But come now, and let us reason together. We have all, by our outward vocation, one common interest in one common and most momentous work. We have to save our own souls, and the souls of them that hear us. Our responsibilities reach into eternity! May we by love so serve one another that we may all be workers together with GOD in the immense design, for which His Son our Saviour died upon the cross; that in the great day of His appearing many converted souls may be _our_ “epistles of commendation” before His throne in glory! Concerning the great controversy, which at present pervades our church, some things relate to the Holy Ghost Himself, some more especially to the Lord Jesus Christ, some to the Holy Scriptures, some more particularly to the church. Whatever of these I may notice, I wish to keep the HOLY SPIRIT prominently in our view, and to make our truth or error, _as bearing upon Him_, the main matter of our discourse. The general subject will be _The sanction of that DIVINE PERSON in the HOLY TRINITY_, _attending one sort of doctrine and ministry_, _and not another_, _and the evidences to be observed of the fact_: and it will involve this question, namely, Who are _the true ministers of the LORD JESUS CHRIST_, _accredited by the HOLY GHOST_? If I state things which some of us well know, I feel confident that they will admit the importance of my bringing them before others, who may not be aware of the position at which we are already arrived in the matters we have to speak of. * * * * * I. The first thing which I have to propound is this: That _the HOLY GHOST is the essential Agent in the right administration and reception of divine ordinances_. In this, taken generally, we are all agreed.