our hopes, and claims to happiness; but more immediately and directly the donation of the Holy Spirit to the Christian church, and to all its members. The nature and design thereof briefly declared.

God's gracious design was to reclaim mankind from their ignorance, errors, and sins, and to reconcile them to himself by the mediation of his Son, whom he sent to instruct them in their duty, &c. But to render this successful according to the capacities of human nature, it was requisite to provide convincing arguments to persuade men of the truth of these things; means to excite their attention to them; motives to accept them; and a power also to retain them firm in their belief, and uphold them in the performance of the conditions required.

To prevent therefore the disappointment of his merciful intentions, God to the ministry of his eternal wisdom adjoined the efficacy of his eternal love and blessed Spirit, the which not only conducted our divine Saviour into his earthly tabernacle, but did continually reside with him, and attend him in the performance of his miraculous works, attesting the truth of his quality, commission, and doctrine, and exciting men to notice these things. Nay, farther to induce them to comply with these gracious overtures, he faithfully promised that he would impart the same blessed Spirit, as the continual guide and comforter of all who should sincerely embrace them, and conform their lives to his righteous laws.

Now although the natural and ordinary manner of this divine Spirit's operation is not by violent and sensible impressions, but rather in way of imperceptible penetration, hardly discovering itself except by its results; and though its proper and principal effects relate to the furthering our performance of the conditions of our salvation; yet more fully to satisfy the doubtful, confound the obstinate, and confirm the faithful, God was pleased, after our Lord's ascension, to dispense both to teachers and disciples more liberal and extraordinary communi

cation of that Holy Spirit, attended with wonderful effects, &c.

The Christian church therefore obliges us at this time to commemorate that incomparable gift, then conferred more visibly on the church, and still really bestowed on every particular member who is duly incorporated into it.

It is so bestowed, that is, on each member; for the evangelical covenant extends to every Christian, and a principal ingredient thereof is the collation of this spirit: this fully shown from Holy Scripture. Shown also to have been the doctrine constantly, and with very general consent delivered down in the Catholic church. Hence it may be worth while to consider the worth and excellency of this divine gift.

That it is transcendently valuable, we may hence generally collect; that even in our Lord's esteem it did not only countervail, but in a manner surmount the benefit of his presence. It is, said he, expedient for you that I go away, &c. this point enlarged on. A more distinct survey of its benefits instituted.

1. We owe to the Holy Spirit our spiritual state and being; our spiritual life, freedom, and honorable condition. By virtue of this quickening Spirit we are raised from death to an immortal state of life, being quickened together with Christ. We are enfranchised from intolerable slavery, from the spirit of bondage unto fear, &c. We are also advanced to an honorable condition, ennobled with illustrious relations, and intitled to glorious privileges: for thence we have access unto the Father, and are no more strangers, but fellow-citizens of the Saints, and of the household of God: this point enlarged on.

2. Neither only relatively and extrinsically is our estate thus bettered, but we ourselves are answerably changed and amended by the same Holy Spirit; being, as St. Paul says, renewed in the spirit of our mind; becoming new creatures, created according to God in righteousness.

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Such doctrines, as that our happiness consists not in affluence of temporal enjoyments, but in a disposition of mind curbing our appetites and quelling our passions; in conformity of practice to rules distasteful to our sense; in gaining and retaining the love of an Infinite Being; that naked goodness is to be preferred before all the pomp and glory of this world, &c.; such doctrines are indeed hard and harsh to us, absurd to our natural conceits, and abominable to our carnal minds: of our own accord, without divine attraction, we never should come to Christ. His own disciples struggled against such doctrines, and without the aid of the Spirit would scarcely have admitted many evangelical truths.

As for the mighty sages of the world, the wise men according to the flesh, they were far more ready to deride than to admit them. Though some few sparks of divine knowlege may have been driven out by rational consideration and philosophical study, yet no external instruction, no interior discourse, could remove the mists of ignorance, and awaken the lethargic stupidity of their souls: this topic enlarged on.

Thus is the light of spiritual knowlege, together with a temper of mind disposed to receive it, communicated by the Holy Spirit. But farther than this, by the same divine power is imparted vital heat and vigor, active strength and courage. Though our spirit should be willing, yet our flesh is weak, &c. : knowlege therefore and willingness to do good are not alone sufficient this topic fully enlarged on and illustrated.

3. The continued subsistence and preservation of our spiritual being, and active powers, the actual use and exercise of them, all our discreet conduct, all our good practice, rely on the Holy Spirit. It is true of our spiritual, no less than of our natural life; if he doth avert his face we are troubled, &c. On all occasions we need his direction, aid, and comfort; for the way of man is not in himself, &c. We are vain and fickle in our purposes, slow in our proceedings; apt to faint and stumble

in our practice; we need therefore this sure oracle and faithful friend, to guide, encourage, and support us; to guard us in trials; comfort us in afflictions; and impart to us joy unspeakable in believing and well-doing. So many and great are the blessings which he imparts to us. Concluding exhortations.

SERMON LXXVII.

A WHIT-SUNDAY SERMON OF THE GIFT OF THE HOLY GHOST.

ACTS, CHAP. II.-VERSE 38.

And ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

AMONG the divers reasonable grounds and ends of the observing festival solemnities, (such as are comforting the poor by hospitable relief, refreshing the weary laborer by cessation from ordinary toil, maintaining good-will among neighbors by cheerful and free conversation, quickening our spirits and raising our fancies by extraordinary representations and divertisements, infusing and preserving good humor in people; such as are also the decent conspiring in public expressions of special reverence to God, withdrawing our minds from secular cares, and engaging them to spiritual meditations,) the two principal designs of them seem to be these.

1. The affording occasion (or rather imposing a constraint on us) with a competent frequency to attend unto, to consider on, to instruct ourselves and others in the mysterious doctrines and institutions of our religion.

2. The engaging us seasonably to practise that great duty of thankfully remembering and praising God for those eminent mercies and favors, which by his great grace and goodness have been vouchsafed to us.

For these purposes chiefly did God himself appoint the Jewish festivals; for instance, the Passover, the reason of which being instituted is thus expressed; that thou mayest

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