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Note —

I. SOME OF THOSE SUBLIME AND INTERESTING TRUTHS WHICH THE NATURAL MAN DOES NOT RECEIVE.

1. The equity and goodness of the law of God, and the evil and desert of every transgression of it.

2. The suitableness and excellency of the method of redemption by Jesus Christ.

3. The necessity of union to Christ by faith as the source of holiness and strength.

4. The necessity of reconciliation to God and conformity to the Divine image to all true happiness both here and hereafter.

II. THE ALARMING EXTENT TO WHICH THIS WANT OF SPIRITUAL DISCERNMENT PREVAILS, AND THE INADEQUACY OF THE HIGHEST ADVANTAGES TO COMMUNICATE IT.

1. We see some men endowed with great strength of mind, and their natural powers much improved by a liberal education, but they do not receive the things of the Spirit of God.

2. We observe other men who have great discernment and assiduity in the concerns of this life, and who discover a particular tact in the management of business, and considerable ability in improving the advantages afforded them of amassing wealth, but they receive not the things of the Spirit of God.

3. We see other persons favoured with the advantages of a religious education, but they have not received the things of the Spirit of God.

4. Some men have an undoubted conviction of the truth of the gospel, and their passions are occasionally moved with its important discoveries. Still, except a Divine change takes place in the heart, they do not receive the things of the Spirit of God.

III. THE IMPORTANT REFLECTION WHICH THE SUBJECT SUGGESTS.

1. That the disaffection of man to God is not accidental, or the result of some circumstances in which he is placed, but is an evil principle, natural to the whole species, and the consequence of the fall.

2. The great gratitude we owe to God for the gospel of His Son, as a discovery of enlightening and renewing grace, as well as of pardoning mercy.

3. The indispensable necessity of Divine influence in general, and in respect to our own personal experience in particular.

4. The importance of accompanying the means of grace with humble and earnest prayer.

(Essex Congregational Remembrancer.)

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KJV: Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.

WEB: Which things also we speak, not in words which man's wisdom teaches, but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual things.