Cheraw gazette and Pee Dee farmer. [volume] (Cheraw S.C.) 1838-1839, 1839-10-18
DIVINE INFLUENCE.

DIVINE INFLUENCE. :.
Now this constitutes one great Pfe,e
neuce of the Holy Scriptures. ano IS a,ou
,o show the obligations Of the world 10 "''s
sacred volume. 1t has higher claims 10
our regard even than the excellence OF 10
truths. 1t reveals the existence ana in'ef'
nosi,ion of an onnipo,ent agent, known 10
the method Of redemption oy Jesus C"''S''
whcs. province it is TO enlighten ana rem
ov,te The heart, and give power and energy
:, h;s own revelations. This can be afhr-
Md of no false religion. Just before the
an,hor of the gospel left our world for his
throne in the heavens. he promised his ds-
.iDIes that he would send the heavenly Par
acletc, who should" reprove the world OF
SIN, of righteousness and of judgment; )"
whs should guide into all truth :" who
/" should take of the things that are Chrst's,
md show them un'o his people" The re.
}aiou of the Bible therefore has this high
and peculiar pledge of its efficacy, that it is
nssocated with an omni nipotent agency,
winch, by its control over the intellectual
facultes and moral dispositions renders the
truth which God has revealed etfectual ia
the moral transformation Of men.
God has revealed himself in the Scrip
lures as Ole in Three. So distinct arc the
three, that they sustain distinct Offices in
the work Of redemption, and possess the
properties oi distinct persons and yet so in
timately are they identified in The divine na-
turr. that they are the One only living and
true Jehovah. This is great mystery.
aud we receive it on the testimony of God.
The Holy Spirit is not mere influence, or
power, or cmanation ofthe Deity, but a liv-
ing agent, to whom the Scriptures ascribe
Intelligence, choice, and power. He is re.
presented as teaching, inslrucling. debating,
commanding. commissioning, sending forth,
convincing, sanctfving. and bearing wit.
ness. TO him are appropriated the true
and proper names Of the Deity. He is spo.
ken of as eternal. omnipresent, omniscien'
and as one who is worshipped as God. He
is the direct and immediate Author of tho
Scriptures, while miraculous gifts and ope-
raiions are every where ascribed TO his
power. There are also iu internal opera
tons ofthe Spirit that, is, operations i'm
mediately exer'ed upon the mind ITSELF Ii
is his province to illuminate the ignorant
and benighted ; TO awaken the thoughtess !;
to convinceihe Oburaie 10 renew and sane.
iiiy the heart to comfort and seal The heirs
of salvation for their final inheritance, and
fit them FOR the glory 10 be hereafter rcvea.
led. the truths of the Scriptures, though
divine in their origin. are only the instru.
msaial cause ofaIl holy impressions. Their
saving efficacy, 10 all cases, depends on the
power and agency ofthe Holy Spirit. Nor
are the nature and mode Of this influence
altogether underlined. 1t is in every in
stance connected with the truth impartng
TO the mind clear perceptions ofwhat God
has revealed in his word and rendering
these perceptions Impressive and eGectual
TO the formation Of a spiritual character.
;--'I-o-rr'e'r1vo oof-.'----l.rsay-..I.h of I.h.
agency off the Spirit its cause.
Theterms aud Illus ratIons by which the
Scriptures represent the work of the Spirit
are strongly significant. Sometimes it is
represented by the metaphorical language
Of The . new birth" When, in the moral
history of man, a rebel becomcs child, it
is because he is " begotlon, not ofblood. nor
OF the will OF the flesh, nor of he vii of man
but OF God" Sometimes it is exhibited as
a"new creation" When from the confusion,
darkness, aud disorder of the natural mind,
men are formed anew, and adorned with all
the glories Of spiritual transformation !;
they are "his Workmanship, created anew
in Christ Jesus afer the image of him that
created them" Sometimes 1t is set forth
rs resurrection from the dcad." II the
dead IN sin burs, The bars Of their cold sep
ulclre and come forth; it is because che
guckens them," and his Spirit is the sole
suahor of this new and holy life. lflhe ap-
osia,e child Of Adam becomes the child ol
God il his moral nature lives by new cul.
ture. and his faculties acquire new devel-
opn,en, if he sustains new relations. poses.
ses new tastes, preferences, and pleasures ;
if he is devoted to new pursuis: if he has
anew heart aud a nsw spirit ; It is from
" The washing Of regeneration and the re.
newiDg of the Holy Ghost" He that
hath wrought him for this SELLS me thing is
Cod" Presbyterian.
The following communication signed by
ten ofthe principal members of the Baptis
denomination, in this city, and published in