[September 21st, 1856.]
The doctrine of the Trinity is everywhere recognized as the foundation of religion. The Father elects, the Son redeems, the Spirit sanctifies. The Son came in execution of the covenant of redemption. Having fulfilled its conditions, he was entitled to its promises. One of those promises was the gift of the Spirit, Acts 2:33. “Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this which ye now see and hear.” Accordingly the gift of the Holy Spirit was the great Messianic blessing promised and predicted; and as John said, the Holy Ghost was not yet given because that Jesus was not yet glorified; and Christ promised that he would send them another comforter.
I. The first great truth on this subject is that the Holy Ghost is secured for the Church only by the mediation of Christ. It is due to his work that he is sent. His influence and presence is the great blessing secured by the death of Christ.
This does not imply that those living before the advent were not partakers of the Spirit, because all the benefits of Christ’s death were enjoyed from the beginning. It is not the less true however that he died to secure those blessings.
II. The second great truth is that Christ is the immediate giver of the Holy Spirit. He sends him to whom he pleases, and bestows through him what blessings he pleases. Therefore men must seek the Spirit specially from Christ, as our mediator.
III. The third great truth is, that election by the Father and redemption by the Son avail only in virtue of the Spirit’s work. Until the Spirit is received, the elect do not differ from the non-elect, the redeemed from the unredeemed. Hence our obligations to the several persons of the Trinity are the same. We owe as much to the Father who chose as to the Son who redeemed, and no less to the Spirit.
And as the Son acted voluntarily in redeeming those whom the Father chose, so the Spirit is voluntary in applying the redemption purchased by the Son.
This is consistent with the Father’s sending the Son, and with the Son’s sending the Spirit. Hence our love, gratitude, reverence and obedience are as much due to the Spirit as to the Father and the Son. This is not always remembered.
IV. The work of the Spirit, i.e., his inward subjective work, is,
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To renew or quicken those dead in sins.
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To illuminate. To reveal the glory of Christ, the holiness of God, the justice and extent of the law, the evil of sin, the certainty of judgment, and the truth and authority of the word of God.
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To work repentance and faith, i.e., turning from sin and turning to God.
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Constant guidance into the knowledge of truth and duty.
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To qualify for special duties and offices.
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To sanctify.
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To comfort.
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To glorify the soul and body. All this we owe to the Spirit.
V. The dependence of the individual and of the Church on the Spirit is absolute. Nothing can be experienced and nothing done but by him. Analogous to the dependence of the creatures on the Creator; a. for existence; b. for faculties; c. for activity; d. for the results or success. But not in any one of these cases is our activity superseded, and in them all the need of effort and exertion is the same.
VI. Election, redemption and sanctification are inseparably connected. Those whom the Father elects, the Son redeems, and the Spirit sanctifies. And consequently whom the Spirit does not sanctify, the Son has not redeemed and the Father has not elected.
Hence 1. The folly and wickedness of Antinomianism.
- The only evidence of redemption and election is sanctification.
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