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impressions retire into that shade and nothingness which will yet be their destiny. It is not human power, it is the spirit of God alone that is capable of so framing the soul of man, as to feel adequately those great things which shall be hereafter." It is the great revelation we are now contemplating, my brethren, which alone assures us, that a Divine Spirit is ever around us, to "guide us into all truth,”— to impress us deeply with holy and heavenly things, and to raise our eyes amidst the darkness of time to the opening glories of eternity. This is the Comforter whom the Son of God sent when he left the world, and whose presence and consolations could not well have been bestowed under any other circumstances.

While our Saviour dwelt with his disciples many of the most glorious discoveries of the Faith had not yet been made, and could not be made till he had returned to his Father. He had not yet by his Death expiated the sins of the world,-He had not by his Resurrection opened the path of immortal life,-He had not by his Ascension into Heaven openly gone to prepare a place for his followers. These truths could not be brought before their minds

so as to excite and animate them, till the facts on which they were founded had really taken place; it was therefore expedient for his disciples that He should go away, that these great sources of religious confidence might be opened. Besides, when He dwelt with them, he dwelt simply as a Man among men; it was only as an Adviser and a Friend that he spoke to them, without any direct influence of a Divine Power upon their souls. The operation of the Holy Spirit, indeed, on the hearts of the faithful, is one of the great privileges which was then only conferred when He purchased it for men by his Blood. In another respect, too, the presence of this Divine Comforter must be regarded as more expedient than that of the Son of God himself. He in a bodily form could be present with none but his immediate disciples, and within the narrow bounds of the country in which He resided; the Spirit whom he sent is present with all flesh, is not circumscribed to one region of the earth, or to any one class of associates, but he is present wherever the name of Christ is named,

"to

abide with the faithful for ever, to dwell with them, and to be in them, to teach them all

U

things, and to bring all things to their remembrance, whatsoever their Saviour hath said unto them, to testify of him, to guide them into all truth, and to show them things to come." In this view, therefore, my brethren, as inspiring and perfecting our faith, the Comforter has come unto us; and he has come in consequence of the departure of the Son of God, who went away that he might send him unto

us.

II. In a second view, the Holy Spirit has come to strengthen and encourage all our efforts of goodness. Christian Faith, when it becomes an active principle in the soul, naturally leads to Christian Virtue; but amidst the weakness of human nature, it is farther consolatory to believe, that whenever we truly and sincerely endeavour to do well, an unseen Power is present with us to aid our endeavours, and to support us under trials and temptations; that although we may often have fallen, yet if, from the heart, we pray for renewed strength, and struggle against the sins that most easily beset us, there is a Divine aid which will indubitably gain us the victory; that, however, in

our moments of despondency, all may seem to be for ever lost, there is yet a supporting Hand that will guide and save, and sanctify us, if we truly and earnestly require its aid; that, if we will but begin to turn away from any wickedness that we may have committed, and make the sincere effort to do that which is lawful and right, we shall save our souls alive,-save them not through our own strength, but by the strength of God himself, whose Spirit is ever watching over us, and is applying to our souls all the secret motives which the Gospel contains, and is listening to every prayer, and is inspiring might into every effort. We are not to expect, indeed, any open or miraculous tokens of salvation. The holy spirit of Christian Sanctification comes not to supersede, but to assist the moral discipline of the soul. Where virtuous habits are unconfirmed, they will not strike root without exertion; where sin has gained a dominion over us, it will not be expelled without sorrow, and painful struggles. It is sufficient for us to know, that these exertions, if we do not intermit them, will infallibly succeed that the victory at which we aim is not a doubtful victory, if we continue

the contest;-that there is a power on our side, which, weak as we may be, is stronger than all strength, and will make us gloriously triumphant, provided our faith and perseverance fail not. These are are the the encouragements which we derive from the great revelation of this day, and which, much more than the miraculous gifts of the Spirit, present him to us under the aspect of that Comforter whom the Son of God sent to dwell with his disciples. He is, indeed, ever around us, and his holy influences are at all times near us, and he would never cease to dwell in us, if our souls were temples in which His Purity could dwell.We are now to advance to that Altar of mercy which He overshadows with his wings, and are endeavouring, I trust, to purify our souls from the distractions and disorders of the world. Let us then, my brethren, while we approach to receive the sacred symbols of our Redemption, pray to that Spirit of Grace, that he will inspire us with the Faith which may henceforth enable us to overcome the world”—which may teach us what it is to be the children of God, the redeemed of Christ, and the sanctified of the Spirit-which, amid the allurements of present

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