unfading joys of the salvation of your Saviour; choose not as your portion the sensual, the corrupting, and the transitory gratifications of a sinful world. It is in your power to sit down with him at the everlasting festival of love in his kingdom above; and will you choose the doom of those who refuse to come to this heavenly banquet, and whose fearful portion is in outer darkness, where there is weeping, and wailing, and gnashing of teeth? Blessed are they who hear the joyful sound, and with grateful, penitent, and obedient hearts, accept the salvation which is offered them; blessed are they in the favour of their God and Saviour here, blessed will they be in the light and glory of his presence hereafter.

SERMON XXIX.

ON THE HOLY GHOST.

1 CORINTHIANS xii. 4.

Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.

WHO can by searching find out God? Man, vigorous, keen, comprehensive as he is in his researches in human science, finds his aspiring faculties humbled, when he seeks to penetrate the Divine essence. The doctrine which lies at the foundation of all religion, and which even the impugner of the sacred writings, unless sunk into the gloom of atheism, reveres as the only essential principle of natural religion-the existence of an eternal uncaused cause of all things-is utterly beyond the grasp of the human intellect. When, then, even what is called natural religion, the religion which reason emphatically claims as her own, has its incomprehensible truths, it is folly to expect that a revelation which embraces more extensively the Divine counsels and operations, should not contain any thing which surpasses the comprehension of the mind of man.

My brethren, is it not then apparent that the incomprehensible nature of many of the truths of the Gospel does not invalidate their claim to credibility? In every thing that man sees, in every thing that he hears, in every thing within him, in

every thing without him, there is more or less of mystery. The clod on which he erects his proud footstep, the heavens towards which he lifts his aspiring view, his own mind equally with that Divine mind from which it has emanated, are all inscrutable. In the mystery, then, which envelops the truths of the Gospel, there is not any thing which is contrary to the analogy of nature. Every thing which is the object of our sense, our consciousness, our reason, is inscrutable. Would it not be wonderful if the eternal God, who filleth immensity, could be comprehended by the finite creatures whom he has made?

But though the truths of the Gospel surpass, they do not contradict the dictates of human reason; far otherwise: they afford her rest from many anxious inquiries, relief from many perplexing doubts. Where she most felt her impotence, and deplored her darkness-as to the mode by which sin may be pardoned-they point out the certain and cheering way of access unto the offended Sovereign of guilty man: they present a divine Saviour, the Son of God, making atonement for transgression-doing that which the holiness and justice of the Eternal demanded-obeying his law and enduring its penalties; and thus rendering the forgiveness of the penitent sinner consistent with all the attributes of God, and with the righteousness, the honour, and the authority of his govern

ment.

The glorious truths which the church this day celebrates-the descent of the Holy Ghost, with his spiritual gifts and graces-transcending, indeed, the comprehension of the human faculties, is still a truth fraught with inestimable blessings,

conveying illumination, sanctification, and comfort to erring, corrupt, and miserable man.

In order that we may understand this fundamental doctrine, and be impressed with its practical tendency, let us consider the following propositions, which embrace every thing that the sacred writings have revealed with respect to that divine Personage, whose gift to the church, to abide with it for ever, the church this day commemorates.

1. The Holy Ghost is one of the divine Persons of the Godhead, proceeding from the Father and the Son.

2. He confers all miraculous and ecclesiastical gifts.

3. He bestows all spiritual graces.

1. The Holy Ghost is the third Person of the Godhead, partaker of the same divine nature with the Father and the Son, and proceeding from them.

In proof that he is a co-equal and co-eternal Person of the Godhead, we adduce the decisive fact, that he is associated with the Father and the Son in that commission from which the apostles derived their authority to promulgate the Gospel, and by which they were to baptize all nations into the faith of the eternal Godhead-" Go ye and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. The Father, beyond dispute, is God; the Son and the Holy Ghost must be God; for it would be impiety of the grossest description to rank with the eternal Father, without mark of difference or inequality, any but those who incomprehensibly share with him the divine essence.

But still further: the name, the attributes, and

the operations of God are ascribed to the Holy Ghost; and co-ordinate in dignity with the Father and the Son, divine worship and obedience are equally due to him.

The divine name and title are ascribed to the Holy Ghost; for acts said to be performed by God, are also said to be performed by the Holy Ghost. "If I by the Spirit of God cast out devils," said our Saviour at one time-"If I by the finger of God," said he at another. Christians are styled the temple of God, because the Holy Spirit dwelleth in them. In both these cases the Holy Spirit is styled God.

Again: acts committed against God, are said to be committed against the Holy Ghost. "They tempted God, and limited the Holy One of Israel."*

"They tempted and provoked the Most High God, and kept not his testimonies," saith the psalmist concerning the Israelites. "They rebelled, and vexed his Holy Spirit," saith the prophet Isaiah of the same people.

The sin for which Ananias was smitten with the vengeance of heaven, is styled lying unto the Holy Ghost, and at the same time lying unto God. "Ananias," saith St. Peter, "why has Satan filled thy heart to lie unto the Holy Ghost? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God." What an incautious, what an impious mode of expression, in the mouth of an inspired apostle, if the Holy Ghost be not God!

And would not only thus the title, but the attributes of God, be ascribed to any but a divine Person? and yet eternity, that incomprehensible

* Psalm lxxviii. 41.