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in religious exercises; and (6.) readily to receive and to cherish every good and holy desire, suggested to our minds by thy Holy Spirit.

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10. PARAPHRASE FORMED.

We are, [in our natural state,] [deprived of all spiritual life, by reason of] sin, and [have no power,] [without the influences of the Spirit,] to [execute, or fulfil] any [enjoined duty,] [in a proper and acceptable man.] All the [solemn duties, or sacred appointments] of God, in order to be [successful in performing that for which they are intended,] must be [engaged in, and executed with the whole heart,] must [come from] faith, and must be [attended] by holy [wishes for spiritual benefits;] which [spirituality of mind, faith, and desires after holiness,] we have no [capacity or power] to [cause or produce] in our [souls or affections,] without the [powerful and effectual working] of the Spirit of God.

24.

24. Q. How are you then to expect the influences of the Spirit of God, to render these services effectual?

A. God has promised infallibly to give his Holy Spirit to every one who really desires salvation, and who humbly and earnestly asks him to bestow it. Every sinner is without these humble and earnest desires, and is unable to create them in his own heart; but he may expect to receive them from God, by attending, according to his ability, upon the divine ordinances, where God has promised to meet with siņners, and in his own good time, to grant them his blessing.

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1. VERBAL AND GENERAL EXERCISE.

What has God done?

What has God promised to do?

What has God promised to give?

Who has promised to give his Holy Spirit?

In what manner has God promised to give his Holy Spirit!
Whose Holy Spirit is to be given ?

To whom has God promised to give his Holy Spirit ?
What must they do?

What must they desire ?

In what manner must they desire salvation?

What must the sinner do, besides desiring salvation? What will God do to every one who really desires salvation, and asks for it ?

For what must the sinner ask?

From whom must the sinner ask salvation?

In what manner must the sinner ask salvation ?
What must the sinner do humbly and earnestly?
Who must humbly and earnestly ask salvation?
What must the sinner ask God to do?

To bestow what?

What is every sinner without ?

Humble and earnest what?

Who is without these humble and earnest desires?
What kind of desires is the sinner without ?

What is every sinner unable to do?

What is he unable to create ?

Who is unable to create these desires ?

In what is the sinner unable to create these desires?

In whose heart is the sinner unable to create these desires?

What may the sinner expect?

From whom may the sinner expect this?

What may the sinner expect to receive from God?

Who may expect to receive these desires ?

By doing what, may the sinner expect these desires from God ?

Upon what is the sinner to attend ?

Who is to attend upon the ordinances ?

Upon what ordinances is the sinner to attend ?

In what manner is the sinner to attend upon the ordinances ?

What is the sinner to do according to his ability?

According to whose ability is the sinner to attend upon the ordinances ?

What has God promised to those who attend upon the ordinances according to their ability ?

Who has promised to meet with sinners ?
Where has God promised to meet with sinners ?
With whom has God promised to meet ?
What has God promised to grant ?

Who has promised to grant a blessing?

To whom has God promised to grant a blessing
When has God promised to grant his blessing to sinners ▾
In whose good time is the sinner to get the blessing?
What is the sinner to get in God's good time?
In what is the sinner to expect God's blessing?

2. NUMERICAL EXERCISE.

How many things are here stated with respect to those to whom God will give his Holy Spirit? Two.-l. They really desire salvation. 2. They ask God to bestow it.) What is the first? &c.

How many things are here stated as to the sinner's asking for salvation? (Two.-1. He asks it humbly. 2. He asks it earnestly.) What is the first ? &c. How many things are here stated with regard to the sinner? (Two.-1. He is without these humble and earnest desires. 2. He is unable to create them in his own heart.) What is the first? &c.

How many things are here mentioned as being required from the sinner, before he is warranted to expect these desires? (Two.-1. He is to attend upon the ordinances. 2. He is to attend upon them according to his ability.) What is the first? &c.

How many things are here mentioned as being promised by God to the enquiring sinner? (Two.-1.

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He has promised to meet the sinner. promised to grant him his blessing.) What is the first? &c.

3. DOCTRINES SEPARATED.

How many doctrines are contained in this answer? (Ten.-1. God has promised to give his Holy Spirit. 2. The Holy Spirit will be given to all who sincerely ask it. 3. No sinner naturally possesses humble and earnest desires for salvation. 4. No sinner can create humble and earnest desires in his own heart. 5. Humble and holy desires are to be received from Ged. 6. Attendance upon divine ordinances is the way to receive God's blessing. 7. Sinners are to attend upon ⚫ the ordinances to the best of their ability. 8. God has promised to meet sinners in religious ordinances. 9. Sinners are to continue to wait upon God till his own good time. 10. God will at last meet the enquiring sinner, and will grant him his blessing.) What is the first? &c

4. EXPLANATIONS AND ILLUSTRATIONS. Infallibly, most certainly, and without the possibility of failure.

Every one, each individual sinner.

Really, truly, and without hypocrisy.

Desires, earnestly wishes for.

Salvation, freedom from the power, pollution, and punishment of sin.

Humbly, with lowliness of mind; meekly.

Earnestly, with ardent desire.

Asks, prays to.

Bestow, give.

Without, destitute of.

Desires, wishes for spiritual good.

Unable, incapable; without the influences of the Spirit

of God.

Create them, bring them into existence.

Heart, soul.

Expect, with confidence look for and hope.

Receive, get.

Attending, being present at, and waiting.

According to his ability, as well as he is able.

Divine ordinances, religious observances appointed in the Bible.

Where, in which ordinances.

To meet with, graciously to find out, and come to. In his own good time, in such a time and way as he, in his infinite wisdom, knows to be best.

Grant, give unto.

His blessing, the effectual influences of his Holy Spirit, to work in them complete salvation.

5. DOCTRINES PROVED.

194. (1.) God has promised to give his Holy Spirit. John xiv. 26. The Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach yon all things.

195. (2.) The Holy Spirit will be given to all who sincerely ask it.-Luke xi. 13. If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children; how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?

196. (3.) No sinner naturally possesses humble and earnest desires for salvation.-1 Cor. ii. 14. The natural rnan receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God; for they are foolishness unto him; neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

197. (4.) No sinner can create humble and holy desires in his own heart.1 Cor. xv. 10. By the grace of God I am what I am.

198. (5.) Humble and holy desires are to be received from God.John vi. 44. No man can come to me, except the Father, which hath sent me, draw him.

199. (6.) Attendance upon religious ordinances is the way appointed by God for receiving his grace.—Prov. viii. 34. Blessed is the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors.

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