open our eyes, to turn us from darkness to light, to shine into our hearts; then it is needful that we should have this Divine Illuminator, this Holy Director, that he may shew us what we are, and also, guide us into all truth, that he would lead the blind by a way which they know not; that he would still conduct them in paths they have not known, that he would make darkness light before them, and crooked things straight. How many dark dispensations have the children of God to go through? and how many darker temptations from the enemy ? In many of these, human advice fails, and not the star of a promise, or a ray of direction can they see in the hemisphere of God's word. What need of this infallible instructor, to lead them by a right way to a city of habitation? This candle of the Lord must search our inward parts, that we may discover more into that chaos, that abyss of fallen nature, so that we may see the amazing depth of iniquity which divine grace saves us from; also, the exceeding riches of that grace which is in Christ Jesus manifested to ruined sinners, the glory of which must redound to the author of all our mercies.

2. We have no assurance of our divine acceptance, but by the blessed Spirit; for even the word is a dead letter without the Spirit. But the word and Spirit are two infallible witnesses, whose testimony will

avail; for if the Spirit witness with our spirit that we are the children of God, the word will corroborate the same. And how needful is this for our comfort through this sorrowful region, to give us an expected end? This is a matter of high importance indeed, and made one of the sweet singers in our Israel cry out

Dost thou not dwell in all thy saints,

And seal the heirs of heaven?
When wilt thou banish my complaints,
And shew my sins forgiven!

3. THE believer must be quickened by this Spirit of Life; for he cannot quicken himself. The life of God in the soul of man is something like the fire of the altar, it must never go out: therefore this refining fire must descend from above, that all the sacrifices of prayer and praise may come up with acceptance upon that altar which sanctifies the gift. Every thing in religion requires life; as under the law, all the sacrifices were to be led to the altar alive, or they would have been rejected; in reference to which, the apostle says, I beseech you brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.

2

4. THE Divine Spirit must be received, in order that we may be made holy. He must sit as a refiner's fire, that he may purify

all the sons of Levi, all the servants of the living God, so that they and their offerings may be acceptable to God at all times. Indeed we are no farther happy than we are holy; for all unholy tempers are most assuredly unhappy tempers. Nor can we enter the new Jerusalem without a preparation for the inheritance which is incorruptible and undefiled, and which fadeth not away, reserved for holy souls who are sanctified by the Spirit of holiness, and made meet partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light. For blessed and holy is he who hath part in the first resurrection, of such the second death shall have no power; but they shall reign as king's and priests with God and the Lamb for ever.

5. WE must receive the Comforter as a spirit of intercession; for if an apostle could say, We know not what to pray for as we ought, well may we; but the Spirit will help our infirmities with groanings that cannot be uttered, and he that searcheth the heart knoweth what is the mind of his own spirit, and maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God. That is the prayer which is acceptable to God, which comes from the groaning heart. In this manner the psalmist prayed; in this manner Abraham, Jacob, and Moses prayed; and in this manner we must pray if we intend to prevail. But, in order to this, we must have the spirit of grace and sup

plication, that we may pray with the Spirit, and with the understanding. Prayer is the elevation of the heart to God. Dead forms. will avail nothing. It is neither a book, nor the want of a book which makes the business formal; it is a set of dry words without spirit or life, a sort of resting in the opus opuratum. *

6. IT is necessary that this blessed Spirit should seal the heirs of salvation. The sealing, is making a thing sure; and truly we cannot make our calling and election too sure. It is well to have the great and precious promises sealed upon our hearts, that they may incourage us in the time of trial, in the dark and cloudy day; so that in a season of trial our cry may be, remember the word upon which thou hast caused thy servant to hope; the staff of a promise is of great use; and by which we may pass safely through the dark valley of the shadow of death, and meet a rising sun, which shall never set more. By this divine signet the eternal Jehovah is sealed our Father and our God. We are his adopted children, and therefore it is called the spirit of adoption, whereby we can say, Abba Father. What an honour is this? Behold what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called, yea and become the sons of God. Therefore the

* The work done.

Lord of heaven and earth says, I will be a father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters. Thus the saints become heirs of God, and joint heirs with the Lord Jesus Christ. Moreover, their title to every blessing which is purchased by the blood of the cross, is sealed, and consequently their right to the heavenly inheritance is secured to them, as the apostle says, Until ye were sealed by the spirit of promise unto the day of redemption. O may this blessed Spirit, seal or stamp the image of God upon each of our souls!

FROM what has been said, it plainly appears, that if any man have not the spirit of Christ, he is none of his; he is still in his sin; even his religion is vain, seeing it is not in spirit and truth, but only in the oldness of the letter. This may make us all less zealous for names, sects or parties; a business which some lay mighty stress upon, which excites in them a zeal which is bitter and fierce, full of invective and illiberality; and therefore not according to knowledge. We seldom see a zeal of this kind melt into tears of pity, like him who wept over human wretchedness, and was very ready to help them. The zeal of the prophet expressed itself thus, If ye will not hear, my soul shall weep for you in secret places and mine eyes shall run down with tears. The holy man of God was not attempting to play the buffoon over them,