THE

BAPTIST MISSIONARY MAGAZINE.

VOL. XXIX.

OCTOBER, 1849.

NO. 10.

THE AGENCY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IN THE CONVERSION OF THE WORLD.

The design of God in revealing the doctrine of man's dependence on the Holy Spirit is to encourage the fainting, and to secure his own glory. It could not honor God for his creatures to scorn the use of the means by which he has appointed to promote his kingdom; nor could the end be soon effected, which he has determined to accomplish by the blessing of his Spirit on the use of means, if his Spirit were left to work alone. The means employed by the creature and the Spirit of the Creator are the agencies by which all moral effects are wrought. In some cases, indeed, the means are so far below the end, that the work seems to have been the work of God, almost without the intervention of means. Still, this is the arrangement which God has instituted; and, under the present system of things, we cannot expect any other. Hence when works for the divine glory are to be done, we are to look not to the power of man, but of God, for success. So that, however great the work, and whatever obstacles be in the way, there is no ground of discouragement, because it is "Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, saith the Lord of hosts."

In this article we propose to show that the descent of the Holy Spirit is the only hope of the world's conversion.

Men, who have but little light from on high, and who think much of philosophical sequences, are too apt, not in theory, but in reality, to trust to the efficiency of means, and the adaptations of divine truth to the circumstances and wants of man. Others, of less thoughtful minds, struck by outward appearances, are ready to gather their chief encouragement in regard to the conversion of men from the winning power of talent, from skilful eloquence, from crowds of attentive hearers. They rejoice in the encouragement, when these outward circumstances seem to favor, but are filled with sorrow and despondency when they are thrown upon God's Spirit alone for help.

The scriptures, however, represent God's Holy Spirit as the grand agent in bringing men to Christ,-not the Holy Spirit without means, but infusing a life-giving power into the means. The truth, the word of God, the preaching of the gospel, the exhibition of divine ordinances, all are used to promote the conversion and sanctification of men. But it is not these, so much as God's Spirit, acting in them and through them, by which regeneration and sanctification are secured. In respect to the conversion both of individuals and of multitudes, the same phraseology is used. The individual man must come under 44

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the sway of Christ through the power of the Spirit; and so must the world. There is no hope that any man will be a believer, without an inward holy influence, making the means of grace, just at the time of his conversion, efficacious; and there is no other hope for the conversion of the world. The prooftexts on this subject are so familiar that they need not here be quoted. Let the two following considerations suffice.

1. The greatness of the work to be accomplished is such that its accomplishment demands the energy of divine power. This is the work to be done. First, to do away whatever there is of outward wrong, both among Christian and heathen nations throughout the earth. This wrong exists in all the possible forms of idolatry and oppression, of profaneness and adultery, of murder and robbery, of disobedience to parents, disregard of law, Sabbath-breaking, cruelty and unfaithfulness. There is not a law of God extending to men's outward conduct, which has not been, and is not, in some form or other, in some part of the earth or other, transgressed probably every day. There is not an hour in which the fires that feed and the passions that spring from intemperance do not seem to call for divine judgments. There is not an hour, in which heaven is not saluted by the infamous sacrifices of idolatry. There is not a day which does not wreak with oaths, which, however they may seem to a polluted taste to give zest and energy to conversation, provoke God's unmingled displeasure. There is not a Sabbath, whose holy quietness is not broken by the noise of revelry and sin. There is not a corner of the earth where God is not continually every day blasphemed; nor an unregenerate person in the wide world who is not every hour transgressing some divine command. If we should seriously consider all the sin that is wrought every day by the millions of the earth's population, and then remember that God is angry with the wicked every day, we might reasonably wonder that they are not swallowed up. We might think it a solemn thing to live in a world so full of sin. We might reasonably feel every evening that it was a wonder surpassing wonders that the guilty nations had not been consumed. Even in Christian countries, famed, often, for their morality and justice, the complicated system of laws, framed because and only because men are corrupt, and designed only to keep them from preying upon one another, is not sufficient to bind them. And in pagan countries, that which God has expressly forbidden is often deemed reputable and virtuous, yea, and established by law. Men are commanded by public statutes to worship images, and, in effect, to drive out from among his creation, so far as they can, all knowledge of God. Now the conversion of the world implies the everlasting removal of all this outward sin. When it is effected, holiness will reign more widely than sin has ever done, among all the tribes of men. The voice of blasphemy will be changed to the voice of praise; and every idol being broken, God alone will be adored. All men will obey the law of God. The piety and purity and meek obedience which are now scarcely understood except around the throne in heaven, will become the habit of mankind. All men will choose the ways of God, as it were by a spontaneous impulse.

The work to be done in the conversion of the world is, secondly, to change and sanctify the motives of every heart. That which is without and that which is within require alike the renovation of the Holy Spirit. One would be surprized, who should be let into the secrets of human conduct throughout the world, nay, one who should learn something of them by going down into the depths of his own heart, to see how many virtuous actions are apparently vir

tuous, not because the doer of them loves virtue and follows its dictates by a voluntary impulse, but on some selfish ground. For example, though men often pride themselves for their uprightness, and honesty, and restraint of unhallowed lust, take off from them the restraints of law and of public opinion, and how many of them would of choice immerse themselves in every vice. It is from regard to their reputation or advancement in public favor, or for the promotion of their wealth, rather than from a holy regard to God's pleasure that many are as virtuous as they are. Under common circumstances these things are not felt. But let the light of heaven be poured upon the soul, revealing its sins and its waywardness, and it will be felt that its ways are only evil continually." In the conversion of the world, this deficiency of holy motive is to be remedied, not in a few thousands only, but in every dweller on the face of the earth. There will be in every one a new creation. “Old things will pass away, and all things become new." The unholy disposition and affections that once prevailed will be no more known; but a holiness and purity like that of the angels will be found in every person in every land.

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A third effect to be wrought is the correction of error and the promotion of right views concerning divine truth. We must not think that error concerning any doctrine or any duty will last forever. We have no scriptural proof that any ordinance of Christ will be set aside to give space for human tradition, when the reign of Christ is universal. In the final dominion of the Savior, the fundamental principles of faith and practice will be settled, and all men will agree in right views concerning all that God has revealed or Christ required. The whole world, now so polluted, so distant, so rebellious, so unreconciled, will be bound to the sway of Immanuel, and the tabernacle of God will dwell with men.

Who can think of this work, so blessed in its progress, so wondrous in its means, so divine in its influence, so glorious in its effects, and imagine that any power but the power of God could accomplish it? It is not the dethroning of a king; it is not the subjugation of an empire; it is not the leading captive of the soldiers of a thousand armies; it is not the conquest of the world by carnal weapons; but it is the dethronement of a tyrant who had ruled over all hearts; it is the establishment of the throne of the third person of the blessed Trinity in the bosom of every dweller on earth; it is the leading captive of all souls to the King of kings and Lord of lords; it is the conquest, the regeneration, the sanctification of a world,—a work which carnal weapons could not achieve, nor carnal minds, with all the stretch of their powers, comprehend. It is beyond human ingenuity to persuade one alienated soul to be reconciled to God. We may present argument, entreaty, warning, expostulation, love, terror, to a heart made tender even by alarming providences, and though we may get conscience on our side, the soul's alienation from its Maker and its God will still continue. Who, then, less than God, could subdue and reconcile to himself an alienated and ungodly world?

2. That the power of the Holy Spirit is the only hope of the world's conversion will be proved, if we consider the feebleness of the instrumentalities God has determined to employ. As the work, from its greatness, has been shown to be above human power, all human means must be as incompetent to its fulfilment, as clay to open the eyes of the blind. The means which God has appointed for the salvation of the world are divine truth, including the word of God, in its facts and doctrines, and the ordinances of the Christian dispensation; and the ministers by whom these are presented and pressed upon the world.

We say these, chiefly; not excluding, however, the thousands whom God renders useful in more private stations, in winning souls to Christ. Taking the second first, for the sake of preserving the climax, we may say concerning them, the scriptures themselves speak of them as mere earthen vessels, liable every moment to be broken and destroyed. "We have this treasure in earthen vessels," says Paul, "that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us." The message brought to us is a glorious message; and its glory, in its undiminished and unvarying excellency, is peculiarly illustrated by the worthlessness and evanescence of the medium through which it is sent. It is not only through an earthen vessel, that the message of salvation comes, but it is communicated through that which is more perishable than clay,—the feeble voice of a feeble man; air set in motion; articulate breath. Give the voice all conceivable power; let it pour itself out in the sweetest tones and breathe the richest eloquence; let it be armed with the treasures of learning to illustrate the truth, and the grandeur and beauty of imagination to persuade men; and after all, it will have no innate energy to enforce divine truth. The ear may be charmed for a moment, and the heart may be won to attention; but no living strength, no transforming power, no vivifying efficacy dwells in it or can flow from it. The splendor of eloquence has carried the soldier to the field of blood, and made him reckless of death who had trembled all his lifetime at its approach to a sick chamber; but it has never nerved and never can nerve a dead heart, and implant the vigor and energy of spiritual life where had reigned the stupor of moral death. We must have something above any energy there is in man, or the work of the Spirit will never be done. Even where a whole congregation has been moved by the spirit-stirring power of eloquence, as a forest bows at the wind as it passes by, we have never heard that one heart has been wakened to life,-one sinner recalled from his wanderings,-one spring of holy affection made to vibrate in any portion of the mass. And if we consider truth,—the truths contained in the Holy Scriptures, as an agency which God will preeminently use in the conversion of the world, it may as easily be shown that it cannot by itself alone accomplish the work of saving Another energy must work with the truth, and make it efficacious. The facts and doctrines of the gospel we may bring near and lay at the door of the heart; but with all their glory, they will lie there powerless. It is not enough that religious knowledge and religious considerations be brought and laid in contact with the soul. Hundreds of congregations enjoy this privilege, who are, in all their unregenerate members, withering and perishing in sin. The truth must enter in and become part and parcel of the soul. It is the engrafted word, the word brought into so near a union with the spirit of man that it becomes as it were a part of his own being, which, says the apostle, "is able to save the soul." The ministry of the word is the grand means appointed for man's salvation; the ordinances are designed to sanctify and bind man to his God and Savior; prayer is the chain which unites the throne of grace and the earthly footstool, and by which blessings are sent down to us. But what can all these do, without the presence and power of the Holy Ghost? of the word will be prophecy over dry bones, exceeding dry. will be forms, striking and beautiful, but a shadow without substance. And prayer may be clothed in beauty of language and recommended by fervency of manner; but what is it worth, if it be not the mind of the Spirit, - the breathing forth of the unutterable groanings which he has inspired?

men.

The ministry The ordinances

When we think of these things, and our souls faint within us, when we feel

that Zion withers under the richest blessings of the sanctuary and the most pungent and perpetual ministry of the word, how cheering to the heart are the promises of God. "I will pour my Spirit upon thy seed, and my blessing upon thine offspring." "Before they call, I will answer, and while they are yet speaking, I will hear." "If ye, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more shall your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him." "The promise is unto you and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call." "Not by might, nor by power; but by my Spirit, saith the Lord of hosts."

From these statements we learn the grounds on which the Christian is encouraged to labor for his Master, in bringing his own soul into subjection to him. It is not in his own worthiness; it is not in the faithfulness of his efforts; it is not in the energy of his resolves, that he has reason for self-gratulation, or for hope that he shall escape from the power of sin, and be brought in safety to his Father's kingdom. These things may furnish testimony that the Spirit works in him both to will and to do; but it is in that inward working of the Spirit, that the chief ground of his encouragement lies. So that though his efforts sometimes fail, though he mourns over an evil heart of unbelief, though he trembles, because of his unworthiness, lest he should never enter into glory, he may be freely told, that he is not to expect it because he is worthy, or because every effort to conquer temptation is immediately successful, or because he has a nature of angelic purity within him, and not of human deformity, undergoing the process of transformation. It is by the Spirit of the Lord of hosts.

And if the Christian's heart is set upon a revival of God's work in any place, he may hence learn when and wherefore he is to be encouraged to expect that the desire of his heart shall be fulfilled. Though we are prone to be most moved by outward circumstances, let us hence learn that it is not in solemn and crowded assemblies, it is not in the favoring applause of the world, it is not in any thing without, that we are to seek our encouragement; but in the unchanging promises, the everlasting consolations, the infallible Spirit of God. The former, delightful though they be, may be changed by a breath. The power of worldly allurements may blast them. The fluctuations of human business may, in an hour, annihilate them. The opening bud of promise may be blighted, and the glowing sunshine may, by a sudden tempest, be overclouded. But the promises and purposes of God hold their unchanging stations, like the sun amid the rush of storms and the revolutions of planets. The world may be swept of its inhabitants; the ordinances of God's house may be, for a season, done away; the church may be driven into a corner; and sin seem to hold unrestrained dominion. But the Christian has as much reason as ever to rejoice and trust. God has not altered. His promises are not made of none effect. They are certain, abundant, various, adapted to every exigency. Why, therefore, are we at any time discouraged? Why do we weep, as if the promises were blotted out? Why cease from our efforts, as if we had been assured that God would not accompany them by his Spirit? Why tremble for the prosperity of Zion, as if its glory were dependent on outward circumstances, and not on the words of his own pledged immutability? We verily believe that if Christians were to take right views of the word of God, they would be stimulated to unceasing effort; and that effort, blessed by a present Spirit, would doubtless show that while it is not by might nor by power, by the Spirit of the Lord of hosts wonders would be wrought and the children of Zion saved.