Holy Spirit. In early childhood, even in the first dawn of reason and conscience in the soul, the work of the Spirit begins; even then his voice is heard in the soft accents of persuasion, saying, "Hearken now unto me, O ye children: yea, blessed are they that keep my ways." In the rough, the wild, and oftentimes guilty, career of youth, the same voice is heard, saying, “Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth." As age advandes, and the toils and sorrows of life multiply, the same friendly voice is still heard, crying from the "high places, by the way," "at the entry of the city," "at the coming in of the doors," and saying, " Unto you, O men, I call, and my voice is to the sons of men." But when the Spirit's work begins, then also be gins the resistance of the sinner. As he draws "with bands of love," sinners resist with a hard and impenitent heart. As he pursues his work of reclaiming, they pursue theirs of resisting. "Ye do always resist the Holy Ghost." Yes, the child resists; the youth resists; the middle aged sinner, at the head of his family, resists; the aged sinner, stumbling on the dark mountains of death, even he resists that Spirit who would make the everlasting God his friend and his portion! In health and in sickness, in prosperity and in affliction, through life, and even in the final throes of dissolving nature, the sinner resists the Being that would raise his soul to a dwelling with God!

V. To what degree do sinners resist the Holy Ghost?

The true answer is, to a degree proportioned to the influence exerted upon them. This influence varies in its power at different periods at one time, it is comparatively feeble; and at another, truth and providence are made to combine and concentrate their forces so as to act with great intensity on the heart; but as the outward influence varies, so does the resisting force within. Survey the history of any sinner who was born and educated in a gospel land, and see how it confirms the fact we have stated. In his childhood, he was placed under the influence of parental instruction-of Sabbath schools-of divine ordinances-and of revivals: but they failed at the first to win his soul to God. He has grown up in the midst of these scenes, and every day encountered their influence; and, alas! resisted with complete success. At times, the encounter has been sharp and painful. Truth has stolen upon him unawares, and seized upon his mind; the Almighty has met him in the judgments of his providence, pouring contempt upon his idols, and scattering his hopes to the winds; conscience, too, an accusing spirit, has gone up to lay the record of his crimes before the judgment seat: and truly his soul is in great extremities,-fear and anguish have taken hold upon him. But that hour of darkness is gone: it has come and gone again, and the heart is still kept from God. The sinner still resists; and, for any thing we can promise, he will continue to resist till these influences are forever withdrawn:-for, surely, if these blessed influences cannot overcome the yielding nature of childhood, if they cannot succeed with the generous sympathies of youth, what hope can be indulged of their success when encountered by the iron sternness of manhood or the morbid apathy of old age!

Thus it is, that impenitent sinners resist the Holy Ghost, and always resist-yea, resist to the degree that is necessary to repel the invading influences. With vast multitudes, this unnatural and perilous strife is prolonged through life; and finally they win-win damnation to their souls!

From our subject, we learn

1. The extent of human depravity. The resistance which the Holy Spirit has to encounter, is man's nature-man's will excited into opposition to God. This resistance is a real and most earnest one; it is habitual; it listens not to truth or interest, to authority or to love; it is armed with fearful strength; it is prolonged for years; and, in a vast multitude of cases, it will be sustained forever. Look at this fact, sinner, and then decide on your own moral character. It surely is not necessary that I should apply to you the odious language-totally depraved; but I do say, look at the fact which has been spread before you-a fact which belongs to human nature--to yourself, as well as to others and then decide this matter as you can.

2. The malignity of sin. Be it total or limited in its sway over impenitent hearts, it surely wears a most fearful aspect. It is opposition to the great and glorious God, whose presence fills heaven with love and praise, and whose loving kindness is over all his works. It is the heart in arms against truth and duty--against personal interest and the general good. It is the soul "resisting the Spirit of all grace," and resisting him in his very efforts to rescue that soul from endless ruin, and restore it to the family and the bosom of God. O sinner, what a dark and fearful spirit reigns in your heart! How surely the work of death is going on within you! How alarming the probability, that you will at last be brought down to hell, and there feel the gnawings of the worm that never dies!

3. Sinners, in a greater or less degree, are always under the strivings of the Spirit. It is a common excuse with sinners for remaining impenitent, that they have never been "moved upon by the Holy Ghost." They are waiting for the Spirit to strive with them; and intend to avail themselves of such an occasion, and make their peace with God. But what does the text say, even of the class to which you belong? "Ye do always resist the Holy Ghost." And how can the Holy Ghost be resisted, and always resisted, if he is not attempting and always attempting to restore the soul to God? There is not then a sinner in this wide world, whom the gospel has reached, but is now and at all times resisting the Holy Ghost. These strivings, then, fellow-sinners, are not to be waited for you have always had them, you have them now: and the very excuse you have uttered is one of the modes in which you are resisting them. And we know not that the Holy Spirit will ever bring a higher influence to act upon you, than is acting at this moment. All the blaze of light and power of motive that can be drawn from that book which God has said "is able to make wise unto salvation," is at this moment beaming upon your soul. And the spirit of prophecy has not said-no angel has whispered it— that you shall ever have more. "If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rose from the dead." 4. The Holy Ghost is a most gracious and condescending Spirit. How like a tender father he pleads and labors with sinners to make them good and happy! How patient under neglects and abuses! He is resisted, but he still strives. Sinners labor to defeat his generous designs, but he does not abandon his work. The impenitent say unto him, "Depart from us, for we desire not the knowledge of thy ways;" but his reply is, Oh that they were wise, that they would consider, that they would think of their latter end! Surely, if sinners perish, it will not be because there was none to care for their souls. Oh, if they die in their sins, how solemn will be their final meeting with

that blessed Spirit, who has so long labored for their good, but whom they have so often resisted and grieved!

5. Sinners while in a state of nature are growing no better. We say this on the authority of our text, understanding the apostle here to assert a fact that belongs to human nature in its original state, and of course belongs to all men that are not "born of the Spirit." Now concerning man in this state, his declaration is, that he resists, always resists, the Holy Ghost. And surely, there can be no moral good in this opposition to the Spirit. The heart that cherishes it, or is the seat of it, can for the time being cherish nothing of which God approves. "Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet waters and bitter?" It is, indeed, most freely admitted, that sinners in a state of nature, may have a deep sense of their criminality before God, and be the subjects of great inward distress and alarm. This is in accordance with the apostle's experience," When the commandment came, sin revived, and I died." But all this is compatible with the resistance to the Spirit which is described in the text. Nay more, this conviction of sin, and this distress and alarm, are the proper fruits of this resistance. They are an important evidence of the fact, that the heart is unreconciled to God. Of man in a state of nature it is written, "Ye do always resist the Holy Ghost." This is their chosen and their daily employment. This resistance rises in proportion to the force with which the Spirit acts upon their consciences. Hence, so far from abating, it is more active in the heart of the awakened than in those of stupid sinners. It is then delusion-philosophy without scripture or fact-to imagine that unregenerate sinners are securing step by step an interest in the divine favor. Rather would we say to the awakened, but unrenewed soul, in the language of our text, "Ye stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost."

6. We learn what is the first step to a reconciliation with God. No approach, we have seen, is made to this state, while the sinner continues to resist. His resistance is his ruin-it is the barrier between God and his soul. It repels, and must forever repel; it can never attract: your first duty then, fellow-sinner, is to cease your resistance. Your first step, and the only step required towards a reconciliation, is to put an end to that strife which has long separated you from God. It is a most unnatural, inglorious, and perilous strife. It is the opposition of a child to its parent-of the creature to his God of the lost sinner to his gracious Deliverer. This controversy, sinner, is all your own: God has no part in it: the Holy Ghost approaches you only in love: it is you that resist. Stop then where you are, and for once honor yourself, while you honor your God, in surrendering to infinite love. It is right that you should do this. Peace and conscience require it of you. Angels and men who have witnessed this mortal and ungrateful opposition require it of you. The great God requires it of you. And, sinner, you must surrender to the Holy Ghost, or find no forgiveness, either in this world or in the world to come. "As though God did beseech you by us, we pray you, in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God."

FROM THE PRESIDENT OF YALE COLLEGE.

"Allow me to express my decided approbation of the object and plan of the National Preacher. It has opened a new channel for the religious influence of the press. It gives a durable form to a selection of able discourses; and probably gains for them a more attentive perusal, by distributing them, not in volumes, but in smaller portions, at regular intervals of time. The execution, so far as I have observed, is such as to satisfy the public expectation."

FROM THE REV. ASAHEL NETTLETON.

"I have read, as I have had opportunity, the Numbers of the National Preacher with great satisfaction. I regard it as a work peculiarly desirable to Clergymen, ind, at the same time, as worthy of a place in every intelligent family."

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FROM THE PRESIDENT ANd professorS OF AMHERST College.

Mr. Dickinson has a clear and discriminating mind; and is himself at once an ble writer and preacher. Having spent four years at the South and West, and ecome extensively acquainted with Ministers and Christians of different denomiations; and having at the same time, an intimate knowledge of the religious state nd wants of New England; perhaps no man is better qualified to make a poweril and salutary impression on the public mind, by combining (and in a sense diecting) the talents of our most eminent divines in his Monthly Preacher. "Most sincerely do we wish him, the co-operation of those whose name and inuence may make the work a blessing to many thousands."

1 FROM PROFESSORS IN PRINCETON THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY.

"The plan, proposed by the Rev. Austin Dickinson, of publishing a Monthly leries of Sermons, fro:n the pens of respectable ministers of different denominaons of Christians in the United States, is one which, in our opinion, may be renered highly interesting, and extensively useful. We do therefore willingly reommend the undertaking to the patronage of the Christian cominunity."

FROM THE QUARTERLY CHRISTIAN SPECTATOR.

"We do not hesitate to say, that Mr. Dickinson has adopted one of the happiest xpedients hitherto devised, for eliciting that diversity of gifts,' in the Christian inistry, which infinite wisdom and benevolence have bestowed for the edification f the body of Christ, and for bringing sinners to the foot of the cross."

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