II. His obligations —
*»*■
" If we be in the Spirit, we should also walk in the Spirit ;" that is, we should walk,
1. In compliance with his motions —
[There are inward motions of the Spirit, which a person who lives nigh to God may discern, and which it becomes him very carefully to follow. Not that they can with certainty be distinguished from the voice of a man's own conscience, except by the quality of the suggestions themselves ; (for it is in and by the conscience that the Spirit speaks :) but they are so agreeable to the mind of God, that they manifest from whom they come ; and God himself, " who knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit," when he beholds them in us, acknowledges them to be of divine origin e. When temptations to evil arise, the Spirit softly whispers to the soul, " O, do not that abomi- nable thing which I hatef." So also, when doubts arise in the mind respecting the path of duty, he causes us to " hear a voice behind us, saying, This is the way; walk ye in itg." And in a mind that is at all well regulated, I believe that the first intimations of conscience will be found to be, for the most part, most accordant with the mind and will of God : and though I would on no account discourage the closest possible examination of what is so suggested, and the trial of it by the touchstone of God's word, yet I cannot but say, that in our subsequent reasonings the voice of the Spirit is too often silenced, and its suggestions are superseded by the dictates of prejudice, or fear, or interest, or passion.]
2. In obedience to his will —
[God's will is revealed in the written word ; and to that we must refer, on every occasion. In that is our whole course distinctly marked ; and by that must our every step be regulated: as says the prophet; " To the word and to the testimony: if we speak not according to that word, there is no light in ush." By that must the suggestions, of which we have before spoken, be tried. For it is possible that sugges- tions may come even from the wicked one : and if we were to place implicit confidence in them, we might run into the most fatal errors, whilst we supposed ourselves under heavenly guidance. Of this we are sure, that the Spirit of God never moves us to any thing which is contrary to the written word. In following the voice of inspiration, we are safe: and to that we should yield the most implicit obedience. When we
e 1 Cor. ii. 10, 11. with Rom. viii. 27. f Jer. xliv. 4.
s Isai. xxx. 21. h Isai. viii. 20.