instructions of Paul, but the teachings of the Holy- Spirit, to render them effectual : " Consider what I say/' says St. Paul to him ; '^ and the Lord give thee understanding in all things."
This need of divine teaching we are all by nature averse to acknowledge. One of the last things that we are brought to confess, is, the insufficiency of our own wisdom to understand the sublime truths of Christianity. But, if we look around us, we see many possessing all the same privileges with ourselves, and yet so blinded by prejudice or passion, as not to discern any one truth aright : the divinity of our blessed Lord, his atonement for sin, the influences of his Spirit, the necessity of a renewed heart, together with many other truths, are boldly denied by them ; or, if acknowledged as doctrines that are revealed, they are utterly disregarded as to any practical effect upon the soul. This clearly proves the great truth we are insisting on ; namely, that we must all be taught of God, and that, without his teaching, we shall know nothing as we ought to know.
But we observed, that we need the sanctifying, as well as the illuminating, influences of the Holy Spirit : for we have many corrupt affections, which it is the very intention of the Gospel to eradicate ; and under the influence of them we lean to those doctrines which tolerate, rather than to those which would mortify and subdue, our favourite propensities. How then can we judge aright whilst we are in- fluenced by such a bias ? " Our eye being evil, we shall of necessity be in darkness ; and our eye must be made single, before the whole body can be full of light." This single eye then must be given us by the Holy Spirit. Instead of loving darkness rather than light, we must love the light, and come to the light, on purpose that the nature and quality of our actions may be made manifest. Let our first object then be to seek of God the gift of his Holy Spirit (for he has said, that, " if any man lack wisdom, and ask it of him, he will give it liberally, and without upbraiding:") and then, in dependence on the sacred guidance of