Seventh, The offices of the Spirit in connection with the believer.

(1). He is the seal. Many think of Him as the Sealer, and are in confusion about the seal; but He Himself is the seal:

II Cor. i. 22.—Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.

Eph. i. 13.—In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also, after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise.

(2). He testifies of Christ, and never turns our eyes to the work done in us, but to the work done for us, as the ground of our consolation:

John xv. 26.—But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me.

John xvi. 14.—He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.

(3). He teaches in such way that the humblest believer who is subject to His guidance is in no need of human authority:

John xiv. 26.—But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

I Cor. ii. 14.—But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

I John ii. 27.—But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.

(4). He bears witness by confirming to the heart the truth of God's word:

Rom. viii. 15, 16.—For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God.

Gal. iv. 6.—And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.

1 John v. 6.—This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth.

(5). He dwells in those whom He has united to a risen Christ, and builds them together for an habitation of God:

Rom. viii. 9.—But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.

I Cor. vi. 19.—What! know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?

Eph. ii. 22.—In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.

(6). He is the author of Revelation, and the bestower of all gifts and graces:

II Pet. i. 21.—For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

I Cor. ii. 10-13.—But God hath Revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. 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.

I Cor. xii. 4-11.—Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; to another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; to another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues; but all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.

Gal. v. 22, 23.—But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, Gentleness, good ness, faith, meekness, temperance; against such there is no law.

(7). He is the Comforter and Helper of the saints, and the power of their acceptable worship:

John xiv. 16.—And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever.

Rom. viii. 26.—Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.

Eph. vi. 18.—Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching there unto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints,

Phil. iii. 3.—For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.

I John ii. 24.—And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.

Jude 20.—But ye, beloved, building up your selves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost.

Believers are urged not to grieve nor quench the Spirit, while unbelievers are said to resist Him, and their sin is demonstrated by His presence on the earth:

Eph. iv. 30.—And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.

I Thess. v. 19.—Quench not the Spirit.

Acts vii. 51.—Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye.

John xvi. 8.—And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment. May we dwell more upon the amazing love of the Spirit:

Rom. xv. 30.—Now I beseech you, brethren, for the Lord Jesus Christ's sake, and for the love of the Spirit, that ye strive together with me in your prayers to God for me.