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Inheritance, by changing the condition annexed to eternal life, from fomething to be DONE, to fomething to be BELIEVED. And this was FAITH IN OUR REDEEMER. For by fuch a change, this important bleffing became less fubject to a new lofs or danger.

But this was not all. The fame boun

tiful Lord of life did, for its further fecurity, impart to every true Believer, the ftrength and light of his HOLY SPIRIT to fupport FAITH in working out our Salvation *.

Natural Reafon, indeed, contemplating the attributes of the Deity, discovered to us, that when human abilities alone are too weak to support us in the performance and discharge of moral duty, God will lend his helping-hand to aid our fincere endeavours.

But to manifeft to us with what more abundant measure this aid is dispensed, under the GOSPEL, our bleffed Redeemer hath minutely explained all that relates to the PERSON and to the operations of the Divine Difpenfer, called the HOLY SPIRIT; whom

* See The Do&rine of Grace,

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the FATHER and the SoN have, for the further fecurity of this recovered bleffing, been pleased to affociate with themselves in the adminiftration of this economy. Which divine Perfon bears his share, with the other two, in the actual REDEMPTION OF MANKIND.

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Thus far as to his NATURE. By which appears, that this species of divine affiftance, which our holy Religion calls GRACE, is to be understood as one of the peculiar bleffings bestowed upon the FAITHFUL ; and to be reckoned in that number. The words of St. John make this truth ftill more apparent. This (faith he) Jefus Spake of the SPIRIT, which they that believe on him fhould receive. For THE HOLY GHOST WAS NOT YET GIVEN, BECAUSE THAT JESUS WAS NOT YET GLORIFIED *.

The OFFICE and OPERATION of this holy Spirit, is to fupport our Faith and to perfect our Obedience, by enlightening the underStanding, and by purifying the will.

This, the bleffed Jefus declares, where he profeffedly treats of the office of the

* John vii. 39.

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boly Spirit.-I will pray the Father (says he) and he shall give you another COMFORTER, that he may abide with you for ever; even the SPIRIT OF TRUTH. He dwelleth you; and fhall be in you-which is the HOLY GHOST; whom the Father shall fend in my name: he fhall TEACH YOU ALL THINGS *.

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These are the two parts of his office: As the TEACHER, to imprefs upon the understanding all thofe practical and fpeculative truths, which conftitute the fum and fubftance of our holy Religion; and as the COMFORTER, by purifying and fupporting. the will, to enable us to persevere in the profeffion of those truths that constitute the body of moral righteousness; the foundation (as we have shewn) of that JUSTIFYING FAITH, to which the Gospel hath annexed falvation or eternal life.

And the œconomy of the Gospel seemed to require, that when this Difpenfer of divine affiftance, the HOLY SPIRIT, was to be clearly revealed, and perfonally diftinguished, as foon as Jefus was GLORIFIED †,

* John xiv. 26.

Q 2

John vii. 39.

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his first descent, amongst the Faithful, fhould be attended with figns and wonders, to bear witness to the SANCTIFIER in the fame way that they had borne witness to the REDEEMER. Thefe figns were, in both cafes, of the fame nature, and performed for the fame ends: Firft, for CREDENTIALS of their miffion; and fecondly, INDICATIONS of their office." When the day of "Pentecoft was fully come, they [the

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Apoftles] were all, with one accord, in

one place; and fuddenly there came a "found from heaven as of a rushing mighty 66 wind, and it filled all the house where they were fitting. And there appeared "unto them cloven tongues, like as of "fire, and it fat upon each of them and

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they were all filled with the HOLY "GHOST; and began to speak with other "tongues, as the SPIRIT gave them ut"terance*.'

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This miracle manifested itself in the gift of tongues, to the aftonished multitude, barbarous and civil, then cafually affembled from every quarter of the habitable Globe,

*Acts ii. 1. & feq.

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who heard the APOSTLES, (all natives or inhabitants of Galilee,) fpeaking to each of these Strangers, in his own mother-tongue. And this being for the fervice and conviction of others, was, in its nature, TEMPORARY*. Other effufions of the Holy Spirit were PERMANENT; and thefe, inftead of being conveyed in a found from heaven as of A RUSHING MIGHTY WIND, were only conveyed and felt in the STILL, SMALL VOICE. For these were principally for the ufe and benefit of the favoured Receiver; who, although he himself was fully affured by them of the divine prefence, yet could he give no fufficient evidence of that Prefence to others.

Thus it appears, that this fpecies of divine affiftance, which our holy Religion calls GRACE, is to be confidered as one of the peculiar bleffings bestowed upon the Faithful. For, as hath been obferved, the FATHER and the SON have been graciously pleased to associate, in the administration of this new economy, a third divine Perfon, called in Scripture the HOLY GHOST.

* See note [K], at the end of this Book.

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