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his Spirit, I am far from denying; nor do I suppose that any believer in the power of the Creator, would presume to do so. That is not our question. The point for us to consider is, not whether God may do so; but whether it is his pleasure, in general, so to do. Both Scripture and experience teach us, that it is not the usual course of God's providence so to affect the mind of man with the Holy Spirit, as to render it impossible for him to do otherwise than follow its commands. All who have been baptized rightly," as Christians, are endowed with a measure of the spirit of holiness; every believer has granted to him unction from above. But it is obvious, that though all receive the gift of the Holy Ghost, all do not profit by it. In spite of the injunctions of the Holy Scriptures, which were written under the guidance of the Spirit; in the teeth of warnings, and with a full knowledge of the wickedness of their proceedings, some go on in a course of misconduct, and bring disgrace on the religion they profess. These, in the language of St.Paul," grieve the Spirit'." They provoke him to withdraw his influence from them; and may be found among the number of those to whom these words may be applied, "he that hath not, from him shall be taken, even that which he hath." God

gives us strength; but it remains with us to determine whether we shall use that strength in the discharge of our various duties. The greatest vigour of constitution may be rendered quite useless by indolence. The health which is granted to us, may be destroyed by our own folly. So is it with spiritual gifts. The opposition, which is said in the Scriptures, to subsist between the "flesh and the Spirit";" and the caution which is given us "not to quench the Spirit';" nor" to do despite to the Spirit of grace,' plainly imply the possibility of our resisting it, and rejecting its aid. And why else should St. Paul beseech the Corinthians "that they receive not the grace of God in vain ?" Nay, why should he declare that it was necessary for him to use precautions, "lest, when he had preached to others, he himself should be a cast-away1?" Why, I ask, should he use these and other similar expressions, unless he thought it possible, that" the grace of God might be bestowed upon him in vain ?"

The sentiments of another inspired apostle are in strict agreement with those of St. Paul on this head. Hear how St. Peter exhorts his children in Christ. "Ye, therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before,

Gal. v. 17.

i Thess. v. 19.
1 2 Cor. ix. 27.

k2 Cor. vi. 1.

beware, lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, FALL FROM YOUR OWN STEDFASTNESS; but grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ"."

After hearing these words of the apostles of our Lord, you will be the better able to judge of the truly scriptural character of the Articles of your own church; the sixteenth of which has these expressions; "After we have received the Holy Ghost, we may depart from grace given, and fall into sin."

Lastly. At no period of our lives can the assistance of God's Spirit be useless or unnecessary; seasons of temptation and trial, sorrow and difficulty, occur so frequently, that we continually require to be "renewed in the spirit of our minds." This grace is first communicated to us at our baptism; and, if we make a proper use of the measure of the Spirit then conveyed, it will be increased, until at last we shall "attain unto the measure of the stature of fullness in Christ".". "Whosoever hath, to him shall be given," and he shall have more abundance:" the way, therefore, to obtain an increase of God's Spirit, is to attend diligently to the thoughts which he has already inspired us with; to follow up the good desires which he may

2 Peter iii. 17.

n

Ephes. iv. 13. Matt. xxv. 29, • Mark iv. 25.

have given us with strenuous endeavours to bring them to good effect; and to make a diligent use of the various means which God himself has appointed.

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Amongst these means, prayer, fervent, heart-felt prayer, holds the chief place; and to him who thus prays, we have the strongest reason to believe, even the authority of Christ himself, the Holy Spirit will be granted. "If ye," says our Saviour, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him "." Surely, my brethren, if this be the only requisite condition of your obtaining so extremely valuable a gift, you will not hesitate to comply with it? But that you may not ask in vain, consider seriously and calmly what God requires in those who pray, that their prayer may be effectual. He requires that it should proceed from a real desire to obtain, and from a firm faith that God will not desert those who earnestly call upon him. Now you must be well aware, that many daily ask for this favour in a manner so cold and careless, that it might be supposed they are indifferent whether their petition be granted or not. Some will exclaim, "God send us grace," and think no further on the subject, than as if such a

P Luke xi. 13.

It was

prayer were a mere matter of form. not to those who "ask" in this manner that our Lord promised "that they should receive." Let your petitions be conceived in another spirit: and that they may be earnest and faithful, meditate often on the vast value of that gift which you desire your Saviour to send you. Think often, and seriously, on your weak state by nature; and your want of power to do what the Gospel requires of you, without the assistance of the Spirit; and of the wretched consequences of failing to perform the conditions of the evangelical covenant. If this be the habitual train of your ideas, and these the thoughts which are uppermost in your mind, your prayer will not return to you empty, neither will you "knock at the door in vain." You will obtain from the bounteous hand of your heavenly Father such a "portion of his Holy Spirit as will support you in all dangers, carry you through all temptations," and, finally, prepare you for the enjoyment of that eternal rest, which Christ has Himself prepared for those who love him and keep his commandments.