Godg. True indeed, having been " baptized into Christ," we are become, by profession, branches of the living vine. But then we are only as dead and withered branches, that can pro- duce no fruit ; and will shortly be broken off, and cast into the fire11. It is the Spirit alone who engrafts us into Christ, as living branches ; and causes us to receive from Christ that divine energy, whereby we are enabled to bring forth fruit to his glory. " Christ came that we might have life, and might have it more abundantly1:" but it is by the operation of his Spirit that we receive it ; and by the mighty working of that Spirit in our souls that we display its energies k.]
2. It is the Spirit who suggests to our minds those motives which alone can stimulate us to exertion —
[He " reveals the Lord Jesus Christ in our hearts1." "He glorifies Christ within us ; taking of the things that are his, and shewing them unto usm." "He sheds abroad in our hearts that love of Christ"," which alone can constrain us to devote ourselves unreservedly to him0. Till we receive this impulse, we are satisfied with formal services, and a partial obedience : but, when we are enabled thus " to comprehend somewhat of the unbounded love of Christ, we can rest in nothing, till we are filled with all the fulness of Godp."]
3. It is the Spirit who assists us in all our endea- vours—
[Whatever we may have attained, we still have no suffi- ciency in ourselves. We shall indeed put our hands to the work : but we shall accomplish nothing, till the Holy Spirit " strengthens us with might in our inward manq ;" and, taking hold, as it were, of one end of our burthen, to bear it with us, "helpeth our infirmities," and lends us his own effectual aidr. Hence these graces are properly called "the fruit of the Spirit ;" since they cannot be produced without him, and are invariably the result of his agency in our souls. It is he who, as our Church well expresses it, " worketh in us, that we may have a good will ; and worketh with us when we have that- good wills."]
Yet, as it must be confessed that there is a sem- blance of this holiness found in those who have not the Holy Spirit, it will be proper to,
III. Distinguish it from all counterfeits —
*s>*
s Eph. ii. 1. h John xv. 2, 6. > John x. 10.
* Col. i. 29. J Gal. i. 15, 16. »> John xvi. 14.
" Rom. v. 5. ° 2 Cor. v. 14. p Eph. iii. 18, 19.
i Col. i. 11. r Rom. viii. 20. s Tenth Article.