e of these are of more consequence than others. If a
_post_ or a _beam_ is taken away, the building is greatly marred and in
danger of falling; yet, if well _covered_, it may still be a comfortable
dwelling. Again, although a _brace_ or a _pin_ is of service to
strengthen the building, yet either may be taken away without very
serious injury. But a _frame_ may be _complete_ in all its parts, and
yet be no building. Without a _covering_, it will not answer a single
design of a house; and just in proportion as it is well covered, will it
be a comfortable residence. Just so with Christianity. The covering of
the house is the work of the Holy Spirit in the heart, producing
gracious affections, which manifest themselves in a holy life. But the
covering of a house cannot exist without some kind of frame-work. So
experimental and practical piety cannot exist without a belief of the
principal doctrines of the gospel. The Holy Spirit operates upon the
heart _through the truth_. He gives it a personal application; brings it
home to the heart and conscience, and makes it effectual in changing the
heart and life. "Sanctify them _through thy truth_: thy word is truth."
"Of his own will begat he us, _with the word of truth_." "Seeing ye have
purified your souls, in _obeying the truth through the Spirit_." "Being
born again _by the word of God_." Thus, the agency of the Spirit is
always acknowledged in connection with the truth. Any religious feeling
or experience, therefore, which is not produced by the truth made
effectual by the Holy Spirit, is not genuine. There is a kind of
indefinite religious feeling, which many mistake for Christian
experience. They _feel_, and perhaps deeply; but they know not _why_
they feel. Such religious feeling is to be suspected as spurious. It may
be the delusion of the devil. By persuading people to rest upon this
spurious religious feeling, he accomplishes his purpose as well as if he
had kept them in carnal security. And the clearer our views of truth,
the more spiritual and holy will be our religious affections. Thus,
godly sorrow arises from a sight of our own depravity, with a sense of
the exceeding sinfulness of sin, as committed against a holy God, and
against great light and mercy. Faith is produced by a spiritual view of
the atonement of Christ, and of his infinite fulness as a complete and
perfect Saviour. Love is excited by a discovery of the excellence of
God's moral perfections. Holy fear a