Every The sacred writers, in describing the Messiah, select every natural and artificial object that is majestic, beautiful, fragrant, and necessary to illustrate his superiority, his beauty, his fragrance, and his importance to man. The written word describes what the Spirit does. To the latter we are indebted for all. real Christian, therefore, catches something of the feelings, breathes something of the same spirit, delights, in some small measure, in the same ineffable object, ardently desiring, with the apostle of the Gentiles, to "count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus his Lord;" and as the needle, though it often quivers, never becomes stationary till it points directly to the pole, so the mind of man never rests till it looks unto Jesus."3 If then the Spirit does not enable us to perceive his adaptation to our wants in all and every respect, it remains to be shown for what purpose revelation was 3 Heb. xii. 2. vouchsafed, for what purpose our Lord "was manifest in the flesh," and for what purpose the Spirit operates at all. Not to dissemble in a point of such moment, the writer, after mature deliberation, is convinced, that the Holy Spirit "glorifies Christ by taking of the things that are his, and showing them" to every real Christian; and that in consequence, "every one who hath heard and learned of the Father," by his Spirit, "cometh unto Jesus Christ," as the one appointed Saviour of all who apply to him in every age and country. Hence, in proportion as every such applicant perceives his power and willingness to save, delights in and chooses him as his Lord, and yields implicit obedience to his authority, a joy arises in the breast as holy as it is calm, and as humble as it is grateful. For Christianity, so far from exterminating the passions, only regulates, refines, and elevates them : teaching us to derive that joy at once from the great and pure fountain of all consolation, by He, means of his ordinances and his word. Such is the representation of the Scriptures. "Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord." 66 Rejoice in the Lord alway; and again, I say rejoice." in the character of Mediator, is the ground of all scriptural joy; and the Holy Spirit, as enabling us to perceive his suitableness and excellency, is the author of it. There are, however, several expressions used in scripture connected with the ordinary influence of the Spirit, which demand a few observations before this chapter is closed. "The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God." It would extend these reflections further than I intended, and would be unprofitable to the reader to enter into a detail of the absurd views which have been entertained by many respecting 4 Phil. iii. 1; iv. 4. See also Ps. xxxiii. 1; cxlix. 2. Isa. xxix. 19. Habak, iii. 18. 5 Rom. viii. 16. the "witness of the Spirit." It may suffice to remark, that it cannot allude to any thing extraordinary- because nothing of the kind is elsewhere intimated as a proof of adoption. Nor can it refer to any particular impulse on the mind, because, independently of the words properly rendered "with our Spirit," in the authorized version, the terms "bear witness," whenever applied to God, are used in the sense of producing evidence. Thus it is said, "God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will." "Speaking boldly in the Lord, which gave testimony to the word of his grace, and granted signs and wonders to be done by their hands."-" Nevertheless, he left not himself without witness, in that he did good, and gave us rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness." "For the works which the Father have given me to finish, the same works that I do, bear witness of me, that the Father hath sent me."-" The works that I do in my Father's name, they bear witness of me. In these instances, nothing is spoken; but the effects produced are evidences of divine authority, power, and favour. In like manner, when it is said, "the Spirit beareth witness," nothing is uttered, nothing is suggested, there is no mental vision; but the Holy Spirit" sheds abroad the love of God in the heart," enables us to "walk, not after the flesh," but to "mind the things of the Spirit,” and to "mortify the deeds of the body." דיי These effects are evidences that "he dwells" in us, and that "we are led by him."8 The Spirit's witnessing with our spirit consists, therefore, in enabling us to ascertain by those effects, "that we are the children of God." Hence, the Spirit himself is repre 6 Heb. ii. 4. Acts xiv. 3, 17. John. v. 36, 37; x. 25. 7 Rom. v. 5; viii. 1, 5, 13. 8 Rom. viii. 9, 14. Comp. 1 John iii. 24. |