our duties are divinely qualified we do them with pure aims 3. When we have found God going along with us we give him the glory of all 1 Cor. 15. 10. This doth clearly evince that the duty was carried on by the strength of Gods Spirit more than by any innate abilities of our own 7. Gods Spirit hath a comforting virtue disconsolacy may arise in a gracious heart as the Heaven though it be a bright lucid body yet hath interposition of Clouds this sadness is caused usually through the malice of Satan who if he cannot destroy us he will disturb us but Gods Spirit within us doth sweetly chear and revive he is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Comforter Ioh. 14. 16. These comforts are real and infallible Hence it is called the Seal of the Spirit Eph. 1. 13. When a Deed is sealed it is firm and unquestionable so when a Christian hath the seal of the spirit his comforts are confirmed every godly man hath these revivings of the spirit in some degree he hath the seminals and initials of joy though the flower be not fully ripe and blown Quest. How doth the Spirit give comfort Answ. 1. By showing us that we are in a state of Grace A Christian cannot always see his riches the work of Grace may be written in the heart like short-hand which a Christian cannot read the spirit gives him a Key to open these dark Characters and spell out his Adoption whereupon he hath joy and peace 1 Cor. 2. 12. We have received the Spirit which is of God that we might know the things which are freely given to us of God 2. The spirit comforts by giving us some ravishing apprehensions of Gods love Rom. 5. 5. The love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost Gods love is a box of precious oyntment and it is only the spirit can break open this box and fill us with the sweet perfume of it 3. The spirit comforts by carrying us to the Bloud of Christ as when a man is weary and ready to faint carry him to the water and he is refreshed so when we are fainting under the burden of sin the spirit carries us to the Fountain of Christs Bloud Zac. 12. 1. In that day there shall be a Fountain opened c. The spirit inables us to drink the waters of Justification which run out of Christs sides The spirit applyes whatever Christ hath purchased it shows us that our sins are done away in Christ and though we are spotted in our selves we are undefiled in our head 4. The spirit comforts by inabling Conscience to comfort the Childe must be taught before it can speak The spirit opens the mouth of Conscience and helps it to speak and witness to a man that his estate is good whereupon he begins to receive comfort Rom. 9. 2. My Conscience bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost Conscience draws up a Certificate for a man then the Holy Ghost comes and sets his hand to the Certificate 5. The spirit conveys the Oyl of Joy through two Golden Pipes 1. The Ordinances 2. The Promises 1. The Ordinances As Christ in prayer had his countenance changed Luk 9. 29. There was a glorious lustre upon his face so often in the use of Holy Ordinances the godly have such raptures of joy and soul-transfigurations that they have been carried above the world and despised all things below 2. The Promises The Promises are comfortable 1. For their sureness Rom. 4. 16. God in the Promises hath laid his truth to pawn 2. For their suitableness being calculated for every Christians condition The Promises are like a Physick-garden there is no disease but some herb may be found there to cure it but the Promises of themselves cannot comfort only the spirit inables us to suck these Honey-combs The Promises are like a Limbeck full of herbs but this Limbeck will not drop unless the fire be put under So when the spirit of God which is compared to fire is put to the Limbeck of the Promises then they distil Consolation into the soul. Thus we see how the spirit is in the godly by its virtues Object But is this the sign of a godly man to be filled with the Spirit Are not the wicked said to partake of the Holy Ghost Heb. 6. 4. Answ. Wicked men may partake of the spirits working but not of its in-dwelling they may have Gods spirit move upon them the godly have it enter into them Ezek. 3. 24. Object But the unregenerate taste of the Heavenly Gift Heb. 6. Answ. It is with them as Cooks who may have a smack and taste of the meat they dress but they are not nourished by it Tasting there is opposed to eating The godly have not only a drop or taste of the spirit but it is in them as river of living water Iohn 7. 38. Use 1. It brands them for ungodly who have none of Gods spirit Rom. 8. 9. If any man have not the Spirit of Christ he is none of his And if he be none of Christs then whose is he to what Regiment doth he belong 'T is the misery of a sinner he hath none of Gods spirit Me thinks 't is very offensive to hear men say Take not thy holy spirit from us who never had Gods spirit will they say they have Gods spirit in them who are drunkards and swearers Have they Gods spirit who are malicious and unclean It were blasphemy to say these have the spirit Will the blessed spirit leave his Caelestial Palace to come and live in a prison A sinners heart is a Gaol both for darkness and noysomness and will Gods free spirit be confined to a prison A sinners heart is the Embleme of Hell what should Gods spirit do there Wicked hearts are not a Temple but an Hogâ—sty where the unclean spirit makes his abode Ephes. 2. 2. The Prince of the power of the Ayr the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience We would be loath to live in an house haunted with eviâ— spirits a sinners heart is haunted Ioh. 13 27. After the sop Satan entred Satan venter upon the godly but enters into the wicked when the Devils went into the herd of swine they ran violently down a steep place into thâ— Sea Mat. 8. 32. Whence is it men run so greedily to the Commission of sin but because the Devil hath entred into these Swine 2. This cuts them off from being godly who not only want the spirit but deride it Like those Iews Acts 2. 13. These men are full of new wine And indeed so the Apostles were they were full of the wine of the spirit How is Gods spirit scoffed at by the sons of Belial These say they are men of the Spirit O wretches to make those tongues which should be Organs of Gods praise instruments to blaspheme Have you none to throw your squibs at but the spirit Deriding of
shall not break my head David was glad of a reproof Suppose a man were in the mouth of a Lyon and another should shoot the Lyon and save the man would not he be thankful So when we are in the mouth of sin as of a Lyon and the Minister by a reproof shoots this sin to death shall not we be thankful A gracious soul rejoyceth when the sharp Lance of the word hath let out his Imposthume he wears a reproof as a Jewel on his ear Pro. 30. 12. As an ear-ring of gold so is a reprover on an obedient ear To conclude 't is convincing â—reachâ—ng must do the soul good a nipping reproof prepares for comfort as a nipping frost prepares for the sweet flowers of spring SECT X. 10. A godly man hath the Spirit of God residing in him 2 Tim. 1. 14. The Holy Ghost which dwelleth in us The Schoolmen move the question whether a man receive the Holy Ghost himself or no Montanus held that the godly have so Gods Spirit in them that they partake of his Essence and are become one person with himself but this amounts to no less than blasphemy then it would follow that every Saint were to be worshipped I conceive the spirit is in the godly per modum influxus they have the presence and receive the sacred influences of it When the Sun comes into a room not the body of the Sun is there but the beams that sparkle from it Indeed some Divines have thought that the godly have more than the influx of the spirit though to say how it is more is ineffable and is fitter for some Seraphique Pen to describe than mine The Spirit of God discovers its self in a gracious soul two wayes 1. By its motions These are some of that sweet perfume the spirit breaths upon the heart whereby it is raised into a kind of Angelical frame Quest. 1. But how may we know the motions of the Spirit from a delusion Answ. The motions of the Spirit are always consonant to the word the word is the Chariot wherein the Spirit of God rides which way the tyde of the word runs that way the wind of the spirit blows Quest. 2. How may the motions of the Spirit in the godly be distinguished from the impulses of a Natural Conscience Answ. 1. A Natural Conscience may provoke sometimes to the same thing that the spirit doth but not from the same principle Natural Conscience is a spuâ— to duty but it puts a man upon doing duties for fear of hell as the Gally tugs at the Oar for fear of being beaten whereas the spirit moves a Childe of God from a more Noble Principle it makes him serve God out of choice and esteem duty his priviledge 2. The impulses of a Natural Conscience put men only upon more facil duties of Religion wherein the heart is less exercised as perfunctory reading or praying but the motions of the spirit in the godly go further causing them to set upon the most irksome duties as self-reflection self-humbling yea perillous duties as confessing Christs Name in times of danger Divine motions are in the heart like new wine which will have vent When Gods Spirit possesseth a man it carries him full-sail through all difficulties 2. The Spirit discovers it self in the godly by its virtues These are various 1. Gods Spirit hath a teaching virtue the spirit teacheth convincingly Ioh. 16. 8. It doth so teach as it doth perswade 2. Gods Spirit hath a sanctifying virtue the heart naturally is polluted but when the spirit comes into it it works sin out and grace in The Spirit of God was represented by the Dove Embleme of Purity the spirit makes the heart a Temple for pureness and a Paradise for pleasantness The holy Oyl of Consecration was nothing else but a prefiguring of the spirit The spirit sanctifies a mans fancy causing it to mint holy meditations it sanctifies his will byassing it to good so that now it shall be as delightful to serve God as before it was to sin against him sweet powders perfume linnen so Gods Spirit in a man perfumes him with holiness and makes his heart a Map of Heaven 3. Gods Spirit hath a vivifying virtue 2 Cor. 3. 6. The Spirit giveth life As thâ— blowing in an Organ makes it sound so thâ— breathing of the spirit causeth life and moâ—on When the Prophet Elijah stretcheâ— himself upon the dead Childe it revived 1 Kin. 17. 22. so Gods Spirit stretching self upon the soul infuseth life into it As our life so our liveliness is from thâ— spirits operation Ezek. 3. 14. The Spirit lifted me up When the heart is bowed dowâ— and is listless to duty the Spirit of God lift it up it puts a sharp edge upon the affectionâ— it makes love ardent hope lively the spirâ—â— takes off the weights of the soul and gives wings Cant. 6. 12. Or ever I was aware 〈◊〉 Soul made me like the Chariots of Amminâ—â—i The wheels of the soul were before pulleâ— off and it did drive on heavily but wheâ— the spirit of the Almighty possesseth a maâ— now he runs swiftly in the ways of God anâ— his soul is as the Chariots of Amminadib 4. Gods Spirit hath a Jurisdictive virtue it rules and governs Gods Spirit sits paramount in the soul it gives check to thâ— violence of corruption it will not suffer man to be vain and loose as others The Spâ—rit of God will not be put out of office exerciseth its authority over the heart bringing every thought to the obedience of Chriâ—â— 2 Cor. 10. 5. 5. The spirit hath a mollifying virtue therefore it is compared to fire which softens the wax The spirit turns flint into flesh Ezek. 36. 26. I will give you an heart of flesh How shall this be effected Ver. 27. I will put my spirit within you While the heart is hard it lies like a log and is not wrought upon either with judgements or mercies but when Gods Spirit comes in it makes a mans heart as tender as his eye and now it is made yielding to Divine Impressions 6. The spirit of God hath a corroborating virtue it infuseth strength and assistance for work it is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a spirit of Power 2 Tim. 1. 7. Gods spirit carries a man above himself Eph. 3. 16. Strengthened with might by his spirit in the inner man The spirit confirms faith animates courage it lifts at one end of the Cross and makes it lighter to be born The spirit gives not only a sufficiency of strength but a redundancy Quest. How shall we know whether we act in the strength of Gods Spirit or in the strength of our own abilities Answ. 1. When we do humbly cast our selves upon God for assistance as David going out against Goliah did cast himself upon God for help 1 Sam. 17. 45. I come to thee in the Name of the Lord. 2. When
conversion of others out of a spirit of compassion Grace makes the heart tender a godly man cannot chuse but pitty such as are in the gall of bitterness he sees what a deadly cup is a brewing for the wicked they must without repentance be bound over to Gods wrath the fire which rained on Sodome was but a painted fire in comparison of hell-fire this is a fire with a vengeance Iude 7. Suffering the Vengeance of eternal fire now a godly man seeing captive Sinners ready to be damned labours to convert them from the errour of their way 2 Cor. 5. 11. Knowing the terrour of the Lord we perswade men 3 A godly man endeavours the good of others out of an holy zeal he bears to Christs glory the glory of Christ is dear to him as his own salvation therefore that this may be promoted he labours Summo conatu to bring in souls to Christ. 'T is a glory to Christ when multitudes are born to him every star adds a lustre to the sky every convert is a member added to Christs body and a jewel adorning his Crown Though Christs glory cannot be encreased as he is God yet as he is Mediatour it may the more are saved the more Christ is exalted why else should the Angels rejoyce at the Conversion of a Sinner but because now Christs glory shines the more Use 1. This excludes them from the number of godly who are spiritual Eunuchs they labour not to promote the Salvation of others Nascitur indignè per quem non nascitur alter Did men love Christ they would endeavour to draw as many as they could to him He who loves his Captain will perswade others to come under his Banner this unmasks the hypocrite Though an hypocrite may make a show of Grace himself yet he never minds the procuring Grace in others he is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 without bowels I may allude to that Zac. 11. 9. That which dies let it die and that which is cut off let it be cut off Let souls go to the Devil he cares not 2. How far are they from being godly who instead of endeavouring Grace in others labour to destroy all hopeful beginnings of Grace in them Instead of drawing them to Christ they draw them from Christ their work is to poyson and mischief souls This mischieving of souls is three ways 1. By evil Edicts So Jeroboam made Israel sin 1 King 17. 26. He forced them to Idolatry 2. By evil Examples Examples speak louder than Precepts but principally the examples of great ones are influential Men placed on high are like the Pillar of Cloud when that went Israel went If great ones move irregularly others will follow after 3. By evil Company the breath of sinners is infectious they are like the Dragon which cast a floud out of his mouth Revel 12. 15. They cast a floud of oaths out of their mouth Wicked tongues are set on fire of Hell Iam. 3. 6. The sinner finds Match and Powder and the Devil finds fire The wicked are ever setting snares and temptations before others as the Prophet speaks in another sense Ier. 35. 5. I set pots full of wine and cups and said unto them drink So the wicked set pots of Wine before others and make them drink till Reason be stupified and Lust inflamed These are prodigiously wicked who make men Proselites to the Devil How sad will their doom be who besides their own sins have the bloud of others to answer for 3. If it be the sign of a godly man to promote Grace in others then much more ought he to promote it in his neer Relations A godly man will be careful that his Children should know God he would be sorry that any of his flesh should burn in hell he labours to see Christ formed in them who are himself in another Edition Austin saith That his Mother Monica travelled with greater care and pain for his Spiritual Birth than for his Natural The time of Childhood is the fittest time to be sowing seeds of Religion in our Children Isa. 28. 9. Whom shall he make understand Doctrine Them that are weaned from the milk that are drawn from the breasts The Wax while it is soft and tender will take any impression Children while they are young will fear a reproof when they are old they will hate it 1. It is pleasing to God that our Children should know him betimes When you come into a garden you love to pluck the young bud and smell to it God loves a Saint in the bud of all the Trees the Lord made choice of in a Prophetical Vision it was the Almond Tree which blossomes one of the first of the Trees Such an Almond Tree is an early Convert 2. By endeavouring to bring up our Children in the fear of the Lord we shall provide for Gods glory when we are dead A godly man should not only honor God while he lives but do something that may promote Gods glory when he is dead Our Children being seasoned with gracious Principles will stand up in our room when we are gone and will glorifie God in their generation A good piece of ground doth not only bear a fore-crop but an after-crop he that is godly doth not only bear God a crop of obedience himself while he lives but by principling his Childe with Religion he bears God an after-crop when he is dead Use 2. Let all who have Gods Name named upon them do what in them lies to advance Piety in others A Knife touched with a Loadstone will draw the Needle he whose heart is divinely touched with the Loadstone of Gods Spirit will endeavour to draw those who are neer him to Christ The Heathen could say We are not born for our selves only The more excellent any thing is the more communicative in the body every member is diffusive the eye conveys light the head spirits the liver bloud a Christian must not move altogether within his own circle but endeavour the welfare of others To be diffusively good makes us resemble God whose sacred influence is universal And surely it will be no grief of heart when Conscience can witness for us that we have brought glory to God in this manner by labouring to fill heaven Not that this is any ways Meritorious or hath any causal influence upon our Salvation Christs bloud is the cause but our promoting Gods glory in the Conversion of others is a signal evidence of our Salvation As the Rain-bow is not a cause why God will not drown the World but it is a sign that he will not drown it or as Rahabs Scarlet thread she hung out of the window was not a cause why she was exempted from destruction but it was a sign of her being exempted so our building up others in the Faith is not a cause why we are saved but it is a Symbole of our Piety and a presage of