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prehension of spiritual things: some of them believed not even after his resurrection. when that grace was shed abroad in their hearts, which he received at the right hand of his Father; then was his own saying verified (John, xvi. 14): He, the Holy Spirit, shall glorify me; for he shall receive of mine, and shall show it unto you. And accordingly, after receiving this portion of the Spirit, they declared the truth boldly, as it was in Jesus, and died in defence of it.

Besides the benefit of these promised gifts, we have also this further consolation of the method how to obtain them; for, without this, we might have sojourned here all our lives, in great uncertainty. Among other of the ordinary gifts bestowed upon us in the revelation of God's will, is the Holy Gospel of his Son, and the acts and inspired writings of his servants. Therein Christ plainly tells his followers (John, xvi. 24), Hitherto ye have asked nothing in my name ; ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full. This, then, is what we are to do: finding that our mere natural reason will not teach us spiritual things, we are to pray to him to fulfil his word to us, that he will show us plainly of the Father. At that day, that is, now that Christ is gone to prepare a place for us, if we truly love him, and keep his commandments, now are we to pray to the Father in his name.

And to this he adds the greatest encouragement that can be given: For you who believe in me (he intimates), there is not that necessity that I should pray unto the Father for you; for the Father himself loveth you, because ye have loved me, and believe that I am come out from God. But, perhaps, some person will object, that all these great gifts and promises seem to be held forth to those only who love Christ; what is to become of me, a wretched sinner, who can never be said to have truly loved Christ? for the Scripture plainly saith, He that loveth me, keepeth my sayings; whereas I have often blasphemed thy holy name and word; scoffed at thy sayings, crucified thee continually by my evil deeds, and daily exposed thy cross to open shame.-Let every such disconsolate sinner hear, whoever he be; let him attend to the next glorious promise of the prophecy: Christ hath received gifts for men, even for the REBELLIOUS. It is in this most gracious description of his character, that he differs from that just now related, where he intimates, I do not say that I will pray for you (i. e. those who have already obtained grace from above to do my will) but in his procuring gifts even for the rebellious, it implies, for whose conviction and conversion he means to pray, even for those who most need these graces: it expressly marks his office as Mediator and Intercessor; the

speech of the forgiving father to his elder son in the Gospel, is perfectly agreeable to Christ's declaration to his loving disciples (for whom he intimates there is not equal necessity to pray), Son, all that I have is thine. But his conduct towards the poor returning prodigal shows his pitying regard for sinners, and renders him still dearer to us on that account; for the close of the father's speech is equally expressive of his restoring grace: My son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. But as DOUBT constitutes the chief of the desponding sinner's misery, perhaps this difficulty may be suggested to him: Does not our Saviour say, in another place, I pray not for the world? Is not this spoken of sinners? how then are we to reconcile this with the above character of mediating for them? Why, thus: there is surely a great difference between repenting and converted sinners (like the returning prodigal), for whom Christ promises to pray; and hardened unrelenting sinners, described by the dead and thoughtless part of the world so continuing, which is mentioned as enmity with God. But in the words following this alarming passage, Christ thus explains himself, but for those thou hast given me out of the world; such sinners as are weary of their sins, and wish to leave the wicked practices of the world at large, to reform, and return unto God. Sinners, therefore,

you see, may love Christ, for he died to save them, even the REBELLIOUS, even the worst of sinners; for a rebel denotes the foulest mark of natural depravity; it signifies a falling off from due allegiance, and certainly requires a greater share of mercy to be forgiven, than in the case of one not solemnly enlisted to obey. But here a distinction is very proper to be made. In one sense, we all are sinners; for there is none that strictly doeth good; we are all unprofitable servants. In this light we are all rebels against God, for every Christian hath enlisted under Christ's banner; and all must confess, they have fallen short of their bounden duty. But this is the distinction that demands our notice: whether, as before intimated, we are among the number of the wilful, or of the penitent sinners. It is for the latter Christ hath received gifts, and faith, and grace, and the promise of a glorious crown. The very worst, the most rebellious, have sweet hope held out to them, if they are truly weary of the heavy burden of sin, and will come to Christ for help. The contritę, the broken-hearted, the humble penitent, he will in no wise cast out; though their sins were as red as scarlet, they shall be made white as snow, through the faith that purifies by love. But they must not neglect the day of their visitation: God's Spirit will not always strive with men. They must be alive to the accepted time,

before their feet reach the dark mountains, before death shuts up their day of grace for ever. And this brings me to the last observation upon the text. Christ hath not only given us security that he hath destroyed the enemies to which we are in danger of being enslaved, but that the Spirit that is in us, is greater than that which is in the world. He does not only afford the comfort of having received gifts for all, nay, even for the rebellious; but he positively declares in what the essence of these gifts consists-no less than that the Lord God might dwell among them. Here, to the believer, is a remedy that shuts out all despair. Abundantly hath it been proved that Christ is GOD; and Christ in us, must ever afford a never-failing hope of glory. Christ hath promised that he will never leave nor forsake those that trust in him; even where two or three are gathered together in his name, there is he in the midst of them. It only remains to furnish you with a short and certain proof, how we may know that we truly belong to him, and when he may be said to dwell among us. In proportion, then, as we partake of his Spirit, we are HIS he that hath the Spirit hath Christ, and he that hath not the Spirit, hath not Christ; for no one can call Jesus Lord, but by the Spirit. Now, in this can no man be mistaken; for the wisdom from above, is known by its fruits. In proportion, therefore, as you feel a hatred to

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