But we will next consider his operations, under the office of a Sanclifier. In this view we speak of him in our catechism, as " sanctifying the elect people of God." In fact, all that he does as a Teacher, is in order to his work as a Sanctifier. Does he " reveal Christ in us," so as to give us brighter views of his person, and a more comprehensive knowledge of his work and offices ? it is, that " we, beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, may be changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lordp." Does he further enable us to " comprehend the breadth and length, and depth and height, and to know with progressive clearness and certainty the love of Christ which passeth know- ledge ? it is, that we may be thereby " filled with all the fulness of Godq." With increasing knowledge he gives an increase of spiritual perception ; and with that perception, a spiritual appetite ; and with that appetite, a spiritual attainment ; and this continues to advance, till " the soul with all its powers is brought into captivity to the obedience of Christ r." I think the whole process, though above the conception of the highest archangel, may, for all practical purposes, be brought down to the apprehension of a child. Our blessed Lord compares it to the wind, which is mighty in operation, but visible only in its effects. " It blows when and where it listeth, but we cannot tell either whence it comes, or whither it goes5;" yet of its agency we have no doubt whatever. The veriest child acknowledges it, whilst the wisest philosopher is unable adequately to explain it. The magnet would furnish us with a similar illustration of this truth ; for its influence, if not rendered visible by actual experience, would not be credited. But there is another natural process which will give us a fuller, and, perhaps I may say, a more distinct, apprehension of this mysterious subject. A river flowing from its source in one current to the ocean, may serve to shew us the natural man, with all his faculties, both of
p 2 Cor. iii. 18. * Eph. iii. 18, 19.
r 2 Cor. x. 5. s John iii. 8.