from him, then is it with all readiness and humility to be complied with, nor will a thought be suffered to rise against it. This is " the honest and good heart," which our blessed Lord commends as the proper soil wherein to sow the seed of life, and as the principle which we must cultivate with all possible care.
But far different will be the conduct of one who is carried away by " a spirit of error." The blessed word of God to him is rather a field wherein to exercise and display his own ingenuity. Nothing is acceptable to him that does not com- mend itself to his reason : he sits in judgment upon every thing, pronouncing this reasonable, and that unreasonable ; and the great mystery of redemption, through the blood and righteousness of our incarnate God, he regards as foolishness. This is the spirit of Arians, and Socinians, and numberless others, who, instead of receiving the sacred oracles with the simplicity of a little child, deal with them as they would with a merely human composition ; receiving what they like, merely because it accords with their own views, and rejecting all the rest as erroneous and absurd.
Thus by these tests we may distinguish " what spirit we are of." They call into action the hidden principles of the heart ; and give occasion for the manifestation of them, in a way that is clear, and that admits of no doubt.]
Let me now proceed to mark,
III. The importance of distinguishing them aright —
A just discernment of these spirits will enable us,
1. To account for the conduct of others —
[It appears strange, at first sight, that a religion so worthy of God, and so suitable to man, as Christianity is, should not be readily received, and universally obeyed. How can it be, that its principles should be so generally controverted, and its practice so generally condemned ? Is there any want of evidence, that the religion itself is from God ? or, is there any thing really unreasonable in a life of faith and holiness? No: the fact is, that the pride of human nature is averse to receive a free salvation ; and the corruption of human nature knows not how to bear the restraints which the Gospel imposes on it. Hence the spirit of man rises against the Gospel itself; and either fashions it to a standard of his own, or rejects it alto- gether, as unworthy to be received. Here then, at once, we see whence it is that worldlings continue worldly, and infidels retain their infidelity. They say in their hearts, " Who is lord over us ? They hate to be reformed : " they hold fast de- ceit :" they shut their eyes against the light : they " cast God's
i:s l JOHN, IV. 6. [2451.
word behind them ;" and say, in effect, " We will not have this man, the Lord Jesus Christ, to reign over us." This explains that phenomenon which proves such a stumbling-block to Jews and Gentiles. They say, ' If your religion be so clear, whence is it that there is such a diversity of opinions respecting it ? ' The answer is, ' Amongst those who are humble and contrite, there is no difference as to any fundamental part of doctrine, or practice : and, if there be amongst others, it is because they are led away by a " spirit of error," and " blinded by the god of this world."]
2. To form a correct judgment of our own —
[To attain a knowledge of ourselves, we must diligently mark our own motives and principles of action. We see in others a bias; and we must observe how far there may be any undue influence upon our own minds. If we will candidly examine ourselves, we shall see that, in ten thousand instances, there is a leaning to self, through the workings of pride, or interest, or passion ; and that, to be perfectly impartial in our views and actions, is an attainment of no common magnitude. To have no wish but to conform ourselves to the will of God, is a measure of grace that is but rarely found ; so rare is " a spirit of truth" in its full extent, and so prevalent " a spirit of error." Hence there is no man who has not occasion to humble himself for his defects ; nor any who has not to watch conti- nually against the deceitfulness of his own heart.]