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SER M.ceive from the Father, That shall be speak; III. Joh. xvi. 13. These, and other the like Texts, do plainly declare the Holy Spirit to be, not a mere Power or Operation, but a real Perfon fent forth from the Father and the Son, for the perpetual Government and Direction of the Church.

IN which Miffion, the feveral Offices which the Scripture teaches us he performs, are as follows; that it was He who inspired the Prophets of old, to testi fy before-hand the Sufferings of Christ, and the Glory that should follow that he was afterwards fent forth in a more parti:cular and extraordinary manner, to be the Comforter, Director, and Guide of the Apostles; to lead them into all Truth; to bring to their remembrance all things whatsoever Chrift had before faid unto them; to support them against the Power of the World; to inftruct them what to answer to their Perfecutors; to be the great Witness of our Saviour's Refurrection, by working Signs and Wonders and mighty Works, by infpiring the Apostles with the Gift of Tongues, and dividing to their Followers Diverfities of Gifts; Finally, to continue

III.

continue with all good Chriftians even un-SER M. to the End of the World, as the great Sanctifier of the Hearts of Men; fanctifying them, not by working upon them mechanically as Machines, but by moral Motives as rational Beings; affifting them with his Grace, admonishing them with his Holy Influences, working with them and infpiring them with his good Gifts, and helping the Infirmity of their Prayers with an Energy that cannot be expreffed.

3. HAVING thus briefly difcourfed concerning the Nature and Offices and Gifts of the Spirit; the Application of what has been faid, is, what Returns we are bound to make for the Benefit of thofe Divine Gifts bestowed upon us. And rft, it will become us to return continual and hear. ty Thanks to God, as the original Author and Fountain of all Good: because it is He, who has thus given unto us His holy Spirit; Thefs. iv. 8; and who has fent forth the Spirit of his Son into our Hearts; Gal. iv. 6. 2dly, As we are to return hearty Thanks for the Gifts already received, fo we are continually to pray to

God

SER M. God in the whole courfe of our Lives, III. that This his holy Spirit, into whose Name

we were at first baptized, i. e. dedicated wholly to his Guidance and Direction in the work of our Salvation; may never be withdrawn from us, but may continue to guide us by his perpetual influence, communion and fellowship. 3dly, With regard to the Holy Spirit himself, it becomes us to endeavour to frame right and worthy Notions concerning him; that we acknowledge him to be the Infpirer of the Prophets and Apoftles; the Author and Worker of all Signs and Miracles; the Sanc tifier of all Hearts, and the Distributer of all fpiritual Gifts: that we believe and receive his Testimony, as delivered by the Infpired Writers; that we obey his good Motions ; be follicitous to obtain his gifts and graces; and infinitely careful not to grieve and quench and drive him from us, left we be found to do defpite unto the Spirit of grace; which in Scripture is reprefented as a more unpardonable fault, than offending against the Perfon even of our Saviour himfelf. How is it (fays the Apoftle,) that ye have agreed together to

tempt

III.

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tempt the Spirit of the Lord? Acts v. 19;SERM. To tempt; that is, in Scripture-language, to provoke him: In the day of Temptation in the Wilderness, when your Fathers temted me; the meaning is, provoked me to Anger; Pf. xcv. 9. Again, Ephef. iv. 30; And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are fealed into the Day of Redemption: The word, fealed, is a figurative expreffion; the meaning of which may be understood from Rev. vii. 3; Hurt not the Earth,'till we have fealed the Servants of our God in their Foreheads, i. e. distinguished them by a peculiar mark, in order to preserve them from a general destruction. In Allufion to which, good Chriftians are faid to be fealed by the Spirit unto the day of Redemption; i. e. diftinguished by the Fruits of the Spirit, in order to be delivered from the Wrath to come. And in pursuance of this figure, is the like expreffion, 2 Cor. i. 22; who hath also fealed us, and given the Earnest (in the original it is, the Pledge or Token) of the Spirit in our Hearts: And, 2 Tim. ii. 19; The Foundation of the Lord ftandeth fure, having this Seal, The Lord knoweth

them

SERM.them that are bis, and, Let every one that III. nameth the name of Chrift, depart from

iniquity.

THERE is one thing more upon this Head, which deferves particular observation, wherewith I fhall conclude: And That is, that following the Guidance of the Spirit, is not following Enthufiaftick Imaginations; but taking care to obey the Doctrine which the Spirit infpired. The Apoftles were directed by a miraculous Affiftance of the Spirit, upon every particular occafion: But we have Now no promife of any fuch miraculous direction: Obeying the Spirit Now, is nothing else but obeying his dictates, as fet down in the inspired Writings: And to enable us to do This, we may, upon our fincere endea vours, expect his continual bleffing and affistance.

SERMON

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