our faith in Him, to whom our prayers are to be addressed?·

3. Do we believe the Holy Ghost to be united with the Father and the Son, one God? Whilst a persuasion of this truth directs us "to acknowledge the glory of the eternal Trinity, and in the power of the divine Majesty to worship the Unity," let the reflection upon that perfect harmony, which distinguishes the Lord God of heaven, prompt us to cultivate union among our brethren upon earth. As the holy Three are essentially one in name and in nature, so let us study to be united, not in profession only, but in brotherly love and affections; and to glorify God by being perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment," "with one heart and with one mouth." This is an inference, to which Christ hath directed us : "Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; That they all may be one: as thou, Fa

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• Collect for Trinity Sunday.

ther, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me "."

4. Do we believe that the Holy Ghost is a Person? Let the various evidences of that truth be our security against the mistake of those, who represent him, as only an operation or quality of the Father; and so endeavour to sap the foundations of the true "faith, which was once delivered to the Saints."

5. Do we believe, that he proceedeth from the Father and the Son? Let this conviction induce us to look with gratitude unspeakable upon the holy Three, for their continual participation in the work of our redemption: in that when the Father had contrived the plan of man's salvation by sending his Son into the world, and the Son had executed it by dying for our sins and rising for our justification; they concurred in "sending the Holy Ghost, the Spirit both of the Father and

r John xvii. 20, 21.

of the Son," to enlighten our understandings, to sanctify our hearts, and to " our feet into the way of peace."

guide

Finally, do we believe, that the Holy Ghost proceedeth from the Father and the Son, that he may come unto us?—that he is sent by them, to be given unto us? Let us make every provision in our power, that we may be prepared to receive him. Let us labour to remove from ourselves every offence, whereby we may be defiled. Let us be diligent in practising the means, which may best fit us for his reception: that so we may indeed be "the temple of God," and that "the Spirit of God may dwell in us;" and that from endeavouring to "glorify him in our body and in our spirit, which are his," we may enjoy the delightful assurance that "he is our God, and that we are his people!"

SERMON XV.

NECESSITY, EVIDENCES, AND MEANS OF RECEIVING THE HOLY GHOST.

ACTS xix. 2.

And he said unto them, Have ye received the Holy believed?

Ghost, since ye

IN a former discourse on these words and on the passage with which they are connected, we inquired into the existence and nature of the Holy Ghost. It follows that we are now to consider the question, "whether we have received Him?”. question, which involves in it these three points 1st. The obligation, under which we lie, to receive him. 2. The proofs, by which we are to judge, whether we have

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