God has inseparably connected the holy spirit with the word, as our Lord says, ' The words that I speak unto you, they are spirit and they are life.' John 6, 63. By the preaching of the gospel the spirit is administered ; 'this only would I learn,' says St. Paul. ' Received ye the spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith ?' Gal. 3, 2–5. ' Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.' Rom. 10, 17. Our Lord further says, ' Sanctify them through thy truth : thy word is truth.' John 17, 17. See also Isa. 55, 11 ; I. Cor. 1, 18 ; Acts 10, 44. These passages plainly show that the word is spirit ; that faith comes by it, and by it we are sanctified.

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