to the soul of every believer. The elements of water, and of bread and wine when consecrated to this holy use, are still only outward signs, they are still only elements, there is no change of the water in baptism, the bread and wine in the Lord's supper continue the same, without any change by transubstantiation or consubstantiation; but when duly consecrated to their sacred use and design, they most strikingly represent the grace and power of the Spirit of God, of which they are signs and tokens. The water in baptism represents the water of life, and so becomes the laver of regeneration, and by the bread and wine Christ is evidently set forth as crucified among us. The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? For we being many are one bread, and one body, for we are all partakers of that one bread." It was so designed by our Lord when he took bread and blessed it, and brake it, and said, "Take, eat, this is my body;" likewise after supper he took the cup and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, "Drink ye all of it; for this is my blood of

the New Testament which is shed for many, for the remission of sins." Water is the sign of baptism in which the person is baptized in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, and so by the effectual workings of God's power, becomes the laver of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost. "For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ, have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female, for ye are all one in Christ Jesus." The sacraments of Christ then are not only outward and visible signs to distinguish God's people, which are seen and known, and understood as objects of sense, but they both represent the mystical washing away of sin, and the invisible operation of God's grace and Holy Spirit in cleansing and enlightening, renewing and sanctifying the soul. They are not only keys, or signs of admission, but they are as it were seals annexed by God to the word of his grace, to assure us of an interest in the atoning blood, and justifying righteousness, and sanctifying Spirit of his Son.

When the outward and visible sign is ministered, it is seen; but the grace of God is unseen.

We know not how the gift of God is conveyed to the soul, it is the grace of his Holy Spirit; and the manner of its operation can only be known to "Him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will," whose "thoughts are not as our thoughts, and whose ways are not as our ways;" but who "worketh both to will and to do of his good pleasure." We know only that the same God exercises his sovereign power both in the operation of the natural and of the spiritual world. And as our Lord says, 66 'the wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but cans't not tell whence it cometh, or whither it goeth; so is every one that is born of the Spirit." We can know its effect by what we witness in our own hearts, when "the Spirit beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God; and if children, then heirs, heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ." We can know its effects on others by their life and conduct in the world—“ Ye shall know them by their fruits;" and "the fruit of the Spirit is in all righteousness, and goodness, and truth." "The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance.' "And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by

the spirit which he hath given us ;" "hereby we know that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit." There is a promise of God to convey the gifts of his grace and Holy Spirit through the appointed means to those who rightly observe them, to those who ask with the prayer of faith, and in obedience to his holy will and commandments. 66 It shall come to pass," says God, "that in the last days, I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh." "I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground; I will pour my spirit upon thy seed, and my blessing upon thine offspring."

The promises of the Spirit given by God himself under the old covenant are often repeated by Christ in the gospel of grace and salvation through faith in him. Thus he said to the woman of Samaria, "If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink, thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water." To the Jews he said, "If any man thirst, let him come unto me and drink." "He that believeth on me," as the Scripture hath said, "out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that

believe on him

should receive; for the Holy Ghost was not yet given, because that Jesus was not yet glorified." On the very evening before his death, when he was about to return to the Father, and was taking his parting, affectionate leave of his disciples, he said to them "If ye love me keep my commandments, and I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another comforter, that he may abide with you for ever, even the Spirit of truth." "But the Comforter which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things" and "testify of me." "It is expedient for you that I go away, for if I go not away the Comforter will not come unto you, but if I depart I will send him unto you. And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment;" "he shall guide you into all truth," "he shall glorify me, for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you."

66

The promises thus made by the God of all grace to his faithful people in his holy covenant are not only exceedingly great and precious, but will on his part be most surely performed. • For all the promises of God in Christ are Yea, and in him Amen, to the glory of God." "He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all,