as God, in his Church, declaring his will to us ; or as God, in our nature, interposing for us ; but as God, in our hearts, dwelling and operating in us : and this brings him into such immediate contact with us, and requires of us such a minute attention to all our ways, that we shrink back from every part of the subject, and, for the pacifying of our own minds, cast reflections upon it as visionary, unintelligible, absurd. I do not mean to say that there is in the minds of men a distinct consciousness of such a process, but only that there is in reality such a process in the human mind, though men are not exactly aware of it. Men do not like to have God too near to them ; and the nearer he is brought to them, the more they shew their aversion to that which is the means of presenting him to their minds. Under such circum- stances, I scarcely know how to enter upon the work which I have undertaken. Indeed I am strongly reminded of the feelings of St. Paul himself, when, in reference to his ministrations at Corinth, he said, " I was among you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling3." Yet, from so interesting a subject, espe- cially whilst I judge it necessary to complete the plan which I had originally proposed, I dare not draw back. The importance of it will plead my apology, if any apology be required for " declaring to you the whole counsel of God." Indeed, we need go no further than to the words of my text, to see the inconceivable importance of the subject which I am bringing before you. What! If any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his!" What can this mean? Who is this " Spirit?" What is it to "have" him? Why is the having him so indispensable to my wel- fare ? What must I do in order that I may get pos- session of him ? And what must become of me, if I possess him not ? — I say, to any man that has the least concern about his soul, these thoughts must force themselves with an overwhelming power upon his mind. And it is in the hope that God may in his tender mercy make use of me, for the exciting and
a 1 Cor. ii. 3. V2