Notes of Sermons

BY THE REV. KENNETH BAYNE.
Preached in the Gaelic Chapel, Greenock, on the 24th September and 8th October, 1820.

II. (Continued from p. 253.) “Quench not the Spirit” (I. Thess. v., 19).

[HE proposed first to show what the sanctifying and saving influences of the Spirit were. And after a recapitulation of his former discourse, he observed that the first of these saving influences was divine illumination.] This illumination had a respect to what was past, what was present, and what was future.

I. It had reference both to this and the other world. The person enlightened had new views of God, of himself, of heaven, and hell such as he never had before.

II. There was a thorough conviction of the intrinsic evil of sin in itself, in its own nature, and of one’s own personal sinfulness and guilt, and a mourning over and loathing of one’s self for it and a beginning to forsake it.

III. Faith in Jesus Christ was a saving grace of the spirit. [Here he mentioned many Scriptures that spoke of faith as of vast importance in the Christian life.]

IV. Conversion or a thorough change of heart and life. [He mentioned many Scriptures here also, as to the first quickening of the soul dead in trespasses and sins, and as to the gradual change in heart and life which he called active conversion.]

V. Another influence of the Spirit was assistance in duty. This assistance included in it (1) a right knowledge of the matter of duty, of what was really duty; (2) knowledge or sense of the principles, motives, and ends of duty; (3) excitations to engage and persevere in duty; and (4) a removal of the hindrances to and obstructions in duty, as in the case of Moses when he could not speak.

VI. Support under trials and afflictions is another work of the Spirit. This implies (1) the testimony of conscience. “This is our rejoicing,” says the Apostle (II. Cor. i., 12); (2) a sense of pardon and reconciliation with God. This was a great support even where there
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was some doubtings ; (3) the hope of eternal life in glory ; and (4) the Spirit gave them physical help in supporting their bodies under their afflictions and trials (Ps. lxxiii., 15).

VIII. The sanctified use of afflictions was another saving work of the Spirit. This implied (1) further discoveries of sin as an evil, (2) discoveries of the sin or sins which were the cause of present trials ; (3) patience wrought in the soul and other things as mentioned in Romans v. ; (4) weanedness from the world, heavenly mindedness, love to God, and hope of glory ; [here he shortly explained the verses at the beginning of Romans v., and added : ” some of the godly were chastised, some of them scourged, and often the holiest were most chastised.” ]

IX. Mortification of sin. [Here he spoke of the power of sin being broken in regeneration, and though the root of it still remained and was often raising up its head, yet the believer got victories, and its power and operation were gradually weakened.]

X. Establishment in grace and perseverance therein was another work of the Spirit.

X. Preparation for heaven was also the work of the Holy Spirit. This consisted (1) in active virtue and (2) in contemplation, or in other words, in having our loins girt. This is heavenly contemplation on spiritual and divine glories. And having our lights burning, that is being actively employed in the temporal and spiritual duties of our station. ” Letting our light shine before men ” (Matt. v., 16).

Application.—(1) Let us examine ourselves. What do we know experimentally about the saving influences of the Spirit ? (2) Let those who have experience of them adore and praise God for His sovereign free grace. (3) Such as have no experimental knowledge of any of these things cannot possibly get to heaven.

8th October, 1820.—After a brief recapitulation of his former discourses he came to his second head, which was to show in what manner men quenched the Spirit, or how or in what various ways both converted and unconverted persons did quench the Holy Spirit. To quench the Holy Spirit meant in general any ways in which His influence and operations might be opposed, or hindered, or prevented from being effectual to the sanctification and final salvation of men. He then said that he would first show in a general way how mankind, both good and bad, quenched the Spirit, and then, secondly, show more particularly and closely how we, professors of religion, quenched the Spirit.

1. Mankind and professors of religion in general quenched the Spirit when they denied His personality, His influences, and operations.

2. When they ascribed His influence and operations to other causes, such as diabolical influence, melancholy, enthusiasm, fanaticism, and hypocrisy.

3. When they did not duly consider and meditate on His works of creation, providence, and redemption.

4. Men quenched the Spirit by disregarding and disbelieving the Word of God, of which the Spirit was the author. This they did (1) when they did not consider and examine the evidences of Christianity; (2) when they did not submit themselves to the authority of the Word after being satisfied with the evidence of its truth; and (3) especially when they did not believe the testimony of God concerning Jesus Christ as revealed in the Gospel.

5. Men in general quenched the Spirit when they spoke evil of His person or His influences and operations.

(To be continued.)

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