some allow themselves to live, and those presumptuous sins, which others commit in violation of their conscience and the instructions of God, he is grieved and offended. "Into a malicious soul," says the author of the Book of Wisdom, "he will not enter, nor dwell in the body which is subject unto sin. The Holy Spirit of discipline will flee deceit and remove from thoughts that are without understanding, and will not abide when unrighteousness cometh in."

I observe, lastly, that we may "quench the Spirit," by neglecting to recur often to the channels through which his graces are usually communicated. Such a guide and Comforter is worthy to be sought. By neglecting the appointed means of grace, we, in a strict sense, deprive ourselves of his services. If we do not study the word of God, when it is declared to be written by the Spirit of truth, and to be the incorruptible seed of which we are born again; if we neglect to join the assembly of the saints, when Christ has promised that, "where two or three are gathered together in his name, he will be present in the midst of them;" if we neither seek the blessing of the Spirit, in acts of public nor of private worship, when we are expressly taught to "ask of God, who giveth to all men liberally and upbraideth not;" if we use not the holy sacraments, which are provided in the Church, when we know, or should know, that they are "outward visible signs of an inward spiritual grace given unto us, ordained by Christ himself, as a means whereby we receive the same, and a pledge to assure us thereof;" if we neglect to recur, with proper dispositions, to these many appointed means of obtaining the Spirit, the probability is, that his place in our hearts will be occupied by the cares and vanities of life; the holy fire, which once may have burned in our bosoms, will be liable to go out; he will leave us to our own ways,' and, oh, most unhappy portion! we shall "be filled" with the fruit of " our own devices."

You see, then, that you may resist the Spirit; and in how many ways it may be quenched. Let me, I pray you, with

some portion of the apostle's concern, enforce his important caution, by a few weighty and affecting considerations.

In the first place, this Spirit which you are exhorted not to quench, is the principle of a new and eternal life; the holy source of knowledge, purity, and consolation. Hence he is styled, with reference to his offices among men, the Paraclete, or Comforter; and hence his visible descent, as at this time, upon the apostles, was a pledge to the whole Church of something which should be to her, in her militancy, a substitute for her absent Lord. Yes, ye lovers of virtue, conscious of the corruption and infirmity of your nature, here is the pledge of "grace sufficient for you." The Spirit of God is sent forth for your help. The light which this Spirit diffuses must guide you to truth and enamour you of goodness. He moves upon the chaos of your disordered nature, and light springeth forth from the darkness; order taketh place of the confusion of the passions, and moral beauty and progressive holiness appear where all was anarchy and dismaying corruption. Yes, children of sorrow, who, amidst the disappointments and bereavements of life, find nature weak and anguish strong, you have assurance of an heavenly Comforter. The Spirit which "proceedeth from the Father and the Son," is a Spirit of consolation. Upon the afflicted soul, which looks to heaven for help, he will descend; and at his voice the tumult of his sorrows will subside, and the perturbated bosom be hushed to a calm. Yes, faithful Christian, journeying rapidly to the tomb, you have here the earnest of almighty aid, in that hour when nature needs all the assistance which heaven and earth can give, the hour of death. Your Master, at his ascension, hath been taken from your head, and you have been left, with more than the Prophet's affection to exclaim, "My father, my father, the chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof!" But, behold, his Spirit resteth upon his followers. If ye take up the mantle he has left you, in his word and sacraments, ye shall, in the power of this Spirit, go "on your way rejoicing," and when ye are brought to the stream which separates you from your home, shall be able to smite the

waters and pass over untouched by their waves. Oh, benighted mortals, encumbered with imperfections, enveloped in darkness, and trembling at the approach of death, "quench not the Spirit."

Again. The dignity of the Comforter, and the price at which his renewing influences upon our fallen race were procured, should deter us from grieving or resisting the Spirit. He is the Spirit of God; and to purchase his restoration to the souls of men, the Son of God expired. What is this event, which we have to-day been commemorating at yonder holy table? Even the death of Christ; not only to expiate our past transgressions, but to procure that reconciliation, and return of the Spirit of God, to our offending souls, whereby we may walk in newness of life. As the reward of his obedience and sufferings, Christ received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost; and, as an earnest of the blessing to his whole Church, shed forth that, on the day of Pentecost, of which you have this day heard. Oh ye, who have been at the cross of the Redeemer; and have witnessed the price at which the descent of the Comforter upon the hearts of sinful man, was procured: "Quench not the Spirit."

Finally. It is by this Spirit, that the ransomed of the Lord are sealed, unto the day of redemption." Strive, then, to obtain this seal, and be careful to preserve it, by walking with humble minds, in the paths of Christian obedience; listening, always, to his friendly admonitions within you, and suffering nothing to turn you aside from the paths of holiness, which, in the word of God, he hath marked out for your feet. And thou, O, blessed Spirit, who, as at this time, didst descend upon the first followers of the Lamb, vouchsafe, for his sake, to descend and rest upon our hearts. Bear with our imperfections. Elevate and purify our desires. Enlighten us in ignorance. Comfort us in sorrow. Guide us in life, and sustain us in that hour, when death shall separate us from this scene of probation, for ever, and ever.

SERMON IX.

ON WHITSUNDAY.

ACTS, ii. 33.

Therefore, being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear."

THE

HESE words are a part of that animated sermon of St. Peter's, which converted three thousand persons to the Christian faith. It was delivered on that memorable occasion when the Church received from her Lord his richest and most honourable gift. With simple, yet awful grandeur, the Holy Ghost, sent forth by the Saviour, had descended upon his Apostles, while, in the exercise of faith and love, they were waiting for the fulfilment of their Master's promise. Uncandid and amazed, the multitude gave to the occurrence, and its effects, the most unreasonable and blasphemous construction. This roused the ardour of St. Peter, and led him, in a very frank, eloquent and pious discourse, to declare to them, that the same Jesus, whom they had lately crucified, was the Messiah; that God had, in exact fulfilment of the predictions of the Prophets, raised him from the dead; that he had been constituted in heaven, "both Lord and Christ;" and that, "being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he had shed forth that, which they then saw and heard."

In commemoration of this miraculous and important event the day of Pentecost has, from the first ages of Christianity,

been solemnized by the Church; and under the significant name of Whitsunday is ranked amongst her most joyful festivals. Let us, my brethren, employ our thoughts upon the great purposes to which this event had reference, and if any instructions may be deduced from the circumstances of it, let us lay them up in our hearts.

In the first place, the miraculous effusion of the divine Spirit was the strongest attestation of the Saviour's ascension into heaven. On the last Lord's day, we saw the importance of this article of our faith, to the design and perfection of Christianity. Our blessed Lord, desirous of giving to his Church the fullest evidence of his glorification, assured his disciples, before his departure from the earth, that in testimony of his exaltation, he would send them a blessing which could come only from above; even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father," and should be in, and abide with them for ever.

On this test, he might have rested the certainty of his ascension, and, consequently, of our dearest hopes. It was a test, to which there could be no exception. If, in token of his ascension into heaven, he would send to his followers such gifts as could come only from thence, who would be able to doubt, that he was there arrived? If, in demonstration of his accession to his kingdom in heaven, he would exhibit incontrovertible evidences of supremacy, who would be able to deny that "the Father had committed all things into his hands?" With holy confidence, the disciples waited for these fruits of the ascension; "and when the day of Pentecost was fully come, were all, with one accord, in one place." "He was faithful, who had promised." The great attestation of his "being by the right hand of God exalted," was heard, was seen, was felt, and was acknowledged. The divine Spirit with expressive majesty descended. In visible form, it rested upon the Apostles, and produced in their minds and conduct, most wonderful effects. This great miracle, then, preserves and strengthens the basis upon which Christianity rests. In this we have the strongest proof of our Redeemer's entrance into heaven in our behalf. This, is indispu