CHAPTER 1V. 163 known by these distinctions, there is neither Jew no Greek: Gal. iii. 29. 2. Text. Luke xi. 13. After Christ had answered the re- quest of his disciples, and taught them how to pray, by giving them a pattern of prayer, he recommends them to ask his Father for the holy Spirit, in order to a fuller and further assistance and instruction in this work of prayer, as the whole context seemsto intimate, 3. Text. Rom. viii. 2,6.The Spirit helpeth our infirmities; for we know not what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit itself maketl+ intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. This cannot he interpreted as though the holy Spirit assumed the work of Christ, who is our proper intercessor and advocate; for the Spirit not being clothed with human nature, cannot-properly be represented under such an inferior character, ás the nature of prayer or petition seems to imply; whereas our Lord Jesus Christ, being man as well as God, may properly assume the character of a petitioner. The business of the holy Spirit therefore is, to teach and help.us to plead with God in prayer, for the things which we want. And this will appear evi- dently by the next scripture. 4. 'l'ext. Gal. iv. 6. God kath sent the Spirit of his' Son into your hearts, crying Jibia,. Father. That is, the Spirit of God inclines and teaches us to address God in prayer, as our Father. And so it is explained ; Rom. -viii. 15. Ye have receiv- ed the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry Alba, Father. It may be noted here, that this Spirit of adoption belongs to every true christian in more or less degrees; otherwise the apostle's reasoning would not appear strong and convincing. Becauseya are sons, he bath sent forth the Spirit of his Son, 4c. 5. Text: Eph. vi. 18. Praying always with all prayerand supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with allper- severance. These words .0 meet aes (in the Spirit,) have reference to the work of the Spirit of God in us, for so the word Ev.urnvaan signifies in other places of the New Testament; Mat. xii. 28. I east ont devils by the Spirit of God. Luke ii. 27. He came by the Spirit into the temple. 1 Cor. xii. 8, 9. To one is given, by the Spirit, the word of wisdom, to another knowledge by the same Spirit, 4c. In this verse of the epistle to the Ephesians, it cannot properly signify praying with our own Spirit, that is, with the intention of our own minds, because that seems to be implied in the next words, watching thereunto. Objection. Some will say still, that this praying in the Spi- rit was to be performed by an extraordinarygift, which was com- municated to the apostles, and many others in the first age of christianity. Something like the gift of tongues at Pen- tecost, and various gifts among the Corinthians, when they x. 2..
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=