1989 Issue 5 - The Holy Ghost, Part 2 - Counsel of Chalcedon

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    The Holy GhostPartll

    by J.C. Ryle

    ffi. The third thing I propose t0 with ' the work of the Spiri t We ought soon as He comes into aman, 'iliatconsider, is the manner in VhiCh the tO believe the fact, though we Cannot ~ e t i ~ ~ e s: i m m e ? i ~ t e l ~an e s t.~ ~ i ' S - ~Holy Ghost works on the hecms o explam the manner. Christian, ~ Christian ~ -w ~~ ~~~ ~ ~ h oare saved. . . . ways nothmg but s p m t u.a l i ~ c a n~

    _ I ~ a j ~ o ~ t t h i sbranch of ,my subject (b) I say furthennore, that the o ~ ~ e r v e d .~ ~ t .this r .) l l - { ( - : 1 ha ~ d f eA t~ t t hD ' l ~~l f i f ~ d ~ ~ e .I ~ very s e n ~ Holy Ghost worlcs 011 the heart of a I n l ~ h t ySprr:t 1 ~, v e r a. .m a per:-stble t h a N t i s r i n ~ ~ t t hdifficul- man in a overeign manner. He comes s o n ~s o ~~ ~i i l i ~ u tpr ~ s o m eper-t;ies, and i t i v ~ l ; Q : e ~~~ ~ o ~ e - 4st to one and does not come to another. c e p ~ ~~ s u I t ~ ~ ~ ~s o n d uthings o f G ( ) ( t \ . ~is folly foNuo .._. e often converts 0~ - ' i n : r . -~~ family, . . ~ r s ~ p s :. . . E . ~~ e rtdle . 'Y"eman to tum a w a ~ t R i i i f 'truth m w . others are l e f ~ n e . T h ~ ew~ n ~ e ' t \ ow a r r ~ ~c ; gp t u r efor ta1king~ h r i s t i a n i t y, r n e r ~ ~ ~ a u ~o f ~ c ~ l - 0 tlii"eves:c-&.tueifi'ed . . ,, o~ P ' f Z ;d ,. 6 f d o r m a n - . t , g r a ~) W h ~ o e . v c :is bQr_nt t ~ s .Better a t h o u s a { f ~ e sr e y e ~ v eJ e s ~ ~ ~ s ton Calvary. ~ ~ ~ wJh(" of G ~~ ~ n ~, tc o ~ tsm, for hiSwtth meekness what wi(annot flflly .ex- same SaViaur dying and hdrd til { ' a r n e seed r e ~ n e W i ohim._ (I Jphn _3:9.)pl.ain, ~ dbelieve .that w 1 t ( ' ~ ~ ~ ~ ~~ words c o m ~from 'His lips . . e T~o n l y ~ . . 1 e~ ~ ~ e. ~ YGhost ts, there wtll be~ o tnow, we . ~ h a l lk n o w ~ ~ r e a t ~ ~ / onfi r e p e n t ~ ~and went to P ~ a d i s e ,~ s ( ) \ ~ ~ . )n. E n o ~ ~ hfor . ~ , says an.old i v m ~~l / ; vM e the . e r d i ~in his s i n ~f -. , e r ~ \A. ;)

    ~ eSlt tn Gods ;ourt. W l ~ ? U tp r e t e n d ~ v } e t ' m .1

    an.fPbarisees be . ides s/ fa 1~. 1~ h ~\ ~ ~ ? I say furthe nnore, that the Holy

    mg to be of_Gods counsel. . ~ ~ d 3 f din S t e p h ~ ' sm ~ 4~\1 ~ ~ ~ ~'\___P ost always works on the heart of a. II) speakll,tg of ~ e manner o_f the a u r~~ ~ ; m ebecame ag a p o sh d )l ~f , b ~ ~man in an irresi stible manner. I do nQt

    Holy G h o ~ t sworking, .r shall stmply were Irljjpy sljve .eaptain_ in John deny for a moment that there are some-~ t a t ecertatn great _leading f ~ t s .They NeWton' l\ ime ; et lone b u ~ e c a m e. times spiritual strivings and workingsaJ:e f a ~ t sattested alike by Scnpture and a prepc . o f{~ e G o 5 l { t ( - w .e ; :, a r m ~ fc o n s c i e n c e ~. the minds ~ furtcon-

    expenence. They facts p a t ~ n tto the A ; c fiu6t. e ~l{iis . But n ~ i t b e r... .a n ~ vetted.,men, h i c ~finally come to noth-e y e s~o fevery a n d i ~.an.d e ~ l - m s t r u ~ t e d~ t ~ J (;f o r~~ J t a ~b .~ i f g l : i t l h ~ t h ~ ~ F ~ . . ~.. . . say c o n ~ d e n t l y ,that when? ~ s e ~ e r .~ e yare ~ c t swhtch I beheve o ,, ,D f h i ? g4. f u n d~ .c. s l r a n ; J.. lf4i tfi . R :ut.... eally begtns .a. wo.rk of. co.n-tt 1s unposstble to gamsay. . . ~ ~th. f so ~ V' ~ \ ~~ - f r s W ~~~ always can:xes that work to

    (. , , , y / \ - ' .\ ~ ~ ~ e a e ~ u e n . H e e f { e c t s

    . a) I say then that the ~ o l y; . ' , . i I J ay filfrth . Ae, ~ a t}e, ~ . ot.. e ~.. "' e turns the :har. acter upside down.~ o r k son the heart of a man m a~ ~ ~ ~' \ Q . ~?. . ay ~~ - ~r ~ ~ the 1Q e~ o f \a ; : : . ~ ~~ u s e sold things to pass away, andUJus manner. Our Lord J e s u~~G h i i j p7 thantill dch JJ; ; J : d1 ~; t o~be \f ei f i t .~ d> ; _ :~~ t h i n g .s to b e c o ~ enew . In a w ~Himself tells us that in . well-:knOJ , bot~ motherit sa { th\ Jfue1feetJ t 1 t h ~Hal>: G?o.st 1s _Almighty . t ~w otds;--"The win d bloweth where it Us 1. : ' f i \~ ~ ~ ~e ~~ Wu~~ s~ e ~ a y sU ],r/:_ Him nothing IS .tmposstble. . . . .eth, and thou hearest the ~ o u n dthereof, t ~ b -~ f p e r s ) i o~ J no ~ t l t e yare '(f) . . . . ..but. a n s ~not tell w h ~ n c e1t .cometh d p r o d u c e ' a~ < t > nthe c Ji i ~. they- are .of- . . I say, finally, under this head,wh1ther I t goeth; .s? ~ every on_e that IS ten a cause of anxiety, and conflict, and that he Holy Ghost generally .works .onborn of the Spmt. (John 3.8.) We inward strife. All 1 maintain is tha t we the heart of man through the use ocannot e ~ l a i nh ~ ~and in ~ h a tway h a v ~no warratl;t of Scripture for sup- fltartS_ The Word of God, p r ~ h ~orthe Alnughty S p m ~comes ~ t oman, pOSing that there is an indwelling of the r e ~ ,ts generan.y employed b ~Him asand operates _upon him; but e t t h e r~ o Spip.twhich is not felt at all. Where He an m s t r u m e n ~m the converston . of ac ~ we e ~ p l a ma t h o ~ s a n dthmgs_whtch is .there will always be corresponding s o ~He a p p l i ~that Word to the con-are continually taking place m the feelings. sctenc .e: He ~ ~ g s~ a tWord home tonatural world. We cannot explam how . d the 'llllnd. ThiS xs His general course ofour wills work daily on our members, ( J say furthermore, . hat the p r o c ~ u r e. There are t a n c e s ,undoubt-and make them w a D C ~:or move ; or rest, Holy .Ghost always works on the heart ediy, in which people are convertedat our discretion; yet no one ever thinks of a man in such a manner as to be seen "without the Word ." (I Pet 3 1.) B l i ~1

    ofdisptttin g the fact. So ought it to be in the man s life. I do not say that as as a general rule, God's truth i S 'L t f i~

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    sword o the Spirit By it He teaches,and teaches nothing else but that whichis written in the Word.

    I commend these six points to the attention o all my readers. A right understanding o them supplies the best antidote to the many false and specious doctrines by which Satan labours to darkenthe blessed work o the Spirit

    a) Is there a haughty, highmindedperson reading this paper, who in hispride o intellect rejects the work o theHoly Ghost, because o its mysteriousness and sovereignty? I tell you boldlythat you must take up other groundthan this before you dispute and denyour doctrine. Look to the heaven aboveyou, and the earth beneath you, anddeny, i you can, that there re mys-teries there.--Look to the map of theworld you live in, and the marvellousdifference between the privileges o one

    nation and another, and deny i you can,that there is sovereignty there .--Go andlearn to be conistent. Submit that proudmind o yours to plain undeniable facts.Be clothed with the humility that becomes poor mortal man. Cast o thataffectation o reasoning under whichyou now try to smother your conscience. Dare to confess that the worko the Spirit may be mysterious andsovereign, and yet for all that is true.

    b) Is there a Romanist, or semiRomanist reading this paper, who triesto persuade himself that all baptized people, and members o the Church, as amatter o course, have the Spirit? I tellyou plainly that you are deceiving yourself, if you dream that the Spirit is in aman, when His presence c;mnot beseen. Go and learn this day that the presence o the Holy Ghost is to be tested,not by the name in the register, or theplace in the family pew, but by thevisible fruits in a man's life.

    C) Is there a worldly man readingthis paper, who regards all claims to theindwelling o the Spirit as so much enthusiasm and fanaticism? I warn you also to take heed what you are about. Nodoubt there is plenty o hypocrisy andfalse profession in the Churches; nodoubt there are thousands whose religious feelings are mere delusion, but

    ~ m ~ n yis no proof that there is no

    such thing as good coin : the abuse o athing does not desttoy the use o it. TheBible tells us plainly that there are certain hopes, and joys, and sorrows, andinward feelings, inseparable from the work o the Spirit of God. Go and learnthis day that you have not received theSpirit, i His presence within you hasnot been felt

    d) Is there an excuse-making indo-lent person reading this paper , who comforts himself with the thought thatdecided Christianity is an impossiblething, and that in a world like this hecannot serve Christ? Your excuses willnot avail you. The power o the HolyGhost is offered to you without moneyand without price. Go and learn this daythat there is strength to be bad for theasking. Through the Spirit, whom theLord Jesus offers to give to you, all dif-ficulties may be overcome.

    Is there a fanatic reading this paper,who fancies that it matters nothingwhether a man stays at home or goes tochurch, and that i a man is to be saved,he will be saved in spite o himself? Itell you also this day, that you havemuch to learn. Go and learn that theHoly Ghost ordinarily works throughthe use o means o grace, and that it isby hearing that faith generally comesinto ~ soul. (Rom. 10:17.)

    I leave this branch o my subjecthere, and pass on. I leave it with asorrowful conviction that nothing inreligion so shows the blindness onatural man as his inability to receivethe teaching o Scripture on the mannero the Holy Ghost 's operations. Toquote the saying o our Divine Master,- The world cannot receive Him. (John14:17 .) To use the words o AmbroseSerle: This operation o the Spirit hathbeen, and ever will be, an incomprehensible business to those who havenot known it in themselves . Like Nico

    demus, and other masters in Israel, theywill reason and re-reason, till theypuzzle and perplex themselves, bydarkening counsel without knowledge;and when they cannot make out thematter, will give the strongest proof oall that they know nothing o it, byfretting and raving , and calling bardnames, and saying, in short, that thereis no such thing .

    IV. I propose, in the last place, toconsider the marks and evidences ywhich the presence of the Holy Ghostin a man s heart may e larown .

    Last as this point comes in order, itis anything but last in importanct. Infact, it is that view o the Holy Ghostwhich demands the closest attention oevery professing Christian. We haveseen something o the place assigned tothe Holy Ghost in the Bible. We haveseen something o the absolute neces-sity o the Holy Ghost to a man's salva-tion . We have seen something o themanner o the Holy Ghost 's operations.And now comes the mighty question,which ought to interest every reader :How are we to know whether we are

    partakers o the Holy Ghost? By whatmarks may we find out whether wehave the Spirit o Christ?

    I will begin by taking it for grantedthat the question I have just asked may

    be answered. Where is the use o ourBibles, i we cannot find out whetherwe are in the way to heaven? Let it be asettled principle in our Christianity,that a man may know whether or not hehas the Holy Ghost Let us dismissfrom our minds once and for ever themany unscriptural evidences o theSpirit's presence with which thousandscontent themselves. Reception o thesacraments and membership o the visible Church are no proofs whatever thatwe have the Spirit o Chris t In short,

    I call it a short cut to the grossest antinomianism to talk o a man having theHoly Ghost so long as he serves sinand the world.

    The presence o the Holy Ghost in aman's heart can only be known by thefruits and effects He produces. Mysterious and invisible to mortal eye as Hisoperations are, they always lead to certain visible and tangible results . Just asyou know the compass-needle to bemagnetized by its turning to the north,-just as you know there is life in a treeby its sap, buds , leaves and fruits, --jusras you know there is a steersman onboard a ship by its keeping a steadyregular course,--just so you may knowthe Spirit to be in a man's heart by theinfluence He exercises over histhoughts, affections, opinions, habits,and life . I lay this down broadly andunhesitatingly. I fmd no safe ground tooccupy excepting this. I see no safeguard against the wildest ~ n t h u s i a s m

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    ex,ceptingin this position. And I see itclearly marked out in our Lord JesusChrist's words: Every tree is known byhis own fruit/' (Luke 6:44.)

    . But what are the specific fruits bywhich the presence of the Spirit in theheait may be known? I find no cllffi-ctilty in answering that question. TheHoly Ghost alVI:'aysworks after a certaindfinite pattern. Just as the bee alwaysforms the cells of its comb in one regular hexagonal shape, so does ~ e Spiritof Godwork on the heart of man withone uniform result. His work is thework of a master , The world may seeno beauty in it: it is foolishness to thenatural man . But ,;he that is spitituald i s ~ e r r i e t hall things. (I Cor. ~ : 1 5 . )Awell-instructed Christian knows well .

    special office to testify of Christ, totake of the things of Christ and showthem to man, (John 16:15.) He leads 'the soul which feels its sin. to Jesusand the atonement made by His blood.He shows the soul that Christ has suffered for sin, the just for the unjust, tobring us to God. He points out to thesin-sick .soul that we have only to receive Christ, believe in Christ, commito ~ e l v e sto Christ, and. pard.on, peace,and life eternal, are at once our own. Hemakes us see a beautiful fitness inChrist's finished work of e d e m p t i o ~to .meet our splritual necessities. Hem.akes us willing to disclaim ;Ul meritof ur own-and to venture all on Jesus,looking to nothing, resting on nothing,trusting in nothing but h r i s t - - C h r i s t - ~

    the fruits of the Spirit of God. Let mebriefly set them before y o ~in order.They are all clear and unmistakable ,plain to him that understandeth, and .

    right to them that fmd knowle_ge."

    (Ptov. 8:9.)

    .. 1) Where the Holy Ghost is,. therew.pi always be deep conviction o f sin ,dtJd true repentance for it. It is Hisspecial office to convince of sin. (John16:8.) He shows the exceeding holinessotGod.He teaehes the exceeding corruption and infrrmity of our nature . Hestrips us of our blind self-righteous~ ~ s s He opens our eyes to our awfulgiillt, folly and danger . He ftlls theheart with sorrow, contrition, and abhor~ n c efor sin , as the abominable thingwhich God hateth. He that knowsnothing of all this , and saunters carelessly through' life, thoughtless aboutsin, and indifferent and unconcernedabout his soul, is a dead man before God.He has not the Spirit of Christ.

    (2) w h ere the-Holy Ghost is, therewill always be lively faith in JesusChrist , as the only Saviour . t is His

    Christ,-- delivered for oUr offences, andraised agail). for our justification.(Rom. 4:25.) He that knows nothing ofall this, and builds on any other foundation, is dead before God . He has not the

    Spiritof

    Christ.

    (3) Where the HolyGhost is, here .will always be holi11f ss o f life and con- versation. He is the Spirit of holiness.(Rom. 1:4.) He is the sanctifyingSpirit. He takes away the hard, carnal,worldly heart of man, and puts in . tSplace a tender, conscientious, spiritualheart, delighting in . he law of God. He m a k e ~a man turn his face towards God,and desire above all things to please ,Him, and tum his back on the fashionof Ws world, and no longer m3ke thatfa$hion his god. He sows in. a .man'sheart the .blessed seeds of love, joy,meekness, long-suffering, g e n t l e r i e ~ s .goodness, faith, temperance, andcauses these s .eeds to spring up and bearpleasant fruit G a l ~5:22.) He thatlacketh these things, and knows.nothing of daily practical godliness, idead before God. He has not the $piritof Christ.

    The Counsel o Chalcadon June 1999 page 20

    . 4 Where,the Holy G h o s ~is,.will l lways be the habit o f earnest pr.i-.v.at{ .prayer. He is the Spirit of grace 'and supplication; (Zech. . 12:10.) Heworks in the heart as the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry Abba, Father. lie:.m a k ~ sa man feel that he must cry .toGod, and speak to God,--feebly,falter'"ingly, weakly, it may be,--b.ut cry he

    must about his s ~ l He makes it asnatliral to a man to pray as it is to an infant to breathe; with this one difference,--that the . nfant breathes withoutan effort, arid the new.,.bom so ll prays ;w1i:b much conflict and strife. He thatknows nothing of real, living, fer\rent,private prayer; .and is content with some ;old form, or with no prayer at all;- is 'dead before God. He has not die Spil)t.of Christ.

    (5) Finally, where the Holy G h ois, J}lere will alwaysbe love and rever- en efor God s Word; He makes theneVIborn soul desire the sinceremilk of theWord, just as the infant desiresits natura1 food. He makes it delight in the lawof the Lord. (I Pet. 2:2; Psa: 1:2.) Heshows man a fulness, and depth, aridwisdomj and sufficiency in the Holy .Scripture, which is . utterly hid from anatural man's eyes. He drawshim tO theWord with an irresistible force,as thelight and lantern, and manna. andsword, which are essential to a safe

    journey through this world.f

    he mancannot re d He makes him love tomeditate.But to . the Word the Spiritalways leads him. He that sees nospecial beauty in God's Bible, andtakesno plea5ure in reading , hearing, andunderstanding it, is dead beforeGod. Hehasnot the Spirit Of Christ. . .

    I place these five grand rnatks of tlie .Spirit's presence ~ f o r emy readers,and confidently claim attention to them. Ibelieve they Willbeat inspection.I ari1not afraid of their 'being searched, '

    criticized, and cross-examined. Repent- ancetoward God,--faith towardour LordJesus Christ,--holiness of heartand i f e , ~habits of real private p r a y e r - ~ l o vandreverence toward God 's Word,-these arethe real proofs of the indwellingof theHoly Ghost in a man's soul. WhereHeis, these marks will be seen. Where Heis not, these markswill be lacking. . .

    t grant freely that the leadings9 t ~ e Spirit, in some. minute details, are: bt

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    always uniform. The paths over whichHe conducts souls, are not always precisely one and the same . The experiencethat true Christians pass through intheir beginnings is often somewhat various. This only I maintain ,--that themain road into which the Spirit leadspeople, and the final results which Heat length produces, are always alike. Inall true Christians, the five great marks

    I have already mentioned will always befound.I grant freely that the degree and

    depth o f the work of the Spirit in theheart may vary exceedingly. There isweak faith and strong faith,--weak loveand strong love,--a bright hope and adim hope,--a feeble obedience toChrist's w l ~and a close following o fthe Lord. This only I maintain,- -thatthe main outlines of religious characterin all who have the Spirit, perfectlycorrespond. Life is life, whether strong

    o r feeble . The infant in anns, thoughweak and dependent, is as real and true arepresentative of the great family ofAdam as the strongest man alive.

    Wherever you see these five greatmarks, you see a true Christian. Letthat never be forgotten. I leave it toothers to excommunicate and unchurchall who do not belong to their ownpale, and do not worship after their ownparticular fashion. I have no sympathywith such narmwmindedness . Show mea man who repents, and believes inChrist crucified,--who lives a holy life,and delights in his Bible and prayer, -and I desire to regard him as a brother. Isee in him a member o f the HolyCatholic Church, out o f which there isno salvation. I behold in him an heir ofthat crown of glory which is incorruptible and fadeth not away . f he has theHoly Ghost, he has Christ. If he hasChrist, he has God. f he has God theFather, God the Son, and God theSpirit, all things are his . Who am I thatI should turn my back on him, becausewe cannot see all things eye to eye?

    Wherever these five great marks ofthe Spirit are wanting, we have justcause to be afraid about a man's soul.Visible Churches may endorse him,sacraments may be administered to him,fonns o f prayer may be read over him,ministers may c h ~ t b l yspeak o f himas a brother,"--but all this does notalter the real state o f things. The man isin the broad way tha t leadeth to destruc-

    tion. Without the Spirit he is withoutChrist Without Christ he is withoutGod. Without God the Father, God theSon, and God the Spirit, he is inimminent danger. The Lord have mercyupon his soul

    I hasten on now towards a conclusion. I desire to wind up all I have beensaying by a few words o f direct personalapplication.

    ( 1 In the ftrst place, let me ask aquestion o f all who read this paper. It isa short and simple one, and growsnaturally out o f the subject Have you,or have you not, the Spirit o f Christ?"

    I am not afraid to a sk this question. Iwill not be stopped by the commonplace remark that it is absurd. enthusiastic, unreasonable to ask such questions in the present day. I take my standon a plain declaration o f Scripture. Ifind an inspired Apostle saying, If any

    man have not the Spirit of Christ he isnone of His." I want to know what canbe more reasonable than to press onyour conscience the inquiry, Ha ve youthe Spirit of Christ?"

    I will not be stopped by the foolishobservation, that no man can tell inthis world whether or not he has theSpirit . No man can tell Then what wasthe Bible given to us for? Where is theuse o f the Scriptures if we cannot discover whether we are going to heavenor hell? The thing I ask can be known.

    The evidences o f the Spirit's presence inthe soul are simple, plain, and intelli -

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    pplicants must be experienced,Reformed holding to the system odoctrine taught in the WestminsterConfession o Faith), committed toChrist and to Christian education.

    gible. No honest inquirer needs miss the way in this matter. You may findout whether you have the Holy Ghost.

    I entreat you not to evade the ques-tion I have now asked. I beseech you toallow it to work inwardly in your heart.I charge you, as ever you would besaved, to give i t an honest answer. Bap-tism, Church-membership, respectabllity, morality, outward correctness, are

    all excetlent things. But do not be content with them. Go deeper: look further."Have you received the Holy Ghost?Have you the Spirit o f Christ?"

    2) Let me, in the next place. offera solemn warning to all who feel intheir own consciences that they havenot the Spirit of Christ. That warningis short and simple . If you have not theSpirit, you are not yet Christ's people:you are none o f His."

    Think for a moment bow much isinvolved in those few words, "none o fHis." You are not washed in Christ'sblood You are not clothed in His righteousness You are not justified Youare not interceded for Your sins are yetupon you The devil claims you for hisown The pit opens her mouth for youThe torments o f hell wait for you

    I have no desire to create needlessfear. I only want sensible people tolook calmly at things as they are. Ionly want one plain text of Scripture tobe duly weighed. It is written, "If any

    man have not the Spirit of Christ, he isnone of His." And I say in the sight o f

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    he Counsel of Chalcedon o June. 1989 o page 2

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    such a text, . if you die without the.Spirit, you had better never have beenborit. '

    ., :

    .(3 ~ ~ tm,e, in the n e ~ tplace, givet ~ nearnest invitation to all who feel that~ e y have not the Spirit ' )tat inVitation' is short and siinple. Go _and cry t oGod this dl .Y itt tbe name of the LordJesus Christ, and pray for . the. Holy

    Spirit to be poured down on your soul. There is . every possible encouragement _o do this. There is .warrant ofScripture fot doing . t: "Turrt you at myreproof,- will pour out my Spiritupon you. I will make known mywords t D ~y o u . " ~ - " 1 fye, being evil,mo w 'hb w -'to give good gifts . to yourc h i l d r e ~. ~ wmuch more shall yourheavertly Father give the Holy Spirit tothem that ask Him." (Prov. i:23; LU1ce1 1 : 1 3 ~ )There is warrant in the experience of thousands for doing i t Thou'

    sandii will rise at the last'day, and testify that when'they prayed they wereheaj:Cl, andwhen e y sought grace, theyfoimd it... .Above all, there is warrant inthe persqn and character of our LordJesus Cliri:st. l e waits to be gracious.He invites : sinners 'to come to Him. Herejects none that come : :He give.S"power to all who receive Him by faithand come toHim, to beeome the sonsof o d ~ "Johri1:12,) .

    Go then . toJesus, as a needy, w anting, ;h\unble, contrite sinner, arid youshali ' not go i i l vain. Cry t6 Him.mightily about your soul, 'andyou shallnot cry ro nopurpose . Confess to Him-y u.rii:eea and guilt, and fear, and dan-

    gerr and He will n9t despise you. Ask.and you . shall receive. Seek, and yous h ~ fmd. Knock; and it shall beopened to you. I testify to the chief ofsipners this day' ' hat there is enough inChrist, and to spare, for .your soul.Come, come: come, this very day.Come to Christ

    (4) :t.etme, in the last place, givea parting word o f exhort tion to allreac;lers of this paper who have receivedthe Spirit of C h r i s t , - ~ t o the peniterit,the believing, 'the holy,_the praying , thelovers of the Word of God. That exhortation shall consist of three sjmplethings .

    a) For one thing, be thankful forthe Spirit. Who hasmade you to differ?Whence came ,all these feelings in yourheart, which thousands around youknow not, and you yotJISelfknew not at

    one time? .To what do you owe thatsense o f sin, imd that drawing towardsChrist, and that .hunger and tlilist afterrighteousness, and that taste for the Bible and prayer, which, with all yourdoubts and infmnities, you find withinyour soul?

    Did these things come of nature? Oh,no --Did you learn these things in thesctiools of this world? Oh, no: no -They are all of grace. Grace SO\yed.them, grace watered hem, grace beganthem, .grace has kept them up. Learn tobe inore thankful. Praise G o f more'every day you l i v ~ :praise Hinl more inpri'vate, praise Him more in public,praise Hind.n your oWt1fainily, praise

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    by N.S. McFetridgeIncludes fourchapters:.1. Calvinism as.a Political Force.2. Calvinism as a Political Force

    in the United States3. Calvinismas a Moral Force4. Calvinismas an EvangelizingForce

    RJ. Rushdoony (from thePublisher's Preface): "Calvinism inHistory was fu'st published (1882) in a timeof much anti-Calvmism.All the same, there

    .was then still a readiness to . ecognize theIlJ.lljOri m P . ~ to{Calvin,ismon Weste:p1history. McFetridge reportedon that unpactand also on the awareness of it by schorars

    ,who were not.Calvinists .." '

    Loraine Boettner (from thePublisher's Preface): "I do not know ofany other book that sets forth so effectivelyana_yet in such a brief form the real natureof C"alvinism and the effect that it has hadin history ..) received much help from itasI was working on my book; The ReformedDoctrine of P,rcdcstination-"

    .

    Still Waters Revival BOok .12810-126st. Edmonton An.;

    Canada TSL OY,l. (403) 454:9162.$7.95 + 10% P&H.

    Watch for our .next t i t l ~Yirul ciae Cori1 [yrannos, A Defense O Liberty AgainstTyrants, by Jun1usBrutus (from tfie 1689edition, WJ.th thanks to The Counsel ofClullcidon for providinga copy fromwhich to reprinl.) .

    J he ,Co .unsel o f Chalcedon June, 1989 page 22 -- . o> - - .

    H4n .above all in your own. heart. Thisis theway t:Obe in u n ~for heaven. Theanthem there will be, "What hath God

    wrought?" . ' . . :-

    b) ~ ~another thjng, be f t l lwith the Spirit Seek to be more andmore under Ills ,blessed influence.Strive to have every thought, and word,and ,action, and habit, brought underobedience to the leadings of the HolyGhost. Grieve Him not by inconsistencies and conformity to the wotld.Quench Him not .by trifling with littleinfirmities . and small besetting il)s.Seek rather to have Him ruling ridreigning more completely over Y Qevery week that you live. Pray thatyoJlmaY.yearly grow in grace,