A Dialogue Between the Pulpit and Reading Desk; Recommended to the Serious Perusal of the Laity and Clergy of the Episcopal Church

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1828 edition. Excerpt: ...of his spirit, are not pleasing to God: " It is therefore highly expedient for all orders and degrees of men to have this grace and inspiration, from the king to the meanest subject. It is necessary for directing, comforting, establishing, for thinking what is good, and doing what is rightj as will further appear in the homily for Whitsunday, part the first: " The more it is hid from our understanding, the more it ought to move all men to wonder at the secret and mighty workings of God's Holy Spirit, which is within us. For it is the Holy Ghost, and no other thing, that doth quicken the minds of men, stirring up good and godly motions in their hearts, which are agreeable to the will and commandment of God, such as otherwise of their, own crooked and perverse nature they should never have. That which is born of the spirit, is spirit. John iii. 6. As if he should say, man of his own nature is fleshly and carnal, corrupt and naught; sinful and disobedient to God, without any spark of goodness in him, without any virtuous or godly motions, only given to evil thoughts and wicked deeds. As for the works of the spirit, the fruits of faith, they proceed only of the Holy Ghost, who is the only worker of our sanctification, and maketh us new men in Christ Jesus. Such is the power of the Holy Ghost to regenerate men, and as it were to bring them forth anew, so that they shall be nothing like the men they were before. Neither doth he think it sufficient inwardly to work the spiritual and new birth of man, unless he also dwell and abide in him--Oh! what comfort is this to the heart of a true christian to think that the Holy Ghost dwelleth within him!" Again, " Thou hast received (the body of Christ) to have within thee, the Father, ...