'He has appointed certain means': Tuesday in Whitsun Week

For this Tuesday in Whitsun Week, from an 1814 volume of sermons by Richard Mant - appointed Bishop of Killaloe and Kilfenora in 1820, translated to Down and Connor in 1823 - further words from his sermon 'The Aid of the Spirit, the gift of God', on how the working of the Spirit is ordinarily dependent upon "certain means", chiefly prayer.

Again we see Mant's emphasis on the presence and working of the Holy Ghost known in and through the ordinary practice of the Christian life:

The gift of the Holy Ghost then is of the free grace of our heavenly Father, granted by him in his goodness, and purchased by his Son. But free as is this gift of God, and utterly incapable as we are of meriting or purchasing it for ourselves, it remains in the third place to be remarked that he has appointed certain means, by which the aid of the Holy Spirit is to be procured.

All the blessings, which we receive from God, are free gifts of his mercy and loving kindness; but they are all dependent on the observance of certain appointed means. In the natural world for instance, health and strength, food and raiment, are the free gifts of God; but, if we would enjoy them, we must be temperate, diligent, and industrious; for, according to the ordinary course of God's providence, temperance, diligence, and industry, are necessary to those who would be strong and healthy, who would have wherewithal to feed themselves, and what to clothe themselves withal. It is the same with respect to our spiritual affairs. The communion of the Holy Spirit is the free gift of God: but he has appointed means, whereby it is to be attained; and if we reject or neglect the means, we cannot reasonably flatter ourselves that we shall arrive at the end. The appointed means, to speak generally, is prayer ...

The words of St. Paul are a practical comment upon the promise of Christ. "Your heavenly Father," saith our Saviour, "shall give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him."

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