INTRODUCTION. WITHOUT the Holy Spirit real Christianity can neither be understood nor promulgated. The apostles themselves did not adequately comprehend it until the day of Pentecost! Throughout the three years preceding that event they had listened to the teaching of their Lord with loving reverence and trustfulness, but, withal, in a spirit of ignorance and misconception as to the true nature of his approaching death and resurrection. They even wept at his cross, and rejoiced over his empty sepulchre, without any true understanding of those sacred mysteries. When the Comforter came, however, to "teach and bring all things to their remembrance;" when he "guided them into all truth," and "shewed them things to come;" when he took of the things of Christ and 1 John xiv. 26. 2 John xvi. 13. B revealed them unto them, then their knowledge being perfected, and their Christian character matured, they at once went forth, in the strength so imparted, to fight the good fight of faith, against the world, the flesh, and the devil. It was in this strength alone that Christianity triumphed; and in this it must ever triumph. When it conquered Corinth, for example, we are told that "it was in demonstration of the Spirit and of power." 2 When it obtained possession of Thessalonica, it was "in power and in the Holy Ghost." When it ran through the province of Galatia, the work was "begun in the Spirit."4 And as with churches, so with individuals; the conquests of Christianity over human hearts must be always spiritual. Have we to be born again? It is "of the Spirit."5 Have we to be justified? It is "in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God."6 Have we to be adopted?"The Spirit beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God."7 Have we to be sanctified? It is "by the Holy Ghost."8 Are we called to pray ? "The 1 John xvi. 14, 15. 31 Thess. i. 5. John iii. 5. Rom. viii. 16. 21 Cor. ii. 4. 4 Gal. iii. 3. 6 1 Cor. vi. 11. 8 Rom. xv. 16. INTRODUCTION. Spirit helpeth our infirmities." 3 To rejoice? We are to have "joy in the Holy Ghost." To love? "The love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost."3 To hope? We are to "abound in hope, by the power of the Holy Ghost."4 To confess Christ? "No man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost."5 Why should I add more? The whole power of Christianity is due to the Spirit, who, from the moment that a heart is convinced of sin and led to Jesus, until it rest victoriously in heaven, dwells there as in a temple, and makes it the habitation of God.6 It happens, however, in religion, as it does in the course of nature, that the seasons of our growth are not uniformly progressive. Sometimes spiritual life makes strong and rapid advances; sometimes it is slow and weak in its development. To what must this be attributed? Not to the Holy Ghost; for it is written, "Is the Spirit of the Lord straitened ?"7 Not to any poverty of Divine grace; for it is written, "I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more 1 Rom. viii. 26. 3 Rom. v. 5. 51 Cor. xii. 3. 7 Mic. ii. 7. 2 Rom. xiv. 17. 4 Rom. xv. 13. 6 Eph. ii. 22. 3 abundantly." The hindrance lies in ourselves. We have not, because we ask not.2 We too often grieve and quench the Holy Spirit, by inattention and worldly-mindedness, by want of watchfulness and prayer. The truth is, that while Christianity remains from first to last a dispensation of the Spirit, it yet demands of us a "reasonable service," and calls us to the exercise of grave responsibilities. We are told, for example, to "perfect holiness in the fear of God." Not resting satisfied with the mere hope or even assurance of justification by faith, we are to prove our faith by our works. We are even commanded in one place to work out our own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who worketh in us both to will and to do of his good pleasure. 5 And in the text upon which the following treatise is based, we are enjoined to "add to our faith virtue," and to virtue other graces, in order that our Christianity may be perfected, and our "calling and election made sure." There is something peculiar in the metaphor which lies concealed within the Greek word we here translate "add to." It occurs also in the 11th verse, and is there translated "ministered 1 John x. 10. 2 Jas. iv. 2. Phil. ii. 12, 13. unto;" which is more in accordance with its right signification. Our author so fully explains the allusion in his seventh chapter, that I need scarcely now enter into it; suffice it to say that it incidentally suggests to us the picture of faith taking precedence of other fruits of the Spirit, and acting the part of chorus leader to them. There was an officer in ancient Greece upon whom it devolved to superintend and take charge of the choruses that sang or danced in religious celebrations on festive occasions. It was his duty to furnish all necessary supplies for them, and to be constantly responsible for their completeness and efficiency. Thus Faith has assigned to her the grave responsibility of ministering to and developing the completeness of our Christian character. Such, at least, is the view which our author adopts in his exposition of this interesting passage; and which I purpose briefly to illustrate not only in connexion with the general testimony of Scripture, but more especially in reference to the work of the Holy Spirit. I have already shown that Christianity must be regarded as a dispensation of the Spirit. Not that the Church before the coming of Christ was without his operations; on the contrary, the Old Testament is full of references to them, 1 See also 2 Cor. ix. 10. |