the fig-tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vine, the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls: yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation."

The Psalmist, in his devotions, makes use of similar figurative and encouraging expressions. "The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. He maketh me to lie in green pastures, he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me." Such are the proper and pious exclamations of believers in time of affliction, even whilst under the chastening rod of their heavenly Father. But they who distrust the divine promises, do grieve the Holy Spirit of God.

6thly. The Holy Spirit is grieved, when believers trust in the means of grace for spiritual comfort, and not in the divine agency and grace of God. As Ás mankind are naturally prone to idolatry, so the renewed soul is liable to confide in the privileges of grace and salvation, and not in their author and finisher. Young converts are apt to rely much on certain means as ensuring a blessing, and nothing but frequent disappointment, and painful experience, will teach them to trust solely to the gracious influence of the Holy Spirit, to render them effectual for present joy, and their eternal salvation. Persons, who have been awakened, or converted, under the ministration of the word, are ready to conclude, that should they again hear discourses from the same preacher, they would certainly enjoy much of the presence and blessing of God. But from experience they are taught, that neither a godly minister nor an interesting discourse will avail for their spiritual growth, unless the Holy Spirit accompany the word spoken, and

seal instruction to their minds. Some do even imagine, that should they only be in the same seat in which they have often been seriously impressed and animated, it would secure a blessing. Yea, even the closet, though greatly neglected by many, may be idolized. But such do not effectually realize, "Though Paul may plant, and Apollos water, it is God who giveth the increase." Instead of looking away through all mediums to the great Giver, they pay divine homage to his gifts. Thus they grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by substituting means as an equivalent to his divine agency. Hence, says the soul," By night on my bed, I sought him whom my soul loveth; I sought him, but I found him not. I will rise now, and go about the city in the streets and in the broad ways; I will seek him whom my soul loveth; I sought him, but I found him not." And why? Believers must be taught to realize that there is a divine efficiency, when the privileges of the gospel prove a medium of spiritual blessings. So when they trust in the means of grace themselves for spiritual comfort, they grieve the Holy Spirit of God.

Let us attend, in the second place, to the consequences of grieving the Holy Spirit.

1st. Impenitent sinners, by resisting his awakening and convicting operations, oppose the only possible efficient agency of their conversion and salvation.

As the blood of Christ is the only ground of pardon for rebels against God, so the Holy Spirit is the sole agent to make any willing in the day of his power to repent and believe the gospel. And he may be resisted and grieved, till he withdraw finally, and a person be given over to a reprobate mind. There is a point beyond which he never returns; but the Lord says, my Spirit shall no more strive with him. In vain, then, are any means, for the case is hopeless, when the soul is given over to its own devices.

Some do indeed make light of the most affecting movings, and the most solemn warnings of the Holy Spirit; but they trifle with the great gift of gifts. His calls to the sons of men are the last efforts, the utmost exertions of the unbounded grace, the adoring mercy, and astonishing forbearance of God in behalf of their precious, perishing, immortal souls. When finally forsaken of him, the terms, grace and mercy, can no more be endearing names to them. Hence the injunction, "Quench not the Spirit," is of momentous weight.

The grace of God may have limits, as it relates to individual sinners. And when the Divine Spirit affects them less and less by his operations, difficulties are more and more increased, and greater obstacles thrown in the way of his blessing the truth through means to their conversion. Yet, sinner, how often hast thou insultingly replied to him, "Go thy way for this time!" And what if he should leave you wholly to yourself! When it is said concerning any one, Ephraim is joined to his idols, let him alone, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sin, but the mists of the blackness of darkness for ever. And O! wretched state, dread condition, to be utterly forsaken and abandoned of the Holy Spirit of God! How careful should mankind be not to resist and grieve him, lest unawares they be given over to final delusion, and certain destruction.

2dly. When believers grieve the Holy Spirit of God, they have leanness sent into their souls.

When they disregard the voice of the heavenly messenger, they dry up those comforts, which are the springs of their life, and their chief joy. For them not to obey him, is to extinguish the vital energies of their souls; and with their own hands to smother the light of their lamps. Do we sometimes behold a believer as a barren fig-tree, apparently cumbering the ground, and would we know the reason? It is, that he has so grieved the Holy

Spirit of God, whereby he is sealed to the day of redemption. He has sapped the spring of all his joys, and rendered the heavens as brass over his head. Now the mildews of the evening, and the chill dews of the morning, nip the bud, and blight the prospect of heavenly fruit. Divine solace is withdrawn; and earth appears a barren wilderness. A dreary night ensues; and chilling frosts benumb the soul. Yea, the light of day is ex changed for the tangible darkness of Egypt. The Christian graces wither, and seem without life; whilst unfaithfulness, distrust, and perhaps despair, rise up in their stead. The soul of the believer is then chastened of the Lord, and must continue to experience the rod, till the Holy Spirit cause it to return. In such a state the tempter is vigilant, in hurling his fiery darts; and though he cannot destroy, he can worry and annoy. In bitterness and agony of soul the believer in the dust, as the Savjour on the cross, is constrained to exclaim, "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me.?" And although darkness may endure but for a night; yet how often is the anxious inquiry made, Lord, is thy mercy clean gone for ever? Under a scorching sun, and for the want of timely rain, we sometimes see the plants and the leaves of the trees shrivel and droop, till there is no form nor comeliness in them. So the believer, who grieves the Holy Spirit of God, and who for a time, is denied his vivifying influence, becomes unfruitful; and instead of enjoying a feast of fat things, has leanness sent into his soul.

3dly. When believers grieve the Holy Spirit of God, they give occasion to the enemy to triumph.

Watchfulness and vigilance prove a shield against the temptations and wiles of the adversary; but to be unfaithful is to quit the field, and at once to grant the victory. The Christian warfare cannot be successfully maintained without sanctifying influences from on high; and when the great agent of divine influence

is withdrawn, the enemy cometh in like a flood. It is the sword of the Spirit, which enables the believer to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one; and, unless he wield this heavenly and divine weapon, he is constantly liable to be taken captive. Satan is rejoiced, when the Holy Spirit is grieved; for he then expects victory, conscious that means are not effectual against his stratagems. So let believers beware, and take heed, lest they give occasion to the enemy to triumph.

4thly. For believers to grieve the Holy Spirit of God, is to put stumbling blocks before the world, and to be in the way of the salvation of souls.

When the disciples of Christ, by their lives and conversation, do strikingly reflect the light and glory of the gospel, sinners are constrained to come to him, that they may have life. But when they forsake their first love; when they scarcely exhibit the form of godliness, and not its power, then the prospect of the enlargement of Zion by the addition of converts, is gloomy indeed. If believers do not enjoy the cheering and animating influences of the Spirit of Grace, how small the encouragement, that they shall be the happy instruments of the conversion and salvation of any of their fellowmen. Through their lukewarmness and chilling influence, the kingdom of Satan may be advanced, instead of the kingdom of God's dear Son. If their zealous and godly lives may prove instrumental for the salvation of souls; then their inactivity and indifference in the things of religion, may be the occasion why some are lost, and not saved. This must be true, or the blood of souls would not be required in consequence of unfaithfulness.

How affecting and solemn the thought, that if believers would be faithful, and abound in all the Christian duties, they would prove a savour of life unto life to some; whereas, by criminal neglect, they may become a savour of death unto death. And can you, Christian friends, endure the thought,