EPC Australia

The expression is not to be taken properly and literally, as if the holy Spirit of God was capable of vexation or sorrow. The Divine Nature is not subject to human passions. God's condescension is not to rob him of his glory. When the Scripture ascribes to him actions or affections that imply imperfection, it is in accommodation to our weakness of apprehension. We lisp with infants. And unable to view the shining sun with the naked eye, we survey it in a vessel of water, or through obscured glass.

We grieve a friend when we neglect him, or go contrary to his wishes and interests. And when he is grieved, he betrays it. His countenance is not towards us as aforetime. Frowns succeed to smiles; he complains and reproves; he discontinues his visits and correspondence. All this will apply to the grieving of the holy Spirit of God. And there are three reasons why we should not grieve him. Nothing can be more unbecoming, ungrateful, unwise.

Nothing can be more unbecoming, if we consider his greatness. The Holy Spirit is deserving in himself of all the regard we can express. If a nobleman was calling upon you, common civility would teach you not to hurt his mind. If the king honoured you with his presence, how anxious would you feel not to offend him; how studious would you be to please him in all your actions, and words, and looks. Here all comparison fails. No mortal is honoured like the Christian, with whom the King of kings and Lord of lords deigns even to dwell. And will he not be sensible of this honour? Will he not exclaim, "Lord, what is man, that thou art mindful of him, or the son of man, that thou visitest him?" Will he not fall upon his knees, and pray, "Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength and my redeemer?"

Nothing can be more ungrateful, if we consider his goodness. What obligation was he under to you? You were not worthy of the least of all his mercies: you deserved that his wrath should have come upon you as children of disobedience. Had he therefore left you to perish, you would have had no reason to complain. But who remembered you in your low estate? Who quickened you, when dead in trespasses and sins? Who unstopped your deaf ears, and opened your blind eyes? Who turned your feet into the paths of peace? Who enabled you to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ to life everlasting? Who gave you a disposition, a taste, congenial with the work and enjoyment of heaven? Who sealed you unto the day of redemption? But for his gracious agency, where, and what would you now have been? And are you forgetful of all this? Are you grieving such a benefactor? Is this thy kindness to thy friend?

Nothing can be more unwise, if we consider his importance to you. As you are deeply indebted to him for the past, so you are entirely dependent upon him for the future. You live in the Spirit, you walk in the Spirit. Grieve the Holy Spirit of God? What, would you grieve your Leader, and be left to travel alone? Can you find your way without him? Can you learn without this teacher? Must he not guide you into all truth? What, would you grieve your Helper, and be left to act alone in your work? Can you worship without the preparation of the heart, and the answer of the tongue, which are from him? Without him, can you order your speech, by reason of darkness? Can you know what to pray for as you ought, unless the Spirit helps your infirmities? What power have you in any duty, unless you are strengthened with might by the Spirit in the inner man? You may spread your sails, but he must fill them. What, would you grieve your Preserver, and be left to contend by yourselves against your enemies? Are you a match for the powers of darkness, and the devices of Satan? The first temptation that assaults you alone, may occasion your sinning and falling; and by this you may cause the way of truth to be evil spoken of, ministers to be discouraged, your fellow-Christians to be distressed, that which is lame to be turned out of the way, while your sin would be ever before you. What, would you grieve your Comforter, and lose your hold of the promises, and be unable to discern your evidences of heaven, and feel your hope decline, and your heart sink in the day of adversity; and be in bondage through fear of death, and groan, "Oh that it were with me as in months past, when the candle of the Lord shined upon my head; and when by his light I walked through darkness, and while as yet the Almighty was with me!"

The comforts of the Holy Spirit can afford such strong consolation, as will revive us in the midst of trouble. According to the Saviour's assurance, when leaving this world, his being with us can more than make up for the loss of his own bodily presence. But, "when he hideth his face, who can behold him?" Vain then are friends, ministers, ordinances. "For these things," saith the Church, "I weep; mine eye runneth down with water, because the Comforter that should relieve my soul is far from me." What infatuation to grieve him!

Yet if there were no danger of this, the admonition would not have been given. Let me not be high-minded, but fear. "Blessed is the man that feareth always." I have always at hand an active adversary, the Devil. I am passing through a world lying in wickedness. I carry within me an evil heart of unbelief. Every thing without is rendered dangerous by the sin that dwelleth in me. They who far surpass me in every thing, have been overcome. Let me therefore watch and pray. "Hold thou me up, and I shall be safe."

Nor let me be satisfied with negative religion. Let it not, O my soul, be enough that I grieve him not. Let me cherish all his motions. Let me walk so as to please him. Let me abound therein more and more.

Morning Exercises For Everyday In The Year
By Rev. William Jay