Questions on Chapter 25.

of the prophets, who were inspired by the Holy Ghost, is not to expound the sacred word, but most presumptuously to shape it according to our own notion. The Jews are charged with “resisting,” not the words of the prophets, but “the Holy Ghost.” The language, in its plainest import, signifies a direct resistance of the real agency of the Holy Spirit. Before we venture the assertion that the divine influence in question was only indirect, through the written or spoken word, we should have explicit authority for such a departure from the most obvious sense of the language.

3. That the Holy Spirit operates directly on the hearts of sinners, may be very conclusively argued from the fact that conviction, regeneration, and the entire change of moral character produced by the influence of religion, is in Scripture attributed to the Spirit’s agency. The Spirit is said to “convict;” it is declared that we “must be born of the Spirit;” and all the graces constituting the Christian character, such as “love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance,” etc., are said to be “the fruit of the Spirit.” From all this it is clear that, as conviction, the new birth, and all the graces of the Christian, are attributed to the influence of the Spirit, there must be an operation of the Spirit on the heart previous to their existence, in order to produce them; and if so, the Spirit must operate on the hearts of sinners.

QUESTIONS ON CHAPTER 25.

QUESTION 1. How has this doctrine been viewed by infidels?

2. How by the different classes of Christians?

3. What is said of its importance?

4. What is the first theory noticed on the subject, and how is it illustrated?

5. Does this theory admit the real influence of the Spirit?

6. What is the second theory noticed, and how does it differ from the first?

7. In what two senses may the term medium be used?

8. What is the distinction between an instrument and an agent?

9. Does this theory imply any real operation of the Spirit?

10. What is the true scriptural view of the doctrine?

11. Does the Spirit now operate so as to reveal new truths?

12. How is it shown that the Spirit operates in conviction?

13. How is it shown to be absurd to deny the direct influence of the Spirit, and at the same time restrict its influence to baptized believers?

14. What instances are given in which the Spirit did operate on the hearts of sinners?