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SERM
XVI1.)
A
RATrONAL DEFENCE
OF
THE
GOSPEL.
297
future,
unseen world,
w
hiçh
before
we
treated
with
cön:
tempt, or disregard:
It
is by
the
sanctification
of the
Spirit, and the belief
of the
truth, that
we
are prepared
for
the heavenly
glory whereunto
we
are
called
by
the
gospel,
2
7hess.
ii.
.13.
And
since
the
Spirit,
of
God
is
promised
to dwell
in
us
for ever,
John
xiv.
16, 17.
we
have
good
reason
to believe he
willbe
our
eternal Sancti-
fier
in
heaven,
and
our eternal
Comforter.
There
is
such
a thing
as
the influence
of
the Spirit
of
God attending the
gospel
of
Christ.
The
apostle argues
thus with
the
Gaiatian-
christians, Received
ye the Spirit
by
the
works
of
the
law,
or
by
the
hearing
of
faith?
Gal.
iii. 2.
And
it
is
the
great
promise
of
the gospel,
or
the
new
covenant,
thatGod
would send his
Spirit
to
make
it
powerful for the
blessed
ends for which he has
designed
it;
Ezek.
xxxvi. 25, 26, 27.
Joel
ii. 28. Zech.
xii.
IO.
Is.
xliv. 3.
In
the primitive
days.,
of
christianity, and the
age
of
miracles, the Holy
Spirit attended
the preaching
of the
gospel with
his
extraordinary
gifts
of
tongues,,
of
heal-
ing,
of
prophecy,
as well as
with
the graces
of
convic-
tion,
and
sanctification, and comfort
:
And
the
sudden-
ness
and
the glory
of
the change
that
was
wrought on
sinners,
carried
with
it an illustrious and
uncontested
proof
of
the
presence and power
of God
and
his
Spirit.
Nor
have some
fainter
resemblances
of
such
glorious
grace
been
altogether
wanting
in
later
ages.
There
have
been some most
remarkable instances
of
great
sinners
converted
at
once
by
the
gospel
of
Christ,
and
the de-
monstration
of
the Spirit.
But
in his
more usual and
ordinary communications
of
grace,
he
works
so
gently
upon
our natures,
.and in
so
sweet
and
con-
natural
a
way,
as
not to
distinguish
his
agency in a sensible
manner
from the motions
of our
own
souls; for
he
never
disturbs our rational
powers,
nor
puts
any violence
upon the
natural
faculties; yet
when
we
are
changed, when
we
are renewed,
when
sin
is
mortified, the
scripture
tells
us,
that
it
is
the Spirit
of
God
has
done
it:
When our
souls
are
prepared
for
heaven,
and our corrupted natures
sanctified, and
suit-
ed to
the
things
that
are
prepared
in
heaven for
us,y
we
áae
assured
by
the
word of
God,
that
the
Holy
Spirit