Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1878-12-05
THE WORK OF THE SPIRIT.


[origInal!
THE WORK OF THE SPIRIT.
There are three persons in the God-head.
These are the same in substance and equal in
power and glory. These facts are not dscov-
erable by reason. There is nothing in crea.
tion or providence that even suggest, much
less teach these important truths. Still, they
are not any the less true because they are not
revealed in creation or demonstrated in provi.
dence, or discoverable by reason. They are
taught in the Bible, and are not repugnant to
reason. All that we KNOWN fact can
know-about the most important questions,
are to be learned from the Bible. Every one
who has read the Bible, knows that one of
the cardinal truths which it teaches is the doc.
trine of the trinity and the parity of the per-
sons composing that trinity. Beyond what
the Bible teaches on this subject, we know
nothing. All else is mere conjecture. From
the Bible we learn that each person of the
trinity has his appropriate work to perform
in creation, in providence and in redemption.
1t is in the work of redemption that we
should feel the greatest interest. We should
not neglect to contemplate the creative and
preserving work of each of the three persons
of the God. head but the work of redemp-
tion demands our special attention. This be-
ing the case, what, we may ask, sis the Office
which the Holy Spirit executes in the great
and glorious work or saving sinners" From
the general tenor and scope of the whole
Scriptures, we learn that the part which the
Holy Spirit voluntarily engaged to perform
in the covenant of grace, is to apply the re-
demption purchased by Jesus Christ.
In the covenant of grace, the first person of
the God-head provides a ransom for sinners.
The second person is that ransom, and the
third person makes an application of the ran.
som. In other words, the father gives his son
to save sinners the son is given with his own
consent, and actually makes an atonement
for sinners, and the Holy Spirit engages to fit
sinners for being put in full possession of the
purchased inheritance.
The work of the Father and Son is for, or
in behalf of sinners. God the Father, gave
his son to die for sinners, or in the place of
sinners. Jesus Christ did die for sinners.
He died in the room of sinners-died as their
surety. The work of the Holy Spirit is diff
ferent. By the use of means of his own Sc.
lecting, he operates in and upon the sinner ;
not for him or in his place. The means are
the dispensations of providence, the reading
or studying of the Bible, and the preaching
of the gospel. Jesus Christ purchased Heav.
en- for sinners and sinners for Heaven but
the Holy Spirit fits sinners for the purchased
inheritance
In order that this may be accomplished,
the Holy Spirit, first Of all things, regenerates
the sinner. This is called, in the Scriptures,
being born Of the spirit. In this new birth,
the sinner becomes new creature. The
blind are restored to sight-the dead are
made alive. Conviction, conversion and faith
in the Lord Jesus Christ follow the new birth
in quick and sure succession. All that is now
wanting to fit the sinner for his blood bought
inheritance, is to be made like him who re-
deemed him. In other words, he only lacks
holiness without which no man shall see the
Lord. This last work is called, in the Scrip
lures, "growth in grace"
The work of the Holy Spirit consists in a
number of things, of which regeneration
conviction, conversion, faith and holy living
may be regarded as including all. Without
the Holy Spirit, it is impossible for any one to
be regenerated Without the Holy Spirit it
is impossible for any one to accept Jesus
Christ as his Saviour. Without the Holy
Spirit it is impossible for any one to grow in
grace This being true, we are at liberty to say
that the work of the Holy Spirit is very impor-
tant. Important as it is, it is never accom-.
plished without the use of the means selected.
All are regeneratedI in the same way. The
same spirit, in the use of the same means, en-
lightens all who are enlightened. No new
truth is made known. All that God allows
any of his people to know of him and his
great salvation is contained in the Bible. The
spirit works no miracles. All miracles we're
performed to prove that Jesus Christ is the
Son of God and promised Saviour. By his
almighty power, the Holy Spirit enlightens
the blinded minds of Sinners puri6es their
alienated affections, and subdues their rebel.
lious Wills. To neglect the means which the
spirit has chosen for accomplishing this work,
and placed within the reach of all in Chris
tian lands, is fearful sin. If persisted in,
it will result in desertion by the Holy Spirit
and the final destruction of the sinner. He
who puts himself beyond the reach of the
means of grace, seals his own eternal destruc-