in him for those blessings, which he is exalted to bestow as our Saviour.

In short, there is no benefit which he is exalted to bestow upon upon us, but we may directly address him by faith and prayer for it. The following scriptures will make this evident: John xiv. 1. "Ye believe in God, believe also in me," in which place, as well as many others, perhaps the word is better rendered "trust."

Acts xxii. 16, "Be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord."

Stephen just expiring prayed to Christ; Acts vii. 59. "Lord Jesus receive my Spirit."

2 Cor xii. 8. When St. Paul was buffeted by Satan, he prayed to Christ for relief. For this thing I besought the

Lord thrice, that it might depart from me."
Phil. ii. 19.

theus."

6.

1 Thess. iii. 11.

anto you."

I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timo

"Our Lord Jesus Christ direct our way

2 Thess. ii. 16, 17. "Our Lord Jesus Christ himself, comfort your hesrts, and establish you in every good word and work.

The apostle Paul frequently concludes his letters, both to persons and to churches, praying for "grace and peace to descend upon them from our Lord Jesus Christ." The apostle John also does the same; 2 John verse 3. and Rev. i. 4, 5. Though whether these are so explicit, and distinct addresses to Christ, has been matter of doubt and dispute.

And as he is expressly said to be "exalted as a Prince, and a Saviour to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins ;" Acts iv. 31. So we may properly pray to him, and trust in him to bestow on us repentance and forgiveness.

III. Self-dedication and subjection of the soul to Christ, as a Lord and governor, is also a part of that honour and worship which is due to him; besides fear and love, &c.

2 Cor. v. 15. "He died for all, that they who live should not henceforth live to themselves, but to him who died for them, and rose again."

2 Cor. viii. 5.

Lord."

John xiii. 13.

I am."

"They first gave their own selves to the

"Ye call me master and Lord-and so

John xiv. 15. " If ye love me, keep my commandments." Here let it be observed also, that in several of these scriptures we are taught to pray to, or to praise, or to trust in our Lord Jesus Christ, not only for those blessings which he immediately bestows op us, but for those also which are bestowed more immediately by the Holy Spirit, such as illumination, sanctification and com

fort; because in the economy of the gospel the Son of God acts toward us in many instances in and by the Spirit, and receives worship on that account; even as the Father acts in and by both the Son and the Spirit, and is accordingly worshipped, and praised for the blessings conferred on us by the Spirit or the Son.

Now because the performance of several of these offices, which our Lord Jesus fulfils, seems to require such a degree of knowledge, wisdom, power, glory and dignity, as belong only to the true God, and for which no person can be sufficient, which has not such an intimate union and communion in and with the divine nature; therefore when we pay these honours to Christ as Mediator, we may be properly said to worship him with divine honours. We worship the godhead as dwelling in the man Christ Jesus; we worship the glorious person," in whom dwells the fulness of the godhead bodily;" Col. ii. 9.

And let it be noted also, that since he is the true God, or hath real communion in the divine nature, I see no plain reason why we may not worship the person of our Lord Jesus Christ, as the true God, even without any immediate regard to his mediatorial offices. Surely, I think, we may adore the "logos," or word, who " was with God," and who " was God," before the creation of the world, though we have now more express commands and more engaging motives to worship him as dwelling in our flesh; and as having fulfilled his mediatorial offices, and ascended to the highest heavens.

Thirdly, Of the Holy Spirit.-I proceed now to consider the character and offices, sustained by the Holy Spirit in scripture, and consequently what worship is due to him.

The Holy Spirit is represented in scripture as a personal agent, through whom God created the world, and manages the affairs of providence and grace; it is the blessed Spirit who instructed his people, published the revelations of his mind and will, inspired his prophets, wrought miracles, conducted our Lord Jesus Christ during his humiliation, raised up Christ from the dead; aud then as sent by Christ when he was exalted in heaven, he influenced and directed his apostles, gave them a variety of miraculous gifts, sends out ministers, calls sinners, convinces and converts them to faith and holiness, sanctifies, comforts, and establishes believers, prepares and seals them for heaven and glory.

I shall not repeat here the scriptures that mention the agency of the blessed Spirit in creation and providence, but only cite some few of those, which respect his influence on, and operations by the Lord Jesus Christ on earth, his agency on the prophets, the apostles, and the saints and churches.

I. On the Prophets.-Acts i. 16. "The Holy Ghost by the mouth of David spake before."

2 Pet. i. 21. "Holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost."

1 Pet. i. 11." The Spirit of Christ which was in the pro phets, testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow."

II. On Christ on Earth.-Mat. xii. 28. " I cast out devils by the Spirit of God."

1 Tim. iii. 16. “God manifested in the flesh, justified in the Spirit," that is, proved to be the Messiah by the working of the Holy Spirit.

1 Pet. iii. 18." Christ-put to death in the flesh, quickened in, or by the Spirit," that is, from the dead.

Acts i. 2." After he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments to the apostles whom he had chosen."

III. On the Apostles and Ministers.-John xiv. 26. «The Holy Ghost shall teach you all things," and xvi. 13. "He shall guide you into all truth, and shew you things to come."

Acts ii. 4. "They were filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance."

Rom. xv. 19. "Through mighty signs and wonders, which St. Paul wrought by the power of the Spirit of God."

1 Cor. xii. 4, 8, 11. " Diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. To one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom, to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; but all these worketh that one and the same Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will." Which manner of expression denotes a sovereign, a divine and personal agency of the Holy Ghost.

The Holy Spirit directed the apostles where to exercise their ministry. Acts viii. 29. "The Spirit said to Philip, go near, and join thyself to the chariot of the Ethiopian." Acts x. 29. "The Spirit said to Peter, go with the servants of Cornelius, doubting nothing, for I have sent them :" And we read that he bid, and forbid Paul to go and preach in this, or the other place as he pleased; Acts xvi. 6, 7.

It is the Spirit who appoints the ministers of the gospel. Acts xiii. 2." The Holy Ghost said, separate me Barnabas and Saul, for the work whereunto I have called them." And Acts xx. 28. "The elders of the church of Ephesus were made overseers by the Holy Ghost."

IV. On the world, but especially on the church."-John xvi. 8. "He will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment." John xv. 26. "The Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, shall testify of me."

John iii. 5. "Except a man be born of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God."

Rom. v. 5. "The love of God is shed abroad in your hearts by the Holy Ghost.”

Rom. viii. 13. "If through the Spirit ye do mortify the deeds of the body." Verse 16. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirits, that we are the children of God.”

Rom. xv. 16. "Being sanctified by the Holy Ghost." 1 Cor. vi. 11. "Sanctified by the Spirit of our God." Titus iii. 5. "We are saved by the washing of regeneration, and the renewing of the Holy Ghost."

Eph. i. 12. "Sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise."

1 Cor. iii. 16. "Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you." Chap. vi. ver. 19. "Your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you." Thus the Spirit of God dwells in the saints, as in his own temple.

And it is he also who directs and governs the churches of Christ. Rev. ii. 7. "He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith to the churches."

Now as the New Testament is full of expressions of this kind, so there are several hints of this nature in the Old Testament also. David prays for the teaching and the leading of the Spirit of God; Psal. cxiiii. 10. He prays that the Holy Spirit may not be taken from him, and that God would uphold him by his free Spirit; Psal. li. 11, 12. And it is the great promise frequently repeated concerning the times of the New Testament, that the Spirit of God shall be given to men, shall be poured out upon them, and not depart from them, but abide with them, as a principle of knowledge and holiness; Isai. xliv. 3. and lix. 21. Joel ii. 28.

Thus it is abundantly manifest, that the Spirit of God does almost every thing that is to be done in, or by the saints, the ministers, or the churches, in order to build and support the kingdom of Christ in the world, and to apply the redemption of our Lord Jesus Christ, and render it effectual to the salvation of every single christian.

Now here arise three questions.

Question I. "What honours or what worship does the scripture encourage or warrant us to pay to the blessed Spirit, according to these glorious offices, which he sustains for our sakes, and the benefits which we receive from him?".

Answer. It has been already proved under the eighth proposition," that divine worship is paid in scripture to the Holy Spirit, for we are baptized into his name;" Mat. xxviii. 19. That is, we are devoted to his service. The sacred benediction or blessing is desired to descend upon the saints from the Holy Spirit, as well as from the Father and the Son, 2 Cor. xii. 14. And the same is repeated by the' apostle John; Rev. i. 4, 5. "Grace unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which

are before the throne; and from Jesus Christ." Where it is generally supposed, that the blessed Spirit of God is described by seven Spirits, because of his variety of gifts and graces.

We are required also not to quench the Spirit; 1 Thess. v. 19. not to grieve the Holy Spirit of God; Eph. iv. 30. that is, not to resist his convictions and pious motions, as the Jews did in elder and in later days, for which they are severely reproved. Acts vii. 51, but to obey and comply with all his holy influences, and have a most sacred regard to them.

And since there are none of us but have in some instances, more or less, resisted and quenched the good motions of the blessed Spirit, I think we may justly be allowed to mourn before him, and confess to him how much we have injured his love, and take shame to ourselves before him, for all these indignities and provocations.

As we are said also in scripture to be led by the Spirit, to be taught by the Spirit, to be strengthened and comforted by the Spirit, to be assisted in prayer, and in every good work by the same Spirit, so it is our duty to wait and depend on him for instruction, consolation and assistance in all the affairs of the christian life.

Question II. "Is it proper for us to address ourselves in a way of prayer or praise, directly to the blessed Spirit, since we can neither find it plainly commanded or practised in the word of God?"

Answer. I confess we cannot find in scripture any such positive and express precepts or examples of petition and praise, so directly addressed to the person of the Holy Spirit, as there are to the Father and to the Son.

One reason may be this, because in the economy of the gospel he is not seated on a throne of Majesty, nor sustains a royal character; but he is rather represented as acting in subordination to the Father and the Son, and sent by the Father and the Son, as a prime minister in their kingdom. And therefore since our worship of the blessed Trinity is generally regulated by the economy of the gospel, our direct addresses are generally. made to the Father or to the Son, who are seated on a throne, and sustain a royal character in this economy.

I would add also, that though the Son himself is represented as Lord and King in this economy, yet he is often described as acting in subordination to the Father. And it is for this reason, it may be, that there are but few addresses made directly and distinctly to the Son of God himself in the scripture, in comparison of those which are made in general to God, or distinctly to the Father.

Another reason why the Holy Spirit has not such direct and