of the sensible presence of the Spirit that they may have his supporting encouragement at their hand under their seeing and feeling Mortality When the Text says The Spirit is Life in opposition to the Bodys Death It doth not only intimate that the Soul lives a spiritual life and likeways that it doth live that Life after Death immediatly But likeways it imports that the Holy Spirit of God as present in the Soul of a Christian is a pledge and cause of spiritual life here and immediatly after Death when it is a pledge and cause of immortal Life at the Resurrection For when the Text speaks of the Spirit being Life the word Spirit is not meant so much of a mans Soul as of the Indwelling spirit of God in Belivers which is clear by the words subjoined in the Eleventh verse Observe from these Two Verses jointly considered That the Indwelling presence of the Spirit in Believers is a sure pledge of immortal Glory and this is clear by these three 1st Consider the import and significancy of this Gift 2ly It 's Efficacy 3ly Consider it's Irrevocableness And First As to It 's significancy Consider the Names Designations and Descriptions it gets in Scripture 1st It is called the Blessing of Abraham Gal. 3.14 so it signifies that God's Covenant with Abraham belongs to them now Christ Luke 20 Evinces That God cannot be the God of the Dead but of the Living 2ly It is called a Seal Eph. â— 30. To signifie that God hath an peculiar interest â— them that have it as his peculiar Treasure and therâ—fore it is sure he cannot lose them by death Anâ—hilation and Perdition 3ly It is called the Ernest Eph. 1.13 2 Cor. 5.5 and 1 22. And therâ—fore where it is given it signifies Gods purpose anâ— Obligation to give the Inheritance 4ly It is callâ— the Unction or Anointing 2 Cor. 1.21 As 1 Joh. 2.20 To hold out that by the present of the Spirit Gods People are separate sanctâ—fied and dignified to be Gods Kings to triumph over all their spiritual Enemies whereof Death iâ— one 5ly It is called the Spirit of Promise Eph. 1 13. and the promise of the Spirit Gal. 3.14 Because the Gracious Indwelling of the Spirit in â— perfection is the primary and comprehensive goâ— promised in the Gospel and the great design of the Gospel being to possess People of the Spirit therefore the Gospel is called 2 Cor. 3. The Miâ—stration of the Spirit and therefore the presence â— the Spirit signifies that God will grant to the havâ— of it Glory to come seing when God grants tâ— primary good promised in the Gospel he will noâ— deny them any accessory good that 's promised 〈◊〉 the same Now Glory is a consequent unto thâ— presence of the Spirit see Verse 11. Next Consider the Efficacy of this Gift whiâ— kyths in these two 1st in raising us from tâ— Death of sin 2ly In raising Christ from the Deaâ— see for a proof of its Efficacy Eph. 1.19 20. And 3ly Consider it s an irrevocable Gift bâ—cause the Gifts and Callings of God are without Repentance And 2ly Because the Spirit is given to them not to be taken from them again for he is said to dwell in them by his Spirit and to make them a perpetual Sanctuary to himself Ezek. 37.26 He is to be a spring of Eternal Life to them Joh. 7.38 Joh. 4.14 The Soul that is thus possessed of the Spirit cannot miss Eternal Life for it is an Eternal habitation for God and the Spirit gives the Soul Eternal Life now the Spirit cannot give the Soul Eternal Life if the Body lay perpetually in the Grave The Use of this is since the presence of the Holy Spirit in a Believer is a sure pledge of immortal Life it reproves Believers that have it that they are not more lively in their hope of Glory A 2d Use is To Instruct us in the worth of this Gift God may give and take other Gifts from us but he gives us this Gift without Rueing and Repenting we may lose other Gifts but this is a permanent Enjoyment there is nothing in the World that has the full significancy that this Gift has nor has its Efficacy And therefore these that have it should be thankful for it and whosoever want it should be at pains to obtain it Verse 11. But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwells in you HEre the Apostle preoccupies an Objection they might have said since our Soul lives and shall our Body ly perpetually in the Grave wherefore then serves our Justification It is Answered That if the Spirit of God dwell in us that same Spirit will quicken our Mortal Body In the Words ye may take notice of the Assurance that the Apostle gives of the Resurrection of the Body upon the account of the Pledge thereof in time and that is the Spirit dwelling in us And 1st Ye may observe That the Mortal Body shall be quickened again and this appears from the priviledge of Justification seing Death is a punishment following upon sin 2ly Adoption cleaâ— it Luke 20.36 compared with Rom. 8.23 3â— Christs Resurrection clears it his Resurrection being the exemplary cause of ours 1 Cor. 15 2â— 4ly The Spirits Indwelling in the Body clears it 1 Cor. 6.19 and see the Text. 5ly The Body beinâ— a peice of Christ Mystical see 1 Cor. 6.15 1 Thes 4 and 14. 6ly Christs Engagement to the Fatheâ— clears it Joh. 6.37 7ly The Immortality of the Soul compared with the Natural Inclination of iâ— to the Body clears it because nihil violentum est de rabite and therefore Luke 20.37 Christ takes it foâ— granted since Abraham Isaac and Jacob live in theiâ— Souls their Bodies must revive again And that the self same Body shall rise again Appears 1st Becauâ— Chrâ—st had the self same Body and his Resurrection was a Patern of ours 2ly Christ says God can caâ— the Body in Hell after Death 3ly The Bodies thaâ— are raised come out of their Graves John 5.28 29 4ly Paul Prays that the Body may be kept blamelesâ— till the coming of Christ 1 Thess 5. 5ly It 's the Mortal Body see the Text 1 Cor 15. This Corruptible c. Use of Exhortation strive to believe this Article And that by considering the Scriptures are the Word of God and believing the Omnipotent Power of God Luke 20 36. 2ly It exhorts us to abound in Gods Service 1 Cor. 15. last 3ly It bids us suffer for Christ when called to it 4ly It reproves those that stain their Body by Intemperance and Lust see 1 Cor. 6. An other Use is of Comfort for those that have pained Bodies like Lazarus and Job it s sowen in Dishonour it s raised in Glory and it is of comfort to them that have weak Bodies it is sowen in weakness it s
their Corruption By the things of the flesh are meant either such outward Enjoyments as are gratifying to our Corrupt Lusts or such sinful methods as Corrupt Men ordinarly chuse to attain these Enjoyments by or both By â—ding the things of the flesh is meant Corrupt Men their high esteem of strong desires after and solicitous care about these Enjoyments of the World that gratify unrenewed Lust That Unrenewed Men thus mind the things of the flesh appears Because to enjoy the Objects of their Lusts they will not stand to commit the greatest of crimes Jeroboam would not stand to commit Idolatry to gratify his Ambition Judas would not stick to betray his Master to gratify his Covetousness 2ly Unrenewed Men will expose themselves to much to ill of Spirit and Labour of Body to obtain these Enjoyments 3ly They expose themselves to many Bodily dangers to enjoy them 4ly They have great fears of loseng them they have a great confidence and rejoiceing in the enjoyment of them Luke 12. The Rich Man bad his Soul take rest and be Merry 5ly Unrenewed Folks have an exceeding greif when they want these Enjoyments The Causes why Unrenewed Fold mind the things of the Flesh are first Ignorance of and Infidelity about an other Life A second cause is a wrong Set of heart whereby they love to have their satisfaction placed in outward things more than in God A Third is the Devil hurries Corrupt Men to follow sinful courses who by that can get no leisure to reflect on the Vanity of these Enjoyments The Evils of their thus minding the things of the flesh Are 1st This practice ordinarly hardens People and gathers strength to Corruption and makes customary sin hard to be overcome Jer. 13.23 2ly This course is very scandalous and offensive to others 3ly It exposes Men to great smarting of Conscience for it 4ly It exposes them to many snares and destuction 1 Tim. 6.9 10. 5ly It exposes them to great Torment through disapointment of their expectations The Use of this serves First for Tryal Those that mind the things of the flesh are in a state of Nature 2ly It bids us pity those those that are in an unrenewed state For they have a pityful Employment minding always the things of the Flesh 3ly It exhorts such as are unrenewed to seek the Renovation of their Nature by Prayer to God for it and the use of the means of Grace see Peter's Exhortation to to Simon Magus Acts 8.22 and Ezek. 36.37 The last part of the verse is contained in these words Those that are after the Spirit mind the things of the Spirit Now First By those that are after the Spirit are meaned Such who have an renewed Nature whose Conversation flows from Faith and Love who are led by the Spirits motions whose Conversations are regulated by the Law in its spiritual meaning whose Conversation hath an tendency to promote spiritual Ends viz. The Glory of God and the pleasing of him their own Salvation the preserving Peace of Conscience the attaining of Communion with God in the World and the Edification of theâ— Neighbour By the things of the Spirit are meant these Duties the New Man exerciseth himself in with Delight and these Comforts that please the new Nature and its Felicity By the minding of the things of the Spirit is meant thâ— Christians esteem of and concernment about thâ— enjoyment of spiritual Good We may observe here the Renewed Man mind the things of the Spirit that is he minds the Dutiâ— that are pleasant and profitable to the New Naturâ— As 1st The duties of the Moral Law Paul tells 〈◊〉 in the 7 Rom. That he delights in the Law of Goâ— after the inward Man 2ly He minds the Exerciâ— of Faith he sits down under Christ's shadow witâ— great delight Câ—râ— 2.3 3ly He is much taken 〈◊〉 about the guiding of his Conscience 1st That 〈◊〉 Conscience may witness for his Integrity 2 Cor. â— 12. 2ly That his Conscience may testify his Tendeâ—ness 1 Cor. 4.2 3ly That it may testify his 〈◊〉 offensive walking Acts 24.16 4ly That his Coâ—science may testify for him that he hath an Intenâ— in Christ's Blood Heb. 10.22 4ly The reneâ—ed man minds Duty if you consider that he is careful to mix the Exercise of Grace with the Exercise of Gifts 1 Tim. 1 14. 5ly He is careful to Exercise the various Graces of the Spirit as providence calls him to it 2 Pet. 1.5 Next as to the Comforts of the New Nature he is an Man that hath a panting desire after fellowship with God Psal 63.8 and that either in Ordinances Psal 27.4 or in Providences Psal 34.7.8 In the last place the renewed man is taken up about his Felicity As 1st To make his Title sure to it Phi. 3.9.10 2ly That he may hastily enjoy it Phil. 3.14 3ly That he may keep entire friendship with God who is the giver of it 2 Cor. 5.8 4ly That he may taste something of it before he enjoy it fully Philip. 3. penulâ— And 5ly He commits the keeping of it to God till he come to the Actual Enjoyment of it 2 Tim. 1.12 From this we make an Use of Tryal of our renewed state And 2ly We would be exhorted if we would be in capacity to mind the things of the Spirit to study more Heart-renovation by labouring to entertain the impressions of the word without prejudice Rom. 6.17 Verse 6 For to be carnally minded is Death But to be spiritually minded is Life and Peace HEre the Apostle proves That those that walk after the flesh are lyable to Condemnation Because to be Carnally minded tends to Death and the truth is that these Objects which gratify Lust or rather those sinful courses that corrupt Nature takes for to attain the Enjoyment of these gratifying objects certainly tends to Death many times the wickedness of men brings them to an untimeous Natural Death and always Mens acting of Wickedness encreaseth Spiritual Death which stands in the Alâ—e nation of the Heart of Man from conversing with God whether to converse with him by Prayer in the use of publick Ordinances or in conscientious Reflections upon and improvement of the course of Divine Prvoidence Now since Sin encreases our Alienation from God it cannot but encrease our Spiritual Death for the Life of the Soul lyes in Communion and fellowship with God 2ly The Carnal Acts of the carnal mind encrease Spiritual Death because they encrease in us an impotency to do that which is spiritually good and they encrease in us a Readiness and Ability to do that which is Evil so then Sin cannot but encrease Siritual Death Because Spiritual Death consists in an Aversion from doing good and a readyness to do Evil. Likeas there is a strict Connection between the sinful course of the Carnal unrenewed Mind and Eternal Death which stands in the Eternal separation of an Man from the favourable presence of God And the Intimation and Expressions of his special Love
sure to all the seed 3ly Consider the Antiquity of the Promise Tit. 1 3. That Promise Gen. 3.16 That the seed of the Woman should Trample down the head of the Serpent it was an promise of Life to the Spiritual Seed of Christ because it is said Christ should destroy the Works of the Devil and therefore he must abolish Death which followed upon Sin which was brought in by Satan 4ly Consider the Repetition and confirmation of it by Oath to Abraham For by the Covenant made with him there was a Right to the Heavenly Inheritance conveyed to him and all his Spiritual Seed Gal. 3. which Covenant God ratifyed by Oath Heb. 6. 5ly Consider the Internal Seal of this Promise to wit the presence of the Spirit Gal. 4.30 Eph. 4.30 Now for the strengthening our Hope He has placed our Eternal Life in Christ he hath given to us Eternal Life and that Life is in his Son 1 John 5. our Life is hid with Christ in God Col. 3.3 He is said to be our Life ibid. He calls himself to Mary John 11. The Resurrection and the Life and he is called Eternal Life And first He is the Meritorious cause of this Life 1 John 4.10 He sent his Son to dye that we might live through him 2ly He is the exemplary cause of this Life Rom. 6.10 1 Thess 4. It is said that if God raised up Christ from the Dead them that sleep in Jesus will God bring with him 3ly He is the dispensing cause of it he hath power to confer it Phil. 3. last And he has Commission to confer it John 17.3 4 and 6.37 I add for the strengthening of Believers Hope he has appointed the Sacrament of the Communion for the frequent renewing the Believers Right to the person of the Redeemer and therefore the eaten Bread is said to be Communion of his Body as the drinking of the Wine is said to be the Communion of his Blood because by Gods appointment it conveys a sure Right to his Humane Nature as Crucified for us and we know that he saith John 6. He that eateth his Flesh and drinketh his Blood hath Eternal Life And in the first of Johns Epistles Chap. 5. It is said he that hath the Son hath Life As also I add for the strengthening of their Hope he gives them the first Fruits the beginning of Glory in the World See the Text. The next thing that is in this waiting is Patience which imports an continuation of hope without freting or fainting under sore and continuing Crosses And this may be win to by considering what our deservings are and how short a thing Time is compared with Eternity 2 Cor. 4. last Now for the description of the Happiness of the other World It is called first Adoption to shew us that our right to it flows from Adoption Rom 8.17 Use of this is first To Exhort us to receive Christ aright that we may be Adopted Jo. 1.12 2d Use is an use of Tryal to try our Right to Heaven by trying our Adoption the best way to try that is to try if we have the Spirit of Adoption which appears in procuring access to God in a study of Imitation of him and subjection to his Corrections Heb. 12. 2ly Heaven is called Adoption because till we come to Heaven Adoption is not fully manifested 1 Jo. 3.1 2. And thefore in the preceeding verse the happiness of Heaven is called the manifestation of the Sons of God And this tells you how you may win to a due esteem of Adoption by considering it with this consequent The possession of Glory fully manifests the worth of this priviledge and withal this teaches Believers to be content with the Worlds contempt seing in this World their Adoption is not fully manifested 3ly Heaven is called Adoption Because it is an Inheritance suiteable to the dignity of the Son 's of God and therefore we should abound in the Work of the Lord knowing that our Labour will not be in vain in the Lord. Verse 24. For we are saved by hope But hope that is seen is not hope For what a man seeth why doth he yet hope for Verse 25 But if we hope for that we see not then do we with patience wait for it AS the Apostle in the other Verses had comforted the Romans by proving the excellency and certainty of the Future Glory from the Creatures desire after it and the Believers desire after it so now he Comforts them under their Cross by letting them see that their future Happiness is very consistent with their present Misery And this he does by telling them they are saved by hope which he clears by these two things 1st That the object of hope is neither presenty enjoyed nor sensibly certain Hope is not seen that is the object of Hope is not seen 2ly He clears it by describing the Affection of hope he says it is a Patient expecting of a distant good The 24 Verse holds out the Advantagiousness of it The other two Verses hold out the nature of the Object and affection of hope When it is said we are saved by hope As it supposes that our felicity is at a distance so it says that all the good that we can get of that distant felicity for the present time is obtained by hopeing for it and therefore if we cannot hope for it we loss all the Encouragement we have by it Next When the Text says we are saved by Hope it imports that if we can hope for Heaven it will save us from the Ill of the Cross for here he is labouring to comfort crossed Christians it will save for it keeps the Cross from being crushing because it expells the apprehensions of Wrath in a Cross 2ly It keeps the Cross from being ensnaring it cannot drive us from our Duty through fear for where this Hope is it lets us see that we have more gain by our duty nor loss by it Use of this is to exhort us to hope For 1st This Hope is suitable to the Revelation of the Gospel which hath brought to the Church a clearer discovery of Heaven than was brought under the Law 2ly It is suitable to Gods Name which he hath taken under the Gospel he is called the God of Hope Rom. 15.13 3ly It is suitable to Gods Works in raising Christ from the Dead and communicating the first Fruits of the Spirit to us it is an obeying of the Gospel-Precepts and imitation of Gospel Examples We should not be deterred from the Hopâ— of Heaven because we are under afflictions for ouâ— Sin 1 Pet 4. compare the 13. verse with the 17. Neither should we cast away our Hope for being guilty of upsiting in the Way of God compare Heb 5.12 with 10.35 Neither should we quite ouâ— Hope of Heaven because of our great sins before Conversion for so did not Paul Use of this is that we should labour for Hope 1st By making Grace the ground of it 2 Thess