him, we must explicitly and strenuously insist upon and this is the doctrine, which

not only endure but love.

ye must

But never let "the axe boast itself against him that heweth therewith;"* and "let no man glory in men."t Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, saith the Lord of Hosts." The word preached is but "the sword of the Spirit," § not the Spirit himself. Discourse and reasoning and argument, though all be sound and true, and scriptural, and adapted to teach and to persuade; yet are they "weak through the flesh." It is of the Holy Ghost alone to bring them home to the hearts of men, and by the means of them, to convert a sinner from the error of his ways. If any believe in Christ's name and be engrafted into him, they "are born," you have seen, "not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God."|| "If any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is, and he can be, none of his." ¶

Would any of you then be saved? Pray without ceasing:-" Put thy Spirit, O Lord Jesus Christ, within us."

Would you profit by the word preached? Cry mightily and continually to God that it may be preached, "with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven."*

Would you be useful to the church? Be pouring out your hearts continually in such words. as come often from your lips: "Send down, O God, upon all bishops and curates, and all congregations committed to their charge, the healthful spirit of thy grace."

Would you do an act of charity by a world that lieth in wickedness? Never come to the throne of grace without interceding on that world's behalf, "that the Spirit may be poured out from on high till the wilderness becomes a fruitful field." †

Would you witness an acceptable and an honest and good confession before a generation which scoffs at truth? Recognize, in all you do, confess and ever avow, the doctrine now brought before you; and never suffer any to collect from speech, or manner, or silence of yours, that you take or hold religion to be a mere reformation of outward manners; to be any thing less or other than "a renewal of the whole spirit of the mind;" a belief of the truth of God; and a conformity to the will of God; wrought in you by the Spirit of God.

* Peter i. 12.

+ Isa. xxxii. 15.

But finally-Are you changed? Do you know Christ? Do you love him? Do you serve him? Can you hope in him? Are your prospects for eternity such as fill your souls with comfort? Whose hand then hath wrought all these things? "Ascribe unto the Lord the honour due unto his name." For "you hath he quickened who were dead in trespasses and sins."* Be this your continual meditation, and upon this build your continual song of praise, that whereas ye yourselves also "were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving lusts and pleasures; after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which ye have done, but according to his mercy he saved you, by the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy

Ghost." +

* Eph. ii. 1.

Titus iii. 3-5.

134

SERMON VII.

WAITING FOR THE ADOPTION.

ROM. viii. 23.

"Ourselves also which have the first-fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body."

In the former part of the chapter, the apostle speaks most exultingly of the privileges of true believers in the Lord Jesus, and particularly as they result from their being led by the Spirit of God. Nevertheless, life is still a warfare, and a pilgrimage: this world is a state, not of enjoyment, but of trial. Much as Christians have, they have more to wait for: earth is not their home; and they must, “ through much tribulation," pass to their everlasting rest. To this effect is the doctrine of the text: "Ourselves, who have the first-fruits of the Spirit,

even we ourselves, groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body."

I proceed, by God's assistance, to speak of, three things..

I. First, Of the incompleteness of our present privileges and consolations, high and glorious as they are if we be truly Christians.

for.

II. Secondly, Of the fulness to be looked

III. Lastly, Of the way in which we ought to demean ourselves whilst waiting for that fulness.

I. And first, Of the incompleteness of our present privileges, high and glorious as they are, if we be truly Christians.

That they are high and glorious the text very sufficiently declares; for, supposing that we are believers indeed, and not in name only, we have, it is said, "the first-fruits of the Spirit." Through Christ's intercession, the Spirit of God is actually bestowed upon us, according as it is written"If any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his."* And this gift, conceded to us by measure, or in such degree as God sees good, is like the first-fruits of the harvest, an earnest or pledge of still greater measures to

* Rom. viii. 9.