Hints on Reading 101, 207, 311, 518, 619 The Cavaliers of North Wilts. . 397 The Water-chick's Two Homes 474 A PRAYER, THAT FROM THE EXAMPLE OF THE BLESSED ST. JAMES, WE MAY Most loving God! Most merciful! most mild! So we, like him, renouncing worldly claims, Yea, give us light to muse with chastening awe On heaven, and hell, and death, and judgment nigh- And, testing all things by Thy holy law, In the true balance of eternity, Lord, give us grace to choose the better part!' PRACTICAL READINGS ON THE APOSTLES' CREED. ARTICLE VIII. 'I BELIEVE IN THE HOLY GHOST.' THAT is I believe in one Spirit, who is truly and really a Person, not a created but uncreated Person, and so the true and one eternal God; and that though He be that God, yet is He not the Father, nor the Son, but the Spirit of the Father and the Son, the third Person in the Blessed VOL. 2. 1 PART 7. Trinity, proceeding from the Father and the Son. I believe this infinite and eternal Spirit to be not only of perfect and unalterable holiness in Himself, but also to be the immediate cause of all holiness in us— revealing the pure and undefiled Will of God, inspiring the blessed Apostles, and enabling them to lay the foundations of the Church; that with this Church He remains-enlightening the understandings of individuals, rectifying their wills and affections, renovating their natures, uniting their persons to Christ, assuring them of the adoption of sons, leading them in their actions, directing them in their prayers, by all ways and means purifying and sanctifying their souls and bodies to a full and eternal acceptation in the sight of God. This is the eternal Spirit of God; in this manner is that Spirit Holy; and thus do I believe in Him. It is necessary thus to believe in the Holy Ghost, because, as we are baptized in the Name of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost,' we are obliged to profess faith in these Three. But it is also necessary, not only for the acknowledging of His Godhead, but further that we may desire those excellent graces and abundant gifts which He bestows upon men. What the Apostle wished to the Corinthians ought to be the earnest petition of every Christian-that 'the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with us all.' For 'if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of His.' If he has not that which unites to Christ, he cannot be united to Him. If he does not acknowledge Him to be his Lord, he cannot be His servant; and 'no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost.' 'That which is born of the Spirit, is spirit;' such is their happiness who have it. That which is born of the flesh, is flesh;' such is their wretchedness who have it not. What then is to be desired in comparison of 'the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ?' especially considering the encouragement we receive from Christ, who said, 'If ye, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask Him?' It is also necessary to profess faith in the Holy Ghost, that the Will of God may be effectual in us, even our sanctification. For if 'God hath from the beginning chosen us to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit; if we be 'elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit unto obedience;' if the office of the Spirit consists in this, and He be on this account called Holy, because He is to sanctify us; how should we follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord? How should we endeavour to 'cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God?' 'The temple of God is holy, which temple we are if the Spirit of God dwelleth in us;' for God's dwelling in us is verily a consecration, and that place must be a temple where His honour dwelleth. Now if we know that our body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in us, which we have of God;' if we know that 'we are not our own,' for that we are bought with a price;' |