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SERM:
XI.IV.]
AND
THE
USE
OF
IT.
257
Eph.
i.
17.
It
is
evident,
by
the
general
current
of
scripture, both
in
its
counsels and
in its
examples,
that
we
are
chiefly
to seek
the aids
of
the
blessed
Spirit, from
God
the
Father, through the mediation
of
his
Son
Christ
Jesus
;
and, doubtless, this
always
has been, and this
will
be,
the most usual
practice
of
christians,
who
make
the word
of
God
the
rule and
guide
of their
worship*.
Yet
since Christ,
the
Son
of God,
has
true godhead
belonging to
him,
and
is
a
proper
object
of
worship,
since
he
is
exalted
to bestow the
promised Spirit
on men,
it
cannot
be
improper
to offer
up our
addresses
to.
Christ
Jesus
our Lord,
to
send
us his
Spirit according to
his
promise.
"
I
will
send
the
Comforter
to
you from
the
Father
;"
John
xv.
26. And
it
is
manifest,
that,
in
the
day
of
temptation,
St.
Paul addressed our Lord
Jesus
Christ, for grace to resist
it
;
2
Cor.
xii.
8,
9. And,
perhaps, when
he
triumphed
in this,
that
"
the power
of
Christ
should
rest upon
him,"
verse
9.
he means
the
Spirit
.of
Christ,
in his powerful influences,
to
resist
temptation.
Now though
it
be
generally
agreed,
that
there are
no
plain and
express
precepts,
or
examples
of
prayers,
or
praises,
so
directly addressed to the
Holy
Spirit,
in
all
the New Testament,
yet
since the
Holy Spirit
is
true
God,
since
he
is
represented,
in
scripture,
in
a personal
manner, or
as
a
divine person,
and
since, in
the
sacred
economy,
he
is
appointed
to
enlighten,
to sanctify,
and
to comfort
us,
I
think
we
may,
by
just
inference, derive
sufficient
ground
from
scripture, upon
some occasions,
to
offer
petitions
to
the
Holy
Spirit
for
his
sacred
influ-
ences,
and
to give him
praise
when
we
have
received
them
:
"
Enlighten
our
darkness, O
blessed Spirit,
guide
us into all
truth:
Sanctify
our
sinful
natures, and
fill
us
with
joy
and hope
in
believing, Blessed be
the Holy
Spirit
of God
for
his
divine work,
that
he
has begun
in
our
souls
:
May
it
be
carried
on
and perfected unto the
great
day."
4r
As
the
Second Person
is
considered
as
vested with
the
office
of media.
tion, and the Holy Ghost,
as
the
Sanctifier
and
Comforter,
so
God
the
Father
is, in
a
peculiar manner, the object of
our
faith,
love,
and
worship.
So
Peter
tells
us
;
i
Pet.
i.
21.
"
Through Christ
we
believe
in
God."
So
writes
Doctor
Owen, in
his
sermons
lately
-
published, and
so
all our
di-
vines
practise in
their
kloiy
ministrations.