I. THE SPIRIT OF JUDGMENT. God's Spirit effects this reformation by a process of discernment and conviction. We observe--1. That a real change of heart is usually preceded by a discovery of its sinful condition. The natural tendency of the depraved heart is to ignore and deny its corrupted state. The light must be let in to show that it _is_ depraved.[1] 2. That this reformation is preceded by a discovery of the _enormity_ as well as the fact of sin. Even a converted sinner tries to palliate or soften the sins that condemn him. Hence men contrive such flimsy distinctions as "white lies" and "black lies." But "the Spirit of judgment" goes to the root of the matter, and discovers sin _as_ sin (1 Kings viii. 28). So in the text, it is the _filth_ of the daughters of Zion that has to be washed away; it is the _blood_ of Jerusalem that has had to be purged from its midst.[2] II. THE SPIRIT OF BURNING. From this description of the Holy Ghost, we learn--1. That _the detection of sin is, in the Divine purpose, to be followed by its destruction._ There can be no _home_ for sin in a pure heart, nor will God make any concession to it (Hab. i. 13; Ps. v. 5). 2. _This process is extremely searching and painful._ It is one of "burning" (Matt. iii. 11). How many have quailed under the testing ordeal!--_e.g.,_ loss of wealth! loss of friends! personal affliction, &c. From the subject three general reflections arise:--1. God does not chastise arbitrarily or at random. He does it by "the Spirit of judgment." 2. Neither does He fail in the work by reason of a weak indulgence, which really would be unkindness. He does it by "the Spirit of burning." 3. The object He has in view is to promote and secure our personal holiness, to make us indeed _like Himself_ (Heb. xii. 10)--the most blessed result to which discipline can lead us.--_W. Manning._ FOOTNOTES: [1] It is with the children of men as with the housewife, that having diligently swept the house, and cast the dust out of doors, can see nothing amiss, not so much as a speck of dust in it; whereas if the sun do but a little shine in, through some cranny in the wall or some broken quarry in the window, she may soon see the whole house swim and swarm with innumerable atoms of dust, floating to and fro in the air, which, for dimness of light or sight, she was not able to discern. Even so is it with many that were careful of their ways, so that little may be seen that is amiss; yet, when they shall come to look more attentively into God's law, a little beam of light, reflecting upon their souls for it, will discover unto them such an innumerable company, as well as corruptions in their heart as of error and oversight in their lives, that it shall make them, as men amazed, cry out, "Lord, what earthly man doth know the errors of his life?"--_Spencer,_ 1658.