who have no more power to act without the Holy Spirit's help, than the prophet had over the dry bones to give them life. It must be the Divine breath. Christians feel much pain in seeing friends so little affected with truth. But Paul may plant, and Apollos water; it is God alone who can give the increase. This Spirit alone can open the heart of Lydia, and the heart of the jailer. But we are not laboring in vain, though God alone can work effectually. He often moves men by rational considerations: as, "What a fool and a madman am I while despising God and his ministers" Thus discovering truth by means of the preached word, he embraces it, and acknowledges it before men; he cries to his former companions, "Choose ye this day whom ye will serve; but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord."

I would add a few reflections upon this subject: and 1st. A word of caution to teachers, parents, and guardians. Truth should be proposed according to the capacity of the hearer. Learn of Christ in this text: "He shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young." Truth may be enforced so as to blind and perplex the pupil. See how our Lord taught the woman of Samaria; John iv. St. Paul also sets us a pattern: "I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto you were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able;" 1 Cor. iii. 2. The Spirit shall guide you into all truth: i. e. patiently, tenderly, gradually, but effectually.

2ndly. I would give a hint to such as are learning, especially to the young. Though there is needed more than your teacher to teach you, yet this is your appointed means of instruction, and you must not lean to your own understanding, or despise your teacher, or you

will discourage him. Take care that you have not the prejudices that I have been speaking of. Read the account of Philip and the eunuch, and mark the docility with which he received the lesson given him.

3rdly. The subject affords encouragement to all who desire truth and knowledge. The same Holy Spirit is promised to the Church in all ages. In the Old Testament David prays, "Take not thy Holy Spirit from me." And what was necessary to David is necessary to every believer to the end of the world. Persons seem not practically to adopt this truth, that "if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his." Did not our Lord himself teach? And yet, after all, how little was his doctrine understood! His disciples ask," Lord, wilt thou at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?" i. e. the kingdom they were thinking of. But when he, the Spirit of truth is come, he will guide you into all truth."

4thly. Take heed of curiosity. This is opposed to our giving God credit for what he says. If curiosity would ask with Nicodemus, "How can these things be?" how is it that the Spirit acts upon our minds? the answer is, "The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit ;" John iii. 8. Here is a mighty agent, producing a mighty effect: and we have only to believe and to adore,-not to reason. "How much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask it !"—is all we want.

5thly. Would you gain the promised benefit? Honor the means of grace. Come to them not only by prayer, saying, "Oh, send out thy light and thy truth: let them lead me; let them bring me unto thy holy hill, and to thy tabernacles:" but be diligent also in

searching the Scriptures, and walk in the fear of the Lord all the day long.

6thly. How great is the depravity of those who refuse such a Teacher! "O ye sons of men, how long will ye turn my glory into shame? How long will ye love vanity, and seek after leasing?" One of the characters of this kind came to these church doors when they were repairing, and said to me, "You know that religion is all a farce!" He afterwards sent for me, being on a sick-bed, with a mortification in his mouth; and, in the utmost anguish, he spoke to me by his countenance, though he could not with his mouth, and said that religion was no farce! Know, therefore, O ye sons of men, the value of true godliness. To those who despise, God says, "I also will laugh at your calamity I will mock when your fear cometh." Prov.

i. 26.

Finally, let us all be willing pupils of the Holy Spirit, and sit at the feet of this great Teacher. Let us cleave with simplicity to our gracious Friend and Helper. In so doing, we shall have nothing to fear. Let us endeavor to submit to our dispensation, though it may be a humbling one. Wherever the Holy Spirit leads, we may safely follow. "Thou shalt remember all the way which the Lord thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart." If the way, and the means he makes use of, suit not with our carnal taste, yet if they produce the designed end, if they produce the right fruit, let us be thankful, and bless God for it. Let us come, as poor benighted sinners, to the light of life.

BAPTISM OF THE SPIRIT.

For by one Spirit we are all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.—1 Cor. xii. 13. [1806.]

THE Church of God is in the Scripture compared to a garden, in which the ministers of the Gospel are represented as the laborers, and the success of their labors. as depending entirely on Divine influences. The Holy Ghost breathing upon the garden of the Church promotes its growth. Sol. Song, iv. 16. Whether it be the union of the Church, or its growth and prosperity, the apostle directs our attention to the same Spirit, as the true source of the blessing: "I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. So then, neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase." 1 Cor. iii. 6, 7.

The apostle shows, in the verses preceding the text, that while the Holy Ghost divides Spiritual gifts severally as he will, by his own power, and according to his own pleasure, yet that they are distributed, not for private honor and advantage, but for the edification of the body, the Church. Christ and his Church make but one body, as Head and members. All the members are baptized into the same body, and are made to drink into the same Spirit. The outward right is of Divine institution, significant of the new birth, and called therefore "the washing of regeneration," Titus iii. 5; but it is by the Spirit, by the renewing of the Holy Ghost, that we are made members of Christ's body. All who have the Spirit of Christ, whether Jew or

Gentile, bond or free, are the members of Christ, and none else. I shall consider,

I. THE UNION OF THE TRUE CHURCH.

II. THE IMPORTANT INFERENCES WHICH WE MAY DRAW

FROM THE SUBJECT

I. THE UNION OF THE TRUE CHURCH. Prior to any distinctions in it, the Catholic and Apostolic Church had always a union of privilege, and a union of heart. They are united in knowledge, and they are not less united in heart; and this is the work of the Holy Ghost. They have a union of privilege. St. Paul says, "Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; and were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; and did all eat the same spiritual meat; and did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that Spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ." 1 Cor. x. 1-4. We are not now to look for signs and wonders, but the Spirit's influences in the heart of every believer. All real Christians unite in belief of the Divinity of the Holy Spirit, that he is one of the persons of the Triune Jehovah: they also unite in belief of the work of the Spirit; namely, his illuminating, regenerating, and sanctifying influences; his succoring and consoling operations. But it is not a mere belief of these things, as important articles of the Christian. faith, which constitutes the privilege of true believers; it is the Spirit's special influences on the heart. Therefore, I would say, they have a union of privilege,

1st. From a common impression of the Holy Spirit upon their hearts. "In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the Gospel of your salvation in whom also, after that ye believed, ye were