conceived that his name would have been united with that of the Father and of the Son in these solemn acts of worship. But, in fact, the whole Scriptures bear witness to him as God, equally with the Father and the Son. Ananias, " in lying to the Holy Ghost, lied unto Gode" And we, in being his temples, are the temples of the living God1. But, whilst in his essential Godhead he is equal with the Father and the Son, in his office he is inferior to them both, and acts, if I may so say, a subordinate part under the Gospel dispensation. And this accounts for his being called The Spirit of the Father8, and The Spirit of the Sonh, under which latter designation we are this time called more particularly to consider him.
My text says, " If any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his." Now it is of importance to ascertain, why this name is given to the Holy Spirit. I conceive that the following reasons may fitly be assigned for it. He is so called, I apprehend,
1. Because of his peculiar agency in reference to Christ himself.
2. Because of his subserviency to Christ in the economy of redemption.
3. Because of its being his special office to glorify Christ.
He is called The Spirit of Christ, 1st, because of his peculiar agency in reference to Christ himself It was he who formed the human nature of Christ in the Virgin's womb. Mary was told by the angel Gabriel, that she should conceive in her womb, and bring forth a son, and call his name Jesus : and, on her inquiring of him how that saying of his should be accomplished, seeing that she was a virgin, the angel answered her, saying, " The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall over- shadow thee : therefore, also, that holy thing which shall be born of thee, shall be called the Son of God1."
0 Acts v. 3, 4. f 1 Cor. iii. 17. with vi. ID.
8 Matt. x. 20. John xv. 20. h Gal. iv. <i.
• Luke i. 35.