of and satisfaction for all the sins of the whole world, both original and actual." As it behoved him to suffer, agreeably to the Covenant peace between the Father, and the Son, so he "has loved us, and given himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling savour."s The gift of Christ, therefore, on the part of the Father, was a free gift: the undertaking of Christ in becoming our Mediator, our Surety, and our Redeemer, was free and voluntary, and was full of grace and goodness. His resurrection from the dead, his ascension into heaven, his intercession for sinners at the right hand of God, and his sending down the gift of the Holy Ghost, are essential parts of the same gracious work. If we have respect to all these things, we shall be constrained to say, by grace are we saved. We are also saved by grace with respect to the efficient cause. This is the grace of the Holy Spirit, whereby sinners are converted from the error of their ways, and are renewed in righteousness after the image of God. By grace we are justified and accepted through Christ, and by grace we are sanctified, and are 'Ephes. v. 2. + Art. xxxi. "made meet to be partakers of the inheritance t U of the saints in light." Our Lord promised his disciples that he would "send unto them another Comforter, even the Spirit of truth," who should carry on the work of salvation in the hearts of men, and abide with his people to the end of the world. Agreeably to this promise, the Apostles were endued with extraordinary gifts of the Spirit, shortly after Christ's ascension into heaven, and were thus qualified to preach the gospel among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. "And with great power," says the sacred historian, " gave the Apostles witness of the resurrection, and great grace was upon them all."x By the agency of the divine Spirit on the minds of men, the preaching of the gospel became productive of the most surprising effects. He convinced the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment." He melted the hard hearts of Christ's enemies into compunction and godly sorrow; so that after the first sermon of St. Peter, "there were added unto the church about three thousand souls, of those that gladly received his word and were baptized."" The Apostles and disciples t Colos. i. 12. John xiv. 16, 17. "were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness."-" And believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women." 99 a The high priest of the Jews, and all the senate of the children of Israel were greatly alarmed by the success of the gospel; therefore they called the Apostles before them, and said,-" Did not we straitly command you that ye should not teach in this name? and behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man's blood upon us. Then Peter answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men. The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree. Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins. And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him." Thus, in the first ages of the Church, the rapid success of the Gospel, is every where ascribed to the agency of the Holy Spirit. Through the preaching of the word of God, he opened the blind eyes, he converted the souls. of men, and directed their minds to the cross of Christ; he turned them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they might receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which were sanctified by faith in Christ. By this means, the face of the world was soon materially altered; light sprung up in the midst of heathenish darkness; truth was spread abroad instead of destructive errors; order succeeded to confusion; and righteousness, purity, and peace then reigned in the earth, where nothing had before been seen but ungodliness and vanity. By grace they were saved, saved from sin and all evil passions; their hearts were purified, their souls were transformed, their lives were rendered pure, and their affections were drawn up to high and heavenly things. The grace of the Holy Spirit is still necessary, in order to carry on the work of Christ, in saving the souls of men. Regeneration, or the new birth, is ascribed to his agency. The children of believing parents are dedicated to God in the ordinance of Baptism, and are placed under the immediate influence of the Spirit of grace, "that they may be born again, and may be made the heirs of everlasting salvation;" that "all things belonging to the Spirit e Acts xxvi. 18. may live and grow in them."* We may con sider Baptism, therefore, when rightly adminis tered, according to its divine institution, not as a mere transient act, but as a Sacrament, whereby we are admitted into a state of salvation, and have "the promises of the forgiveness of sin, and of our adoption to be the sons of God by the Holy Ghost visibly signed and sealed;"† and by which we are brought under the gracious influence of the Spirit, in the church of Christ, and are placed under the means of grace and the preaching of the word, that we may from our childhood know those holy Scriptures which are able to make us wise unto salvation." These privileges, however may be forfeited, these means of grace may be neglected, parents may be regardless of the welfare of their offspring, and not careful to "bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord." In that case, children may grow up 66 a seed of evil doers, nay, it may happen that even the most pious parents may have occasion to mourn over rebellious and wicked children. Here there will be a necessity for a deep and thorough repentance for a change of heart and a change Baptismal Office. † Art. xxvii. f Isa. i. 4 Tim. iii. 15. e Ephes. vi. 4. |