We are not to wait, in matters of duty, until we feel ourselves sensibly under the influence of the Spirit - but to enter upon obedience, expecting His gracious aid - we are not so much to wait for, as to wait upon the Holy Spirit.
Beware of making the experience of others, rather than the Word of God, a criterion to judge of the work of the Spirit in yourselves.
In judging of the Spirit's incitement to duty, trust not to the impulses of your own mind, however strong, without trying them by the Word; the most frenzied enthusiasm, and the most mischievous fanaticism, have resulted from a neglect of this caution. All the Spirit's work in the heart is in accordance with His own rules in the Word. He cannot contradict Himself.
And now with a few DIRECTIONS I shall close.
Believe, feel, and practically acknowledge, your need of Divine influence. Let there be an abiding, humbling, influential sense of your utter moral inability, of infantile weakness, and dependence.
Let there be habitual, earnest, believing, wrestling prayer for the Holy Spirit, (Matt. 7:7-11). Pray sincerely, really desiring to make whatever sacrifices, self-denial, mortification, His coming shall bring.
Depend upon the Holy Spirit. Do everything in simple childlike reliance upon His aid. Never venture out of His sight, nor take a step without laying hold of His hand by faith. Read, hear, pray, watch, struggle - in the Spirit. Yield yourselves up into the care, protection, and guidance of this Divine Agent.
Expect the Spirit in faith. He is promised. You live under a dispensation of abounding communicated grace. Look for the heavenly shower in its season.
Seek often sanctifying grace, for all those precious fruits which form the Christian temper, adorn our character, and bless our species, and which the apostle enumerates in Galatians 5:22, "The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance."
Obtain and preserve the Spirit's witness to your adoption. Labor after this heart-cheering testimony to your Divine filiation, "The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God." Happy assurance! Blessed confidence!
Dwell my dear friends, on this glorious and delightful doctrine of the Spirit's work in believers. Yield yourselves up into His hands to become His finished and exquisite workmanship. Implore Him to add another and another stroke and touch, in producing the image of God in your souls. Beseech Him who formed Christ in the womb of the virgin by a supernatural overshadowing, to form Him in your heart, that you may be a miniature picture of Him who is the brightness of His Father's glory. Seek His blessed power to inspire obedience into you, that holiness may become, in this sense, natural to you, and all your duties be brought forth in the easy, healthful, and graceful walk of the new creature; that you may feel no confinement or constraint in the service of God - but walk, run, yes fly onward towards eternal happiness in the amplitude and liberty of your Divine life.
Since it is by the instrumentality of the Word of truth, that the Spirit carries on His work of grace in the soul - be diligent in the devout perusal of the Scriptures. It is when the mind is fixing the eye of contemplation on the objects of revelation, that the Comforter comes down into the heart. The Word of God is the sword of the Spirit by which He slays our corruptions, and the fire by which He purifies our souls. It is then illumination is diffused through our minds, sanctification through our heart, and comfort spreads over our whole soul, when we commune with God in His own Book. He delights to bless those who study it. The Spirit-like dove is ever hovering over these precious leaves, to reveal Himself to the humble and contrite student, of their contents. No wonder we have little of the Spirit when we seek Him not in the Word.
Diligently follow up and improve all the gentle drawings and sweet persuasives of this Divine Sanctifier. Be quick to discern His seasons of visitation, and skillful to turn to account all His various operations. Be deeply humbled that with such a Teacher you have learned so little, with such a Sanctifier you are no holier, and with such a Comforter no happier. Seek a livelier faith, a closer union with Christ, that you have have more of that influence which is ever flowing from the Head into all the members. Look to Him, that by His efficacious and rich anointings you may be enlightened when dark, quickened when dead, drawn when reluctant, strengthened when weak, sustained when falling, enlarged when in difficulties, comforted when sad. May this Divine Spirit be in us as a well of water springing up into everlasting life.
"O Holy Spirit, the Comforter, come and dwell in our souls - make our bodies your temple. Fill our minds with your light, and our hearts with your love, that over our whole character your power may be seen in the beauties of holiness. May we all live as something sacred to You, as well as perfected by You. Come in all your seven-fold energy - and replenish us with your illuminating, comforting, sanctifying influence. Baptize us with celestial fire, and give us, in your abundant grace, the pledge of glory everlasting! Amen."
~J. C. Ryle~
(The End)
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