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time of need ; that if we acknowledge God in all our ways he will direct our steps ; arid , in short , that as the earthly parent , though imperfect and ignohow to ifts
rant , knows give good g unto his children , much more will our Father who is in heaven , give a holy spirit , his sanctifying influence , or a holy disposition , to those who ask him .
If it were not true that God influences the hearts of those who seek him , then the prayer of Peter , that the God of all grace would make the believers perfect , establish , strengthen , settle them * —the prayer of Paul , that
God would sanctify them wholly , that he would comfort their hearts , and establish them in every good word and work , — the prayer of Christ , * ' Holy Father , keep through thine own name those whom thou hast
given me , that they may be one , as we are , "—and , in short , the prayers of saiats , in all ages , for spiritual blessings for themselves or others , have all been founded in delusion . But it is no delusion * Nature might not afford us solid conclusions on this
subject ; but revelation does ; and if the heart has been subjected to its inspiring principles , and the soul devoted to the service of God , its experience almost Universally is , that from heartfelt and solemn intercourse with
the Father of spirits , strength and wisdom and peace are derived , such as no earthly source could yield , and which proves that his sacred influences will not be withheld , when sought with perseverance and faith and sincerity .
This , however , does not decide the question . All this may be true , ( and true it undoubtedly is , ) and yet we may be unable to say to what extent , and in what precise manner , God affords his divine influence , <* A part of his ways" he permits us to observe , and to discern their design and tendency , in order to cherish faith in his
constant providence , and in the wisdom and goodness that presides over all ; but he still leaves clouds and darkness around his dispensations , to impress our hearts with reverence and submissive trust . And what is
true respecting the Divine dealings in general , is true also in this particular . We cannot doubt his constant agency , nis constant influence ; but in what
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way he exercises them is involved in obscurity : perhaps we cannot fully comprehend it ; and whenever en * gaged in investigating the subject , let
not Us difficulties produce doubt , but let us rejoice in the possession of that revealed light , which may check our wanderings , and guide us safely to the possession of God ' s gracious aid and blessing *
Like many other doctrinal topics , it would be unnecessary to enter upon it , were not such unfounded and baneful ideas entertained respecting it . Baneful indeed they are , because they lead men to entertain visionary ideas of being the special favourites of heaven , when the genuine fruits of the
spirit are wanting ; or to sink into the gloom of despair , if not into debasing carelessness in the great work of duty , since they conclude that they are the objects of Divine wrath , and cannot be saved ; because thev lead men to
expect some easier and shorter way to heaven , than that which the gospel points out , when it teaches us to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts , and to live a sober , righteous and godly life : because they lead men toplace religion , in frames and feelings , rather than in
the subjection of the heart and life to the spirit and precepts of Christ : because they check the exercise of Christian charity , by representing the most habitual piety , the most disinterested benevolence , the most watchful self-denial , the most active love
and obedience to Christ , as insufficient for the Divine favour , if not begun by a certain sudden change , or attended with an inward assurance of peace and pardon . I do not mean
that any one man , or any one sect , entertains all these unfounded notions ; but those who know the present state of the religious world , will not readily charge me with a misrepresentation of prevailing opinions .
Now I think that many erroneous ideas respecting the nature and degree of divine influence , would be removed , if the scripturalist would observe the following simple principles : 1 . Many passages , in which the
operations of the Divine Spirit are referred to in the New Testament , exclusively relate to the age of miracles ; that period in which to promote the reception and diffusion of the gospel , supernatural powers and » u ~
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Dr . Carpenter an Divine Influences * & $ f
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Sept. 2, 1819, page 547, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1776/page/23/
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