Every thing else, however glorious and divine in outward appearance, every thing that angels, men, _churches_ or _reformations_, can do for us, is dead and helpless, but so far as it is, the _immediate work_ of the Spirit of God, breathing, and living in it. All scripture bears full witness to this truth, and the design of all that is written, is only to call us back from the power of Satan, the flesh and the world, to be again under full dependance upon, and obedience to the Spirit of God. When this is done, all is done, that the scripture can do for us. Read what chapter, or doctrine of scripture you will, be ever so delighted with it, it will leave you as poor, as empty, and unreformed, as it found you, unless it be a delight that has turned you to the Spirit of God, and strengthened your union with, and dependance upon him. For if it be an immutable truth, that _no man can call Jesus, Lord, but by the Holy Ghost_, it must be a truth equally immutable, that no one can have any one _Christ-like_ temper, but so far as he is _immediately_ led, and governed by the Holy Spirit. The reasons of which are as follow. All possible goodness was in God from all eternity, and must to all eternity be _inseparable_ from him. As therefore before God created any thing, it was certainly true, that there was but _one that was good_; so it is just the same truth, after God had created innumerable hosts of blessed, holy, and heavenly beings, that there is but _one that is good_, and that is God. All that can be called goodness, or holiness, in the creatures, is no more their own, or the growth of their created powers, than they were their own, before they were created. But all that is called goodness in the creature, is nothing else but the _one_ goodness of God manifesting itself in the creature, according as its created nature is fitted to receive it. This is the unalterable state between God and the creature: goodness, for ever and ever, can only belong to God, as _essential_ to him, and _inseparable_ from him. God could not make the creature to be great and glorious _in itself_; this is as impossible, as for God to create beings into a state of _independance_ on himself. _The heavens_, saith _David_, _declare the glory of God_; and no creature, any more than the heavens can declare any other glory, but that of God. And as well might it be said, _that the firmament sheweth forth_ its own _handy-work_, as that a holy, divine, or heavenly creature, sheweth forth its own natural power.