state, been proverbially dissolute ; and the Ephesians, even in their religious rites on some occasions, had addicted themselves to intemperance : and both the one and the other brought with them into the Church their former sentiments and habits, against which they needed the most explicit warnings b.
On the other hand, the standard of Christian pri- vilege and attainment is sadly lowered in the present day ; so that an exhortation to be filled with the Spirit, and to be living under the continual influence of the Spirit, seems to breathe nothing but enthu- siasm. But, being well assured that Christian duties and privileges are precisely the same now as they were in the Apostle's days, I proceed to set before you,
I. The exalted privilege of believers —
The Spirit of God will dwell in the heart of every true Christian —
[As the Church at large, so every individual in it, is " the temple of Godc," and " the habitation of God through the Spirit4." Our blessed Lord promised to send down the Comforter, the Holy Ghost, to abide within his people e, to guide them into all truth1", to support them under their re- spective trials g, and to " sanctify them throughout, in body, soul, and spirit11." "We are not, indeed, to expect at this time his miraculous operations : but his spiritual influences are continued to his Church ; and shall be, even to the end of the world1: and to experience them, is the undoubted privilege of all true believers k. Indeed, without them, wc can never mortify sin1, nor ever fulfil the will of God™ : and, if we experience them not, we are not true Christians : for it is expressly said, " If any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his"."]
Nor need there be any limit to our expectations of
his gracious influences —
[It is our privilege to " be filled with the Spirit," every one of us according to our respective capacities ; and to have
b 1 Cor. vi. 13 — 18. with the words hefore the text. c 1 Cor. vi. 19. d Eph. ii. 22. e John xiv. 16, 17.
f Johnxvi. 13. e Eph. iii. 16. h 1 Thess. v. 23.
i Matt, xxviii. 20. k Acts ii. 38, 39. ' Rom. viii. 13.
m John xv. 5. n Rom. viii. 9.