Synopsis
This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated.1873 Excerpt: ... LESSON XII. Confirmation a Time of Eenewal. ON admission into the Christian Covenant you were brought into communion with God. For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one Body,.... and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. (1 Cor. xii. 13.) The life of God in the soul, thus begun, is meant to be fostered constantly by fresh supplies of grace. And in that strength it was promised that you would resist all sin, and walk in His ways. But the three great enemies of your souls have done you more or less grievous hurt in the years since gone by. To remedy this God, has appointed times of special renewal. Such a time is the season of Confirmation, if rightly used. I. Concerning the truth of the fact. (1.) In the first recorded instances of Confirmation this fact is certified. 1. Miraculous gifts were then conveyed to the confirmed by the laying on of the Apostles' hands. They spake with tongues, and prophesied. (Acts xix. 6; comp. Acts viii. 16.) 2. And those miraculous gifts were the outward proofs of the in-dwelling Presence of the Spirit, making it manifest that--The Holy Ghost had come upon themJ. (Acts xix. 6; comp. Acts viii. 17.) (2.) So, then, it is doubtless now regarding those who approach this ordinance in a right spirit. 1. The conveyance of miraculous gifts ceased, indeed, after the days of the early Church; for the Presence and the inward working of the Holy Spirit having thus been certified, there was no need of the continuance of such outward proofs. 2. But none the less surely does our heavenly Father continue to bless His own appointed ordinances; for--The gifts and calling of God are without repentance. (Kom. xi. 29.) II. This aspect of Confirmation as a time of renewal is strikingly illustrated by the miracle wrought by the Saviour on...
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