known by experience, as ignorant and ungodly men denounce as visionary what truly converted characters know to be true. To those, then, who with ignorant incredulity ask, Can such things be? I would answer, with Philip to Nathanael, "Come and see"." Come to the Holy Scriptures, and you shall find them there: and come to God himself, in the exercise of faith and love; and you shall find the experience of them in your own bosoms.]

2. In a way of caution

[There are two errors, against which I would most affectionately guard you all: the one is, against professing this assurance on inadequate grounds; and the other is, against the maintaining of this assurance in an unhallowed way. There are persons who conceive that God dwelleth in them, because they have had some dreams or visions to that effect. But I apprehend that Satan himself is not capable of suggesting any more fatal delusion than this. And I must declare unto you, that he who builds his hopes on dreams or visions, will find his hope, and his religion too, no better than a dream or vision at last. It is from the spirit that God has given us, and not from a dream or vision, that we are to gather our interest in God: and I entreat you to satisfy yourselves with no evidences, but such as are plain, obvious, incontrovertible.

There are others who, professing to have God abiding in them, manifest a spirit altogether opposite to that which would result from a divine agency-a spirit of pride and selfpreference, a spirit of moroseness and bigotry, a spirit of unwatchfulness and security. The presumptuous boldness of these persons is perfectly appalling: one is shocked to hear such unfeeling language as will proceed from their lips, and to behold such unhumbled confidence as they will venture to express. But I entreat you, brethren, never thus to pervert the word of God, and never thus to abuse the sacred truths of his Gospel. Remember, I pray you, that whatever supersedes a holy fear, is of the devil; and whatever leads you to neglect a continued watchfulness, is no other than a damning delusion.]

3. In a way of encouragement

[A person under the influence of temptation will not be able to behold in himself those evidences, which yet, in his life, are visible to all. Such an one may find in this passage nothing but an occasion of self-condemning fear. He may say, I do not keep the commandments of God, and therefore I

m John i. 46.

know that I have no part or lot in this matter: and "the very spirit that is within me testifies that I have not God abiding in me."' But, my brethren, judge not yourselves too hardly. Do not suppose, that, because there are imperfections in your obedience, it is therefore not sincere; or that because the Spirit shines not upon you in full lustre, you shall never behold the light of day. Be content, at present, to want the consolations which God sees fit to withhold: and occupy yourselves with the pursuit of those things which, in God's good time, will serve to prove what at the present you cannot see. Endeavour, in humble dependence upon God, to keep the commands of faith and love. Look to the Saviour, and live by faith in him: look to his peculiar people, and abound in all acts and offices of love to them. Look to the spirit and temper of your own minds altogether: and in the constant exercise of prayer seek the transformation of your souls into the Divine image. Then, though you be not able to see that God is in you, a foundation will be laid for the future discovery of it: or, though it should still, for wise and gracious purposes, be hid from you, you will have the benefit at a future day, when God will surely shine upon you, and ward every man according to his works." This is the advice given by the prophet, who says, "Then shall ye know, if ye follow on to know the Lord: his goings forth are prepared as the morning; and he shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth"."]

n Hos. vi. 3.

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MMCCCCLIII.

GOD AN EFFECTUAL HELP.

1 John iv. 4. Greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.

CONSIDERING the opposition made to Christianity in the apostolic age, it is surprising that it gained so speedy, so extensive, and so permanent a footing in the world. That its establishment was effected through miracles, there is no doubt: but miracles, unless attended with a divine power to the hearts of the beholders, could effect nothing. very raising of Lazarus from the dead served only to embitter the minds of many against him who had effected it. That which gave energy to the word,

The

and caused it to work effectually for the conversion of men, was the power of the Holy Ghost. Moreover, after that men had embraced the Gospel, every possible method that Satan could devise was used to turn them from it: but millions maintained their steadfastness, even to the end: for, as St. John informs us," greater was He that was in them than he that was in the world."

This truth being still as important as ever, I shall, I. Confirm the assertion as relating to former times— "Great," it must be confessed, "is he who is in the world"

["Many false prophets," even whilst the Apostles were yet living, "had gone out into the world:" and great were the efforts which they made to turn men from the faith of Christ. Our blessed Lord had foretold that such persons would arise, and that their efforts would be productive of incalculable injury to his Church and people. "Many prophets shall arise, and deceive many." "For there shall be false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. Behold, I have told you before." In accordance with this prediction, we find that "the faith of many was overthrown";" "whole houses were subverted ;" and great multitudes were "turned back unto perdition"." At a future period we expect still more extensive ravages of the flock, through these wolves. in sheep's clothing: for the Spirit speaketh expressly, “that in the latter times some will depart from the faith; giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils, speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their conscience seared with a hot iron."

But it is Satan, in reality, that is the great agent in all these transactions: and the men who are more immediately engaged, are his instruments. In "these false apostles, these deceitful workers, who transform themselves into the Apostles of Christ, it is Satan himself transformed into an angel of light 8." It is "the prince of the power of the air, even the evil spirit himself, who worketh in all those children of disobedience."]

But "greater far is He who is in the Church"

["The strong man armed keepeth his palace, and his goods, for a time, in peace. But there is a stronger than he,

a Matt. xxiv. 11, 24, 25. b 2 Tim. ii. 18.
d Heb. x. 39.
e Matt. vii. 15.
h Eph. ii. 2.

2 Cor. xi. 13-15.

c Tit. i. 11.

f 1 Tim. iv. 1, 2.

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