The spirit of antichrist

The world cannot receive him, but utterly rejects the promise of the Father, contradicting and blaspheming. But every spirit which does not confess this is not of God. Yes, this is that spirit of antichrist, of which you have heard that it should come into the world, and even now it is in the world. He is antichrist, whoever denies the inspiration of the Holy Ghost, or denies that the indwelling Spirit of God is the common privilege of all believers, the blessing of the gospel, the unspeakable gift, the universal promise, the criterion of a real Christian.

It does not help them at all to say, We do not deny the assistance of God's Spirit, but only this inspiration, this receiving the Holy Ghost, and being sensible of it. It is only this feeling of the Spirit, this being moved by the Spirit, or filled with it, which we deny to have any place in sound religion. But in only denying this, you deny the whole Scriptures, the whole truth and promise and testimony of God.

Our own excellent church knows nothing of this devilish distinction. She speaks plainly of feeling the Spirit of Christ, of being moved by the Holy Ghost, and of knowing and feeling that there is no other name than the name of Jesus, by which we can receive life and salvation.

She teaches us all to pray for the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, yes, that we may be filled with the Holy Ghost. And every presbyter of hers professes to receive the Holy Ghost by the imposition of hands. I cite the seventeenth Article, the Office of consecrating priests, the Visitation of the sick, the Collect before the holy communion, and the Order of confirmation. Therefore to deny any of these is, in effect, to renounce the Church of England, as well as the whole Christian revelation.