278 SERMON PREACHED ON THE ISLAND. 
was crucified, among those who demanded his 
blood, did the Holy Spirit commence his opera- 
tions, and say to each one of them, ' Come. 7 
Brethren, we, by nature and practice, are exactly 
in the same state' in which those Jews were. 
' In us, that is, in our flesh, dwelleth no good 
thing.' But that same Holy Spirit who pricked 
the Jews in the heart is now striving with us, 
and convinces us, as it did them, of sin. It is 
allowed that the miraculous gifts of the Spirit 
have ceased long since, but his ordinary opera- 
tions in the heart of man are continued, and will 
continue till the great and notable day of the 
Lord come. But how do we treat them ? Do 
we encourage them? Do we desire that they 
may be increased within us in frequency and 
power ? Do we pray to be ' endued with the 
grace of the Holy Spirit, to amend our lives 
according to God's holy word?' Or when, in 
effect, He says to us, c Come, now, and let us 
reason together,' do we resist his gracious influ- 
ences and say, ' Depart from us,* we desire not 
the knowledge of thy ways ? ' If, alas ! this is 
the case, and that which the holy martyr Stephen 
said of the Jews, ' Ye stiffnecked and uncircum- 
cised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the 
Holy Ghost,' is applicable to us, then ' there 
remaineth nothing but a certain fearful looking 
for of judgment and fiery indignation.' For the 
Almighty, whom we have insulted, will say unto 
us, ' Because I have called, and ye refused ; I 
have stretched out my hand, and no man re- 
garded ; })ut ye have set at nought all my coun- 
sel, and would none of my reproof : I also will 
