influence, wrought " signs and lying wonders" in confirmation of their word. Amongst behevers themselves also, there were some, who made a very unbecoming use of the miraculous powers with which they were endowed, priding themselves upon them, and exerting them rather for the furtherance of their own glory, than for the edification of the Church of Christ. To rectify the views of the Corinthians on these subjects, St. Paul informs them, that the unbe- lieving Jews, whatever they might pretend to, had not the Spirit of God ; since " no man, speaking by the Spirit of God, calleth Jesus accursed :" nor, on the other hand, had those, who possessed the mira- culous influences of the Spirit, any such ground for self-preference and self-complacency as they imagined; since every true believer enjoyed those influences which were infinitely the most important ; for that " no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost."
This is a truth of infinite importance ; and St. Paul was very anxious that it should be duly weighed and considered. We will, therefore, I. Explain the assertion in our text —
It is obvious that the text is not to be understood as denying our power to make use of that particular expression ; because that form of words is as easily used as any other : but it aflEirms, that we cannot, without the aid of the Holy Spirit, make use of that assertion,
1. With a full conviction of its truth — [We may easily from education give a notional assent to the whole Gospel ; but when we come to reflect on the idea of our God becoming incarnate, and offering himself a sacrifice for the sins of his rebellious creatures, and reconciling them to himself through his own sufferings upon the cross, the mind revolts at the thought; and the whole plan of the Gospel appears a cunningly-devised fable. We see not any need for such an intervention of the Deity. We are ready to ask, Why could not God pardon us without such an atonement ? Why could not his mercy be extended to us on our repentance and amendment, without any such devices as those which the Gospel professes to reveal ? Yes : when these mysteries are more nearly