upon thy seed, and my blessing upon thine offspring. Is. xliv. 3. I will put my Spirit within you. Ezek. xxxvi. 27. And our Lord evidently extends the promise of the Spirit to all that seek it, when he says, If ye, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those that ask him? Luke xi. 13.

The Holy Spirit is promised FOR THE PURPOSE OF ASSISTING US IN OUR PRAYERS.-That promise is directly in point—I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications. Zech. xii. 10. Again, the Apostle thus describes the experience of Christians— The Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us, with groanings which cannot be uttered. Rom. viii. 26. Dr. Owen observes, that "it cannot be denied, that the assistance which the Holy Spirit gives us in our prayers and supplications, is more frequently and expressly asserted in the Scriptures, than any other operation of his whatever."

The Scriptures also, when exciting us to the duty of prayer, direct us to pray through the aid of the Holy Ghost. Thus Jude says, (ver. 20, 21,) praying in the Holy Ghost, keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. St. Paul says, Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance. Eph. vi. 18.

This aid of the Spirit in prayer is A BLESSING

WHICH BELONGS TO ALL THE CHILDREN OF GOD.

Because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father! Gal. iv. 6.

Ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we ery, Abba, Father! Rom. viii. 15.

Indeed the gift of the Spirit is the great promise of the New Testament. It is the grand privilege of the Christian church, that, since the resurrection of Christ, a larger measure of that Spirit has been given to the people of God. Jesus Christ was to baptize his people with the Holy Ghost. Matt. iii. 11. He told his disciples just before his death, It is expedient for you that I go away; for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. John xvi. 7.

The sentiments of the Church of England on this doctrine are very clearly expressed. Thus in the 13th Article it is said, "Works done before the grace of Christ, and the inspiration of his Spirit, are not pleasant to God." In the Sermon or Homily for Rogation week, it is said, "that we may boldly come in prayer, and call upon Almighty God as our Father, it is by his Holy Spirit, which maketh intercession for us with continual sighs.". Hence we find in the Liturgy various prayers expressly for the aid of the Holy Spirit. "Grant that thy Holy Spirit may in all things, direct and rule our hearts." "Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of thy Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love thee.”2 These, with many other similar passages, which might be brought, shew the mind of our Reformers on this subject.

Having shewn the necessity of the Spirit's aid, I

1 Collect, 19th Sunday after Trinity.

2 Collect before Communion Service. See also Art. 10, 11; 2nd Collect at Evening Prayer; 5th Sunday after Easter; 13th after Trinity. The Petitions, Endue us with the grace of thy Holy Spirit," "Take not thy Holy Spirit from us," teach the same truth.

would now endeavour in some measure to explain how this aid is given. The Scriptures express it generally under the terms, helpeth our infirmities, and maketh intercession for us, &c.

The Holy Spirit HELPS OUR INFIRMITIES,-The original expression for helpeth, (ovvavriλaμßávetai) implies that the Spirit takes upon himself a large part of the burden by which our infirmity is weighed down, and not only succours us in a slight degree, but effectually relieves us, by bearing himself, as it were, the burden with us. "The image is taken from one who sets his shoulders and lifts with us at the same load. What if it be not said in Scripture that we shall be wholly delivered in this world from our moral sicknesses? it is sufficient cause for thankfulness that we are effectually assisted under them." Even a renewed soul cannot of itself raise its affections and desires after heavenly things. We find the remains of our corrupt nature an oppressive load; but if we ask and diligently seek for the aid of the Spirit, that burden under which we are ready to sink will be removed, and our hearts raised in prayer to God; the Spirit will relieve us in our necessities. Preston, in his Treatise called "The Saint's Exercise," thus illustrates the subject: "A fountain has always an aptness to pour forth water, but cannot if it be stopped by mud, stones, or other impediments: so in prayer the spirit is willing, (to pray or do other duties,) but the flesh is weak. Yet here the Holy Ghost helps our infirmities, removing stoppages from the fountain, taking away carnal impediments, and stirring up the regenerate part, whereby we are able to make a spiritual prayer unto God."

The Holy Spirit enlightens the understanding, to

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shew us what we need; and sanctifies the heart, so that we desire what is really good for us. moves our natural ignorance and blindness. know not our sinfulness and unbelief; but the Holy Spirit reproves or convinces the world of sin, because they believe not on Christ. John xvi. 9. He thus shews us our great and alarming danger, and inclines us earnestly to seek deliverance.

Our Lord says to the Apostles, The Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. John xiv. 26. We may therefore reasonably conclude that the Holy Spirit acts upon our minds after this manner, bringing the declarations, the threatenings, and the promises of the word of Christ to our recollection; and thereby producing in us a desire to obey his word, escape his displeasure, and obtain his favour.

The enlightening and sanctifying influences of the Spirit are of great importance as to prayer, being needful in preparing our hearts for holy intercourse with God, and for desiring those things which will glorify Him, and really benefit our own souls.

But especially the Holy Spirit sheds abroad the love of God in our hearts, taking of the things of Christ and shewing them to us, and so effectually drawing our hearts out in full confidence and love to the throne of grace. Oh may we richly experience this, daily and constantly!

We know not what to pray for as we ought. St. James affirms, Ye ask and receive not, because ye ask amiss, to consume it on your lusts. This being so, the Holy Spirit maketh intercession for us, according to the will of God. Rom. viii. 27. He directs and guides

our minds to right ends in asking, and the Lord knows the mind of the Spirit. He approves and accepts the prayer made under his influence.

THE INTERCESSION OF THE HOLY SPIRIT differs from that of Christ. Our Lord intercedes in heaven, separate and apart from us, by himself, at the throne of glory. The Holy Spirit intercedes in, and with our hearts, at the throne of grace. The gift and intercession of the Holy Spirit is the fruit and effect of the intercession of Christ, who, when he ascended up on high, led captivity captive, and received this gift for men, yea, even for the rebellious.

Christians have, then, the intercession, the additional interposition of the Holy Spirit, like a powerful and able advocate, who takes up our sinking cause, urges our necessities and our pleas, with power, earnestness, and perseverance, and places them with strong and irresistible effect in such a light, that it is evident the suit is obtained and the request granted. Thus the Spirit maketh intercession for us, suggesting to us, and offering up in us, those desires, arguments, and pleas, which would otherwise never have risen in our minds.

"The Holy Spirit," says one of the Reformers, "excites within us confidence, desires, and sighs, to the conception of which our native powers were altogether inadequate." There are pious persons of very poor attainments in other respects, without learning or human acquirements, in the very lowest stations of life, who, asking for the aid of the Holy Spirit, can with the greatest propriety of expression, the deepest reverence, and an uninterrupted fluency of words, pour out their souls to God, and edify their families and their neighbours. Indeed, have not