Page:Darby - Christianity Not Christendom.djvu/17

 all receive the Holy Ghost by means of Peter and John, having been baptized by Philip. In the case referred to in Acts xix., Paul says, “Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed?” Peter, describing the order of dispensations, speaks of the prophets finding that the things they prophesied were not for them, neither have we got them, they are reported unto you, he says, by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; wherefore be sober and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

These are ample to shew that the presence of the Holy Ghost, founded on the work of Christ and His exaltation, was the distinctive character of Christianity; the blessings connected with it run through the New Testament; the love of God shed abroad in our hearts, the knowledge that we are in Christ and Christ in us, the knowing that we are sons, so that we cry, Abba, Father—nay, dwelling in God, and God in us. True holy liberty, true divine knowledge, all and every enjoyment of blessings, and abounding in hope, and help in our infirmities, are attributed to the Holy Ghost; our good fruits are the fruits of the Spirit; our joy is joy in the Holy Ghost; our love, love in the Spirit; it is by one Spirit through Christ we have access to the Father; “If any man have not the Spirit of Christ he is none of his;” and this is Christ being in us.

All this shews to an attentive mind that it is distinctive of the Christian, but though it be the bright and blessed side I must not dwell on this further, but cite what shews it to be distinctive of the Christian; it is, “If we are led of the Spirit, we are not under law;” our bodies are the temple of the Holy Ghost which we