their resolution. And to such a degree were their hearts filled with the " love and fear of God," that all sublunary things were divested both of charms and terrors, and the service of God be- came, as it were, the very element in which they breathed.
Thus may the most ignorant amongst us have " the eyes of his understanding enlightened " by him : to every one of us will he approve himself a "wonderful counsellor^:" he will " strengthen us with might in our inward man :" he will fill us with a most affectionate and reverential regard for God: he will give us both an exquisite discernment of what is right, and a supreme delight in it^: and, in a word, he will "transform us into his own image in righteousness and true holiness^." However different these gifts may appear, and however un- equal the capacities of those who are to receive them ', they shall be imparted to all according to their measure of faith '^; and the Spirit that Jesus will bestow, shall work them all, and in all'.]
Application —
[It has been seen that Christ " ascended up on high on purpose that he might fill all things™ :" moreover he has assured us that, if we ask for the gift of his Spirit, we shall not ask in vain". Now we cannot but acknowledge that we need the in- fluences of the Holy Spirit in all the preceding particulars. In consequence of our not habitually weighing all existing circum- stances with due care and impartiality, we are extremely apt to err, and, by injudicious conduct, to give offence °. But it is both our duty and our privilege to " walk wisely before God in a perfect way." The Holy Spirit is promised to us for this very end. Let all then direct their eyes unto him. Let the ignorant, the doubting, the weak, and all who desire to have tlie divine life carried on and perfected in their souls, apply to him. Nor let any rest satisfied with low attainments, since Christ is both able and willing to enlarge our faculties, and to increase our sanctity, and to bring us to the measure of his own perfect stature.P.]
f Isai. ix. 6. e Col. i. 9—11. '> Eph. iv. 24.
i Matt. xi. 25. Isai. xxxv. 8. ^ Eph. iv. 7. Matt. ix. 29.
I 1 Cor. xii. 4, 11. " Eph. iv. 10. " Luke xi. 13.
° I wish religious professors to pay particular attention to this hint.
P Eph. iv. 13.