[November 26th, 1854.]
I. The meaning of the expression, God dwells, is that he specially and permanently manifests his presence.—Thus he is said to dwell in heaven; among the children of men; in Zion; among his people; in believers.
The Spirit is said to dwell in his Church, which is thus the temple of God; in believers individually, they are severally his temple; in the body of believers, so that it also is the Temple of the Holy Ghost.
II. It follows that where the Spirit dwells his presence is indicated by certain specific effects.—These are, 1. Either gifts ordinary or extraordinary, 2. or, graces, i.e., the fruits of the Spirit, 3. activity, 4. guidance, 5. consolation. The graces are, 1st. Knowledge. This is one of the chief ends for which the Spirit was promised by the Saviour to his disciples. This knowledge includes correct intellectual convictions and spiritual discernment. To this are due orthodoxy and love of the truth, and adherence to it under all circumstances. To this source also are we indebted for the unity as well as the preservation of the faith. This is a ground of conviction beyond the reach of scepticism and unassailable by infidelity.
2d. Holiness in all its forms, of faith, confidence in God, in his word, promises, favors, etc. Love to God, Christ and the brotherhood, and to all men. Temperance, meekness, long-suffering.
3d. Hope, joy and peace. The consolations of the Spirit which sustain the soul under all sorrow, whether from conviction of sin or from afflictions.
4th. Other effects or manifestations of the Spirit’s presence, are activity in resisting sin and in doing good. He is a source not only of inward spiritual life, but also of outward acts of devotion and obedience to the will of God.
5th. Another effect is guidance. This guidance of the Spirit is, a. By the word. b. By the inward operation on the mind, guiding its thoughts, shaping its conclusions and exciting right feelings; and not by impulse, and suggestion, or any magic methods.
Duties which flow from this doctrine.
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To cherish the conviction that we in a special sense belong to God.
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To reverence and cherish, and to obey the admonitions of the indwelling Spirit.
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To preserve our soul and body pure as the temple of the Holy Ghost.
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An humble, grateful sense of the unspeakable blessing thus conferred upon us, and of the dignity which belongs to all believers as the temples of God.
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