thy of the vocation wherewith we are called." These show that it is our duty to be holy, and to grow in grace, in knowledge, in heavenlymindedness, and Christian consistency, until we are holy, even as our Father in heaven is holy; and we cannot be obedient to the heavenly voice so long as we wait, without any effort upon our own part, for the Spirit of God to do all within us and for us. We are to "work out our own salvation with fear and trembling;" that is, we are to strive industriously with a holy anxiety, until our salvation be complete; and the fact, that "it is God that worketh in us both to will and to do of his own good pleasure," is declared as a reason and encouragement to our industry, not to our indolence. Thus the grace of the Holy Ghost is promised only to those who seek it. Our Lord, after enforcing the duty of perseverance and importunity in prayer, 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 them that ask him?" And in the Hebrews we are told to go "boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in every time of need." So that without prayer, earnest, faithful and constant, we may not hope for the blessing of the Holy Ghost upon our hearts.

And again, we are taught that this Holy Spirit may be "resisted," "despised," "grieved," and

quenched." He is "resisted," when we refuse to obey the gracious motions he makes within us to the doing of good works, and remain idle and wicked; He is "despised," when we set a slight value upon his gracious benefits, and do not improve his divine help unto the utmost; He is

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grieved," when we do not put away from our hearts all that is offensive to his pure sight, as uncleanness, pride, enmity, or idolatry; and He is

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quenched," when we so continue to "resist," "despise," and "grieve" him, that he leaves us to our sinful folly, and we feel no more his power

within us, in a sense of sin, a desire of divine as

sistance, and an endeavour after a holy life. The grace of the Holy Spirit, like the talents in the parable, is given us to increase by our own industry; for "to him that hath (that is, makes a good use of the divine blessing) shall be given" more, and "from him that hath not, shall be taken away even that which he seemeth to have." While, therefore, we grow in the Christian life by divine grace, it is our duty to grow in grace.

Besides, the quality of grace is such, that though it is strength from God, we must use it. Grace gives no new faculty, but strengthens the faculties which we have. When our Saviour cured the paralytic, he did not give him new limbs or new sinews, nor did he raise him up, set him on his

feet, and carry him on his way. He commanded

him to arise; and, when, in obedience to the divine word, and reliance upon the divine promise conveyed in it, the withered man made the effort, a new life went through his wasted frame, and he

arose, by his own volition and effort, through the strength which was given him. So the grace of God does not give to the Christian another soul, but quickens him with new life, and endows him with new energy. God gives us strength, but it is a strength we are to exert. The mind, enlightened by the Holy Spirit, perceives and understands the truth; the conscience, quickened by the Holy Spirit, feels and acknowledges it; the heart, converted by the Holy Spirit, loves and obeys it. Yet it is the Christian himself who thus understands, acknowledges, loves and obeys the truth; though he does so by the grace of God enabling him. If he neglect the study of the truth, or refuses to study it with candour and simplicity, or to cherish it with care and affection, he has no reason to hope for the grace of God. It is only when and so long as we use or exert the strength of grace, that we can know we have it, or may expect to enjoy it and profit by it. "The idle soul shall suffer hunger, but the hand of the

dilligent maketh rich." Our working is the sure sign of the presence of grace, our idleness the sure sign of its absence. God's people, "in the day of his power," are a "willing people;" and the Holy Spirit works in them both "to will and to do;" for, as there is no obedience except it be from the heart, we cannot do, except we be willing, God's good pleasure.

Hence, the fruits of the Spirit are the qualities and actions of the renewed man, not produced without him, but wrought through him.

Let us, then, be ever mindful of our dependence upon the Spirit of God. We derived our new life from him, and only he can maintain it in us. Without him we can neither think good thoughts, speak good words, nor do good deeds. Any strength, of which we may be conscious, is from him alone; and, if he withdraw himself from us, we must languish and die.

While we bless the Spirit of life for his gracious influence, let us not forget that we have re