whole is the temple of God ; but so is every believer. (1 Cor. iii. 16 ; vi. 19.) The Church is the bride of Christ, but every believer is the object of that tender, peculiar love expressed in the use of that metaphor. The last verse of Paul Gerhardt's hymn, " Ein Lammlein geht und tragt die Schuld," every true Christian may adopt as the expression of his own hopes : —
" Wann endlich ich soil treten ein In deines Reiches Freuden, So soil diess Blut mein Purpur seyn, *Ich will mien darein kleiden ; Es soil seyn meines Hauptes Kron' In welcher ich will vor den Thron Des hochsten Vaters gehen, Und dir, dem er mien anvertraut, Als eine wohlgeschmiictte Braut, An deiner Seiten stehen."
The Inward Work of the Spirit.
3. The indwelling ,of the Holy Spirit thus secured by union with Christ becomes the source of a new spiritual life, which constantly increases in power until everything uncongenial with it is expelled, and the soul is perfectly transformed into the image of Christ. It is the office of the Spirit to enlighten the mind : or, as Paul expresses it, u to enlighten the eyes of the understand- ing " (Eph. i. 18), that we may know the things freely given to us of God (1 Cor. ii. 12) ; i. e., the things which God has re- vealed ; or, as they are called in v. 14, " The things of the Spirit of God." These things, which the natural man cannot know, the Spirit enables the believer " to discern," i. e., to ap- prehend in their truth and excellence ; and thus to experience their power. The Spirit, we are taught, especially opens the eyes to see the glory of Christ, to see that He is God manifest in the flesh ; to discern not only his divine perfections, but his love to us, and his suitableness in all respects as our Saviour, so that those who have not seen Him, yet believing on Him, rejoice in Him with joy unspeakable and full of glory. This apprehension of Christ is transforming ; the soul is thereby changed into his image, from glory to glory by the Spirit of the Lord. It was this inward revelation of Christ by which Paul on his way to Damascus was instantly converted from a blasphemer into a wor- shipper and self-sacrificing servant of the Lord Jesus.
It is not, however, only one object which the opened eye of the believer is able to discern. The Spirit enables him to see the glory of God as revealed in his works and in his word ; the holiness
230 pakt in. ch. xvm. — sanctification.
and spirituality of the law ; the exceeding sinfulness of sin ; his own guilt, pollution, and helplessness ; the length and breadth, the height and depth of the economy of redemption ; and the reality, glory, and infinite importance of the things unseen and eternal. The soul is thus raised above the world. It lives in a higher sphere. It becomes more and more heavenly in its character and desires. All the great doctrines of the Bible concerning God, Christ, and things spiritual and eternal, are so revealed by this inward teaching of the Spirit, as to be not only rightly discerned, but to exert, in a measure, their proper influence on the heart and life. Thus the prayer of Christ (John xvii. 17), " Sanctify them through thy truth," is answered in the experience of his people.
God calls the Graces of his People into Exercise.
4. The work of sanctification is carried on by God's giving constant occasion for the exercise of all the graces of the Spirit. Submission, confidence,* self-denial, patience, and meekness, as well as faith, hope, and love, are called forth, or put to the test, more or less effectually every day the believer passes on earth. And by this constant exercise he grows in grace and in the knowl- edge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. It is, however, prin- cipally by calling his people to labour and suffer for the advance- ment of the Redeemer's kingdom, and for the good of their fellow-men, that this salutary discipline is carried on. The best Christians are in general those who not merely from restless activity of natural disposition, but from love to Christ and zeal for his glory, labour most and suffer most in his service.
The Church and Sacraments as means of Grace.
5. One great end of the establishment of the Church on earth, as the communion of saints, is the edification of the people of God. The intellectual and social life of man is not developed in isolation and solitude. It is only in contact and collision with his fellow-men that his powers are called into exercise and his social virtues are cultivated. Thus also it is by the Church- life of believers, by their communion in the worship and service of God, and by their mutual good offices and fellowship, that the spiritual life of the soul is developed. Therefore the Apostle says, " Let us consider one another, to provoke unto love and to good works : not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another; and so