causes, and yet lying so concealed behind them, as to remain unperceived, and to escape the acutest investigation. And the proof of this spiritual influx is as strong to the regenerate believer, as that of his own existence. How absurd would it be, brethren, for any one to require a proof that he beholds the light of day! And it is equally absurd to require a proof of the recep tion of spiritual illumination. When the sun shines, natural vision is at once convinced of the existence of solar light and thus, when "the Sun of righteousness has arisen with healing in His wings," the blind sinner receives a spiritual sight, enabling him to perceive the source, from whence flow the beams of Divine Light. The proofs of the existence of natural and of spiritual light, are precisely similar; and neither can be communicated to another. Each brings its own peculiar proof; each needs no other, and each can receive no other.

We are unable to comprehend the

manner,

in which our own spirit operates on the body; yet from expe

rience we know that the inclination of the will.

body obeys the We are ignor

ant of the precise nature of the senses, and of our mental powers; yet we feel that such operations are in continual exercise. We cannot understand how thoughts arise in our minds, nor the manner in which they are impressed there and retained. We know not how ideas are called out of the storehouse of the memory, into the chamber of the imagination. But, does our ignorance on these points, in the slightest degree disprove, that these mental operations are in continual exercise? We are assured that these ideas are communicated and retained, although we are unable to comprehend the manner in which this is effected. the same way, the real Christian possesses an inward witness, and is assured by the effects, that He, Who created his mind, has enabled him, by the influences of His SPIRIT, to under

M

In

stand many things, which before that spiritual impression, he deemed foolishness. He Who inspires His saints, grants them, at the same time, an assurance that the spiritual revelation proceeds from Himself. Those doctrinal truths which relate to christian experience, and the mysteries of the Gospel, are clearly revealed to the believer's mind: while he is unable to communicate this new spiritual faculty of perception to any other; or, to make known the evidences of his own conviction. In the Spirit, the real Christian understands incommunicable mysteries. The regenerate believer possesses then a new spiritual sense, of which the natural man has no better idea, than a man born blind has of the sense of vision. And this spiritual sight, and the illuminating influences of the HOLY SPIRIT, arising from His inhabitation, are as necessary for apprehending the spiritual mysteries of the Gospel; as natural vision and the light of the sun, for discerning

natural objects. We may therefore be well acquainted with our Bibles; and, at the same time, be wholly ignorant of its spiritual truths, unless this natural veil has been removed. So true is it that "the letter killeth, while the SPIRIT only can give life." "It is the SPIRIT that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are Spirit, and they are life." It is this mystic comprehension of the written Word, that gives light and life to that letter, which possesses a cameleon-like property, and is written in a sense accommodated to our natural capacities, and to the attainment of the first rudiments of knowledge. The written Word gradually develops its hidden meaning, according to the received measure of spiritual illumination, and according to our spiritual state and need.

Perhaps, some may here wish to inquire, why GOD has given us a revelation, of which so great a part is incomprehensible to the natural man? I

would reply, that the only answer, which the Word of God gives us to this inquiry, is that of our Saviour to His disciples, when "they said unto Him, why speakest Thou unto them in parables? He answered and said unto them, because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given. Because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand. For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their hearts and should be converted, and I should heal them." "By hearing they shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing they shall see and shall not perceive." "They have not, and from them shall be taken away even that which they seem to have." For all that we receive, is "grace for grace."