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
Intercession 6ly It makes him capable to exerce his mediatory Kingly Power over all the Creation for their good and safety Eph. 1. and last Psal 2. He hath by Inheritance obtained a more excellent Name than the Angels and it is of the Son it is said His Throne is for ever and ever Likeas it is by his Soneship he is capable for the comfort of Believers to be the Judge of the quick and the dead John 5.22 Observe 2ly Christs Mission He was sent of the Father 2nd this Mission imports 1st The Fathers great Love to the believing World John 3.16 1 John 4.9 2ly It imports that Christ his acting the Work of our Redemption was the Effect of a former Decree and was no casual or fortuitous Thing but was the accomplishment of a Divine Purpose Acts 4 28. and therefore that Providence is not to be stumbled at 3ly It imports that Christ had Gods Warrand for what he did Jo. 6.27 and he confirmed his Commission by Miracles Jo. 5.36 And therefore they that reject Christ contemn the Fathers Authority 4ly It secures us of Christs Fidelity that he will pursue the Accomplishment of the Fathers Designs for the infinitly Wise God would chuse none but those that would be trustie to him John 6.38 and 8.29 And from this we may gather his success Isa 44.1 4 Observe 3ly The Incarnation of the Son of God He was sent in Flesh he was not sent in the likeness of Flesh but in the likeness of sinful Flesh he was made real Flesh John 1.14 He was made of a Woman Gal. 4. He was manifest in the Flesh 1 Tim. 3.16 He was the man Christ Jesus 1 Tim. 2.5 and this was done 1st That he might communicate the Gospel Revelation to us in a way condescending to our Infirmitly Heb. 1.1 2ly That we might have one in our Nature to cast a Pattern to us for Obedience to God Phil. 2.7.8 3ly That he might be capable to bear the particular Punishment threatned by the Law viz. Death Heb. 2.14 And That his suffering being the suffering of Humane Nature might be imputable to us See the Text God punisht sin in his Flesh or in his Humane Nature that the Righteousness of the Law might be fulfilled in Believers 4ly That he might be a Sympathiseing Intercessor Heb. 2. last and 4.15 and that by vertue of the Experience of these Temptations we are subject to And 5ly That the Father might make him a Pledge to us of our Victories and Blessings he would make him in our own Nature to overcome Death and all our Spiritual Enemies that his Victory might be a Pledge to us that God can make frail man overcome death and all their Spiritual Enemies though they have a frail Nature And 6ly That we might have an easie Passage to God the Father because we go to him through his own Son dwelling in our Nature Joh. 14 6. Heb. 10.20 We go through the vail of his Flesh to the Father That is the Passage Observe 4ly Christ was not made sinful Flesh but was made like unto sinful Flesh This holds out Christ's sinlesness this behoved to be that he might be a perfect Patern for our Obedience that he might be a spotless and acceptable Sacrifice that he might be the Truth of these his Types viz. the Legal Sacrifices that were to be offered without blemish that his Sufferings might be for the behoof of others seing he knew no sin himself 2 Cor. 5. and last That he might be a prevalent Intercessor Heb. 7.26 He was free of Original Sin being conceived by the Holy Ghost in the Womb of the Virgin and so not springing from the first Adam by way of ordinary Generation And it was not consistent with Justice that he should want Original Righteousness by vertue of Adam's breach of the Covenant of Works seeing he was not a Person engaged in that Covenant either Virtually or Formally for as I said he came not of Adam by ordinary Generation Observe 5ly He was made in the likeness of sinful Flesh which imports these two 1st A subjection to the common Infirmities of Mankind such as Hunger Weariedness and Mortality And this should sweeten these Miseries to Believers because we may expect his sympathy with us under them for he had personal Experience of them Likeas this may sweeten our Lot under them that God gives us an Instance in his Person that these Infirmities are consistent with special Love and after-happiness as we see in Christ's case 2ly The Phrase being made in the likeness of sinful Flesh imports not only Christ's Subjection to the common Infirmities of our Nature that all men are subject to but it imports his lyableness to extream Sufferings for our sins As our Soverty Observe 6ly From the Word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which imports the final cause of Christs Mission Incarnation and Humiliation That the Abolition of Sin is the End why God sent his Son into the World to dye which holds out the odiousness and hurtfulness of Sin seing all this ado was made for the removal of it And therefore we should be watchful against the committing of it grieved when either we or others do commit it and restless and painful for the mortification of it Now follows God's Action by which he brought about the Justification of the Sinner consistent with Law exprest in these Words He viz. God the Father condemned that is punished upon a Judicial Sentence past against Christ as Soverty He condemned Sin in the Flesh The Text holds out Three things anent Christ's Sufferings 1st Their Quality they were Punishments for they were not Miseries sent on him by God to express his Soveraignty but the Effects of Divine Justice 2ly The Words hold out who is the Principal Author and Inflicter of them and that was God the Father 3ly They hold out the Subject of his Sufferings and that was his Flesh or Humane Nature The Text says He condemned Sin in the Flesh That is in the Flesh of his own Son Flesh being here put for frail Nature For the First of these That Christ's Suffering is a Punishment for sin Appears 1st Because he was the Truth of the Levitical Sacrifices The sacrificed Beast was substitute in the room of the guilty Sinner for the Sinner confest his Sin over the head of the Sacrifice 2ly Christ is said to bear the Curse of the Law Gal. 3.13 3ly He is said to dye in our stead Rom. 5.8 4ly He is said to be a Propitiation through his Blood Rom. 3 25. 5ly He is said to give his Life a Ransom for many 1 Tim. 2.6 6ly He is said to bear our sins in his own Body on the Tree 1 Peter 2.24 God is said to make him sin for us 2 Cor. 5. and last To lay our iniquity on him Isa◠53.6 This tells us 1st That it was not only to give us a Patern for Patience that he suffered or to give an Confirmation to the Truth of
the Point The First is an Use of Tryal hereby ye may try if ye have had the Spirit of Bondage or no if the Mystery of Christs Cross be credible If sin appear an hateful thing to you If readily ye accept of Christs offered Righteousness If willingly ye subject your selves to the Divine Law as a Rule of Life If ye prefer Christ to all things in your Esteem If ye esteem the burthen of Christs Cross light Then ye have received the Spirit of Bondage 2d Sort of Uses are Uses of Instruction It instructs us in the Cause why so many Men see so little of the Moral Ill of Sin the Cause is they have not received the Spirit of Bondage 2ly Since the Spirit of Bondage goes before the Spirit of Adoption we may soon see that if the Spirit of Bondage be a rare thing in the World the Work of Conversion is as rare 3â—y We may be instructed that the Hearts of the Elect are very stupid under sin because that a mans Convictâ—on of his sin and misery must be brought about by the mighty Power of the Spirit of Bondage The Causes of the stupidity under sin before this Work of the Spirit of Bondage are 1st A feared Conscience through customary sinning A 2d Is Impunity Eccl. 9.3 A 3d. is Prosperity in sin Ephraim said I am become rich there is no iniquity in me A 4th Cause is the flattery of Ministers and Neighbours A 5th Cause is leaning to formal Services There is a 3d. Use of Exhortation to Ministers to preach the Law to prepare People for receiving of the Gospel because it is the moral Mean whereby this Work is wrought A 2d Use is to all the Members of the Visible Kirk as they would desire this necessary preparatory Work to be wrought in them so they would consider the Spirituality and Perfection of the Law and examine their Life according to it A second Observation Viz. That God allowes the Spirit of Adoption to these that have received the Spirit of Bondage He gives them this Frame to evidence the Reality of the Grant of Adoption and this Grant of Adoption is given them to testâ— his Love 1 John 1.3 2ly To testify his Respâ— to Christ to whom they are united Eph. 1.6 Aâ— 3ly To confirm their hope of Glory he gives thâ— this Honourable Title to it over and above the Tâ—tle they have to it by their Justification The Use of this is 1st of Consolation if Gâ— give them the Spirit of Adoption to evidence tâ— Reality of this Grant Then these that have the Sâ—rit of Adoption may be sure that God deals wiâ— them as with Children he 'll correct them for thâ— faults Heb. 12 6. He 'll pity them under the straits Psal 103.13 He 'll punish them sparing Mal. 3.17 He 'll give them access to himself unâ— their Trouble Eph. 2.18 He 'll be reconcilable â— them after their strayings Luke 15. He 'll proviâ— for all their wants Mat. 6.32 And he 'll give theâ— the Heavenly Inheritance in the end Rom. 8.17 Use of Reproof since God allows the Spirit 〈◊〉 Adoption to these that have had the Spirit of Boâ—dage It reproves such who have had some measurâ— of the Spirit of Bondage and do lay Obstructioâ— in their own way for their receiving the Spirit â— Adoption Such are these 1st Who refuse â— take with all the Aggravations of their Guilt sâ— Psal 32.9 2d Sort are such who continue ignoraâ— of the Grace of the Gospel A 3d. sort are sudâ— who continue an respect to their old Predominanâ— A 4th sort are such who are tenacious of their owâ— Righteousness and will not quite it It is to be Observed That God in his Soveraigâ— Wisdom deals variously with his Elect as to thâ— leaving them longer or shorter time under the Preâ—sures of the Spirit of Bondage There are some that lye short time under it As 1st Such as are called in their younger Years 2ly Such as are called presently after their Conversion to great and difficult Services as it was with Paul 3ly Such as upon their Conversion are called to endure hard â—ersecutions as it was with these Converts Acts â—3 Some he continues longer under the Spirit of Bondage As 1st Such as are Persons of Eminent Gifts such as Heman was Psal 88. This he does to to prevent their Pride A 2d sort are such as have been very gross sinners before their Conversion such are continued longer under the fears of Wrath that their Condition may be a scar to others to live in gross sins A 3d. sort are such who are continued long under these fears that they may acquire a skill and sympathy to be useful and comfortable to those that are in the like condition For the 3d. Observation These that once have received the Spirit of Adoption the Spirit of God never becomes to them a Spirit of Bondage A full Conviction that the sinner is presently lyable to wrath cannot be wrought by Gods Spirit in the Adopted Child of God because such a Conviction as this is inconsistent with the Word seing the Adopted Child of God notwithstanding of his Failings is not under the Law but under Grace If it be questioned what fears the Child of God may be allowed to entertain seing this Text tells us that he is not allowed to entertain a fear of his present actual lyableness into Wrath It may be answered to the Question he should entertain a fear and jealousie of the Evil of his own Heart that it may make him neglect his Duty and mislead him into sin Phil. 2.12 2ly He should fear that he will fall under certain ruine on supposition of his total Apostasie from God and this fear will breed an aversation from sins agaiâ— light and upsitting in duty and halting in the waâ— of God seing that Carriage has an tendency to Apostasie the Apostle in the Epistle to the Hebrews labours to cure their lame walk in the way of God by proposing the danger of Apostasie to them Use 1st Of Reproof to such that are Gods Adopted Children who have tormenting fears â— Wrath in their bosom which fears are not wroughâ— by Gods Spirit but they flow from their own miâ—believing hearts and Satans suggestions and are permitted of God as Chastisements for their former siâ— such I say are to be reproved who reckon theâ— fears well grounded as judgeing them wrought bâ— Gods Spirit when as they are nothing but permittod of God for their Chastisement 2ly Such arâ— to be reproved who entertain these fears as an â— for restraint against sin seing although they â— restrain from the outward Transgression yet thâ— are never effectual to remove the inward Inclination to sin Use 2d Of Exhortation Seing God allows noâ— his Adopted Children to entertain Tormenting fears of Wrath they would beware of these Sins that provocks God to give them up to their mis-believing Hearts to fill them with these fears As first They would beware of