me obedient from the heart to that _form
of teaching_ whereunto ye were delivered; and being made free from sin,
ye became servants of righteousness" (Rom. 6:17, 18).

14. He might impart a divine nature.

But he does that through the Word. "Whereby he hath granted unto us his
precious and exceeding _great promises;_ that through these ye may
become _partakers of the divine nature_, having escaped from the
corruption that is in the world by lust" (2 Pet. 1:4).

15. He might fit us for glory.

But he does that through the Word. "And now I commend you to God, and to
_the word_ of his grace, _which is able to build you up_, and to give
you the inheritance among all them that are sanctified" (Acts 20:32).

16. He might strengthen us.

But he does that by his Word. "Strengthen me according to thy word" (Ps.
119:28).

In the above cases we have covered all the conceivable things a direct
indwelling Spirit could do for one, and have also shown that all these
things the Spirit does through the word of God. It is not claimed that a
direct indwelling of the Spirit makes any new revelations, adds any new
reasons or offers any new motives than are found in the word of God. Of
what use, then, would a direct indwelling Spirit be? God makes nothing
in vain. We are necessarily, therefore, led to the conclusion that, in
dealing with his children to-day, God deals with them in the same
psychological way that he deals with men in inducing them to become
children. This conclusion is strengthened by the utter absence of any
test by which we could know the Spirit dwells in us, if such were the
case.

WHAT THE SPIRIT DOES FOR CHRISTIANS.

1. _He is active in our birth_. "Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say
unto thee, Except one be born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter
into the kingdom of God" (John 3:5).

Here is a distinct statement of a radical change, so radical as to be
likened to a new birth in order that we may enter the kingdom of God.
What is it that is born? Christ says, "A man." But what is a man? We
regard a man as having a mind, a heart and a body. There is no perfect
man where any of these elements is lacking. If, therefore, a man is
born again, he must be born in mind, in heart, in body. How is this
birth accomplished? Let us see what the Word says. "But as many as
received him, to them gave he the right to become children of God, even
to them that believe on his name: who were born, not of blood, nor of
t