BY THE REV. KENNETH BAYNE.
Preached in the Gaelic Chapel, Greenock, on 17th September 1820.
I. “Quench not the Spirit” (I. Thess. v. 19).
[IN the introduction he noticed that there were three persons in the Godhead—the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, that these three were one God, the same in substance, equal in power and glory. That in the scheme of redemption, the Scriptures ascribed to each of these persons a peculiar part—as the contrivance of it to the Father, the paying the price to the Son, and the application of it to the Holy Spirit.] By the Spirit in the text we were to understand the influences of the Spirit—His awakening, enlightening, convincing, humbling, renewing, sanctifying, and comforting influences. The influences of the Spirit were compared to light and to fire, both which might be quenched or extinguished, either by pouring on water, or by withholding combustible matter from them. So divine influences might be quenched by not falling in with them, complying with them, cherishing and encouraging and working with them, or by whatever tended to hinder the efficacy of them, as by acting contrary to them, indulging in, and giving way to the working of the sinful lusts and corruptions of the flesh and mind.
There were two kinds of these influences—common and saving. Many denied the first of these in the present time, as well as in former ages, but both Scripture and experience clearly proved that there was a common influence of the Spirit, even in heathen countries, those who had never heard the Gospel or Word of God there was more of this striving than people were aware of. (See Romans ii. 14.) It would never be known till the day of judgment how much of the common striving of the Spirit had taken place among mankind. Under these common influences persons might be brought to do many things in religion—even to do everything in it—short of a change of nature. The Spirit strove with men by His Word, by His ordinances, by providence, by afflictions, and by conscience.
[He referred to the old world before the flood, and to the Jewish Church, to the days of our Saviour and His Apostles, and to the times ever since, and said there had been, and was still at this day, more of this than people were aware of. He made many references to the Scriptures in the course of the above.]
(To be continued.)