out excuse.

fail in his duty, and as to leave himself withAnd in proportion as a greater or less measure of this Spirit has been afforded him, so he is more or less guilty in the sight of his Maker.

If should resist these salutary operaany

tions of the Holy Spirit, they resist it to their own condemnation.

Of such it may be observed, that they are said to quench or grieve the Spirit, and not unfrequently to resist God, and to crucify Christ afresh; for God, and Christ, and the Spirit, are considered to be inseparably united in the Scriptures.

Of such also it may be observed, that if they continue to resist God's Holy Spirit, their feelings may become so callous or hardened in time, that they may never be able to perceive its notices again; and thus the day as it were of their visitation may be over for "my people," saith God, "would not hearken to my voice, and Israel would none of me ; so so I gave them up to their own hearts' lusts, and they walked in their own counsels*.' To the same import was the saying of Jesus Christ, when he wept over

:

* Psalm lxxxi. 11, 12.

N 2

Jerusalem :

Jerusalem: "If thou hadst known, evert thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes*.' As if he had said, There was a day, in which ye, the inhabitants of Jerusalem, might have known those things which belonged to your peace. I was then willing to gather you, as a hen gathereth her chickens; but, as ye would not suffer me, the things belonging to your peace are now hid from your eyes. Ye would not attend to the impressions by God's Holy Spirit, when your feelings were tender and penetrable; and therefore now, and therefore now, the day having passed over, ye have lost the power of discerning them.

Those, on the other hand, who, during this visitation of the Holy Spirit, attend to ́its suggestions or warnings, are said to be in the way of redemption or salvation.

These sentiments of the Quakers on this subject are beautifully described by Monro in his Just Measures of the pious Institutions of Youth. "The Holy Spirit," says he, "solicits and importunes those who are in a state of sin, to return, by inward mo

*Luke xix. 42.

tions and impressions, by suggesting good thoughts and prompting to pious resolutions, by checks and controls, by conviction of sin and duty; sometimes by frights and terrors, and other whiles by love and endearments. But if men, notwithstanding all his loving solicitations, do still cherish and cleave to their lusts, and persevere in a state of sin, they are then said to resist the Holy Ghost; whereby their condition becomes very deplorable, and their conversion very difficult for the more men resist the importunities, and stifle the motions, of the Holy Spirit, the stronger do the chains. of their corruption and servitude become. Every new act of sin gives these a degree of strength, and consequently puts a new obstacle in the way of conversion; and when sin is turned into an inveterate and rooted habit, (which by reiterated commissions and long continuance it is,) then it becomes a nature, and is with as much difficulty altered as nature is. Can the Ethiopian change his colour, or the leopard his spots? Then may you also do good, who are accustomed to do evil.""

"The Holy Spirit, again," says he, "inspires

the prayers of those who, in consequence of his powerful operations, have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts, with devout and filial affections, and makes intercession for them with sighs and groans which cannot be uttered. He guides and manages them. The sons of God are led by the Spirit of God. He makes his blessed fruits, righteousness, peace, joy, and divine love, more and more to abound in them. He confirms them in goodness, persuades them to perseverance, and seals them to the day of redemption."

The Quakers usually elucidate this visitation, treatment, and influence of the Holy Spirit, by the parable of the Sower, as recorded by three of the evangelists. "Now, the Seed is the Word of God." But as the Word of God and the Spirit, according to St. John the evangelist, are the same, the parable is considered by the Quakers as relating to that divine Light or Spirit which is given to man for his spiritual instruction and salvation. As the seed was sown in all sorts of ground, good, ferent, so this Light or

without exception to all.

bad, and indifSpirit is afforded As thorns choked

this seed, and hindered it from coming to perfection, so bad customs, or the pleasures and cares of the world, hinder men from attending to this Divine Principle within them, and render it unfruitful in their hearts. And as the seed in the good ground was not interrupted, and therefore produced fruit in abundance; so this spiritual principle, where it is not checked, but received and cherished, produces also abundance of spiritual fruit in the inward man, by putting him into the way of redemption from sin, or of holiness of life.

SECTION II.

The Spirit of God, therefore, besides its office of a Teacher, performs that of a Redeemer of menRedemption outward and inward-outward is by the sufferings of Jesus Christ-these produce forgiveness of past sins, and put men into a capacity of salvation-inward, or the office now alluded to, is by the operation of the Spiritthis converts men, and preserves them from sins to come-outward and inward connected with each other.

THE Spirit of God, which we have seen to be given to men, and to be given them uni

versally