have entered into the mind of man. The members of the Co- rinthian Church composed all one body in Christ: and tlieir respective tuk-nts, whether of a higher or inferior order, were committed to them by the Spirit of God, not for their own use or honour, but for the good of the whole : God himself in the whole of the dispensation, having consulted only his own wis- dom, and acted only according to his own sovereign will*^.]
In connexion with the miraculous operations of the Spirit, we have proposed to consider also, II. His spiritual influences —
These also are greatly diversified —
[We have several mentioned by St. Paul : " The fruit of the Spirit is love, peace, joy, long-suiFering, gentleness, good- ness, faith, meekness, temperance '^." In truth, every holy dis- position is from him, even " from that self-same Spirit," " from whom Cometh every good and perfect gift." The illumination of the mind is from him ; for it is he whom " the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ gives to us, as the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him^." The sanctification of the soul is from him : for " God has chosen us through sanc- tification of the Spirit unto obedience ^" From him also is all spiritual consolation : for it is on this very account that He is called " The Comforter^." From the very beginning to the end of our salvation, it is He who " worketh all in all." Are we born again ? it is " of the Spirit"^." Are we helped in our infirmities ? it is " by the same Spirits" Are we pro- gressively changed into the Divine image from one degree of glory to another? it is " by the same Spirit^." Have we in our souls a sure testimony of our adoption into God's family ? it is " from the same Spirit'." Are we sealed unto the day of redemption™? it is by the same Spirit, who alone "worketh all our works in us"."]
They are given too according to his own sovereign will and pleasure —
[We are expressly told, that he " worketh all things after the counsel of his own will";" and that he " worketh in us both to will and to do of his good pleasure p." We see how sovereignly he dispensed his blessings in the days of old, giving to Abraham, faith ; to Moses, meekness ; to Job, patience ;
<: Heb. ii. 4. ^ Gal. v. 22, 23. « pph. i. 17.
f 2 Thess. ii. 13. and 1 Pet. i. 2. e John xiv. 16, 17.
h John iii. 5. * Rom. viii. 26. "^ 2 Cor. iii. 18.
1 Rom.viii. LO, 16. " Eph. i. 13, 14. " Isai. xxvi. 12.
" Eph. i. .'■), 6, 9, 11. P Phil. i. 13.