condition r. condition l. 29. f. wait r. weight p. 68. l. 6. f. ceifest r. chiefest l. 22. dele into l. 26. f. livig r. living p. 69. l. 2. f. befre r. before l. 9. f. free r. freed l. 12. dele by the. p. 17. l. 15 f. was justified r. was not justified p. 73. l. 19. dele by p. 62. l. 7. dele mis p. 63. l. 4. f. course r. curse l. 20. for man crucified r. man is crucified l. 26. f. Goost r. Ghost l. 29. f. trough r. through THE GLORIOVS Excellencies of the Spirit of Adoption Rom. 8.2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Iesus hath made me free from the law of sin and Death THis blessed Apostle not inferiour unto any of the rest of the Apostles seems to bee carried up alwaies into Heaven as once hee was while hee was upon earth so that hee tryumphs over all things as having the victorie and is not moved nor in the least troubled for any of the sufferings he underwent in the body but glories in tribulation and despises the world for he is crucified to it and is as having nothing yet possessing all things Peâ—sâ—â—ution and Prosperity Penurie and Plentie are alike welcome to him no Mutation and Change of sublunarie things can trouble his spirit in a word his whole Conversation is in Heaven though his person be one earth and no wonder for he is fild with the Heavenly manifestations the sweete discoveries and the glorious makings out of the minde of God and Christ through the Spirit unto him as appears in all his Epistles and especially in this wherein hee holds forth the glorious Misteries of the Gospell which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men as he him selfe saies Ephesians 3.5 but now is made knowne unto the Apostles and Prophets through the Spirit Of which misterieis this Text holds forth a very blessed one where he tells us that the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made him all the Saints free from the Law of sin and death Now in the words heere are two things contained a Proposition and a supposition Something by way of proposall and something by way of supposall The proposition is this that the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath set the Saints free The supposition is this that the law of sin and death had brought us into bondage from which this Spirit of life in Christ hath set us free in which these two things are to be taken notice of First the ground or cause or foundation of our freedome and that is the law of the spirit Secondly The method or way by which we are set free and that is as the spirit its selfe workes in Christ he doth not say that the spirit of life in us hath set us free but the spirit of life in Christ hath set us free from the law of sin and death And here there might be many profitable observations drawn from the words but I shall sum up all in one but before I fall upon it there are three queries arising from some difficulties in the words to be answered 1. Quere 1 How the spirit may be said to be a law or what is meant by the law of the spirit 2. Queree 2 How the spirit of life is in Christ 3. Queree 3 What is meant by the law of sin and death from which the law of the spirit of life in Christ hath set us free But first if the Law of the Spirit of life in Christ doth set us free from the law of sin and death then it seemes the spirit hath a law for as there was a law given by God in the hand of Moses the Mediatour in the Olde testament so there is a law in the new Testament The law of the Spirit which it seemes is the more powerfull and glorious law The law that brings blessednesse and joy unto a Saint for its this law that brings life whereas the other brings death for the Spirit must bring life through its owne law Queree 1 But then the Queerie is How the Spirit may be said to be a law or to have law Answ To which I answer The law of spirit may bee Considered in these three things 1. In the Authoritie of the Spirit 2. In the operations or workings of the Spirit 3. In the guidance of the spirit 1. Consider we the Authoritie of the Spirit that royall and giorious authoritie that the Spirit hath Now the spirit hath a double autority 1. As it comes from God 2. As it is equall with God in the first sence the spirit and the Law are one but in the second the spirit and the law differs But I say the first part or peece of the Authoritie of the Spirit is this that it comes forth from the Father and the Son and is sent forth from the Father the Son by way of embassage so our Saviour saies I will send the Comforter He is a messenger sent from the Father and the Sonne and so hath mighty Authority Hitherto the father works and I worke but if the Father workes hee workes by the Spirit and so if the Son workes he workes by the same spirit It s the same Spirit comes from them both And thus the Spirit hath Authority and thus the law hath also authority I meane the Law given of God by Moses for the law hath all its Anthority as it comes from God and as it is sent sorth by God so the law hath true authority and in this Consideration they both agree the spirit and the law both have Authority as they come from God but then 2. The spirit hath another Authority which the law simply considered hath not that is this the spirit hath authority in its self and from its selfe for the Spirit hath as great authority as him that sent him God is the Spirit the Spirit is God and the Spirit comming from the bosome of God is God himselfe and the Spirit hath equall Authority with the Father and the Son and hath power to work out of his own pleasure and out of his owne will So saies the Scripture The winde bloweth where it listeth so is every man that is borne of the Spirit The winde is sometimes in the East sometime in the West no man commands it hither or thither no man bids it goe here or there but it goes where it will It is even so with the spirit He hath authority to lay hold of one man and not another to chuse this man and to give life to that person and so suffer another to lie under death and miserie for the spirit hath that prerogative wherin he is not onely as a messenger but is equall with the Father and the Son And so the royall Authoritie of the Spirit exceedingly surpasses the law though the law have also authority from God but then 2. The Spirit may be said to have a law or
no so it is their delight so it is sweete unto them Although they seeke not righteousnesse by it but by the Lord Iesus who hath fulfild it for them which the Lord teach thee by his Spirit to do whoever thou art that brandest any Saint with this title And thus I thinke I neede not say more in this particular to take off men from casting this Aspersion upon the Saints and that for this reason Because I doe not here speake unto those who have given up their names to Iesus Christ who ever they are for they are not I hope to bee charged herewith nor are they so much out of their way as to give out such expressions of their brethren in whom the Spirit of the Lord Iesus is or if they have through weakenesse or mismisinformation herein failled a word is enough for them Their spirits are so tender and as for others it is not much materiall if they so breake out still For the seed of the Bondwoman be alwaies enemies to the children of the Freewoman Onely heere they may see though they cast this aspersion upon them it is but false And so much therefore shall suffice for that use But 6. Vse To informe the saints of their priviledges Vse 6 IS is so that the Saints through the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus are freed from the Law From the Curse of the Law and from the oldnesse of the Letter c. Then let the Saints be heere informed of their priviledges and their uspeakable happinesse 1. You that walke afer the Spirit this you see now is your priviledge that though you were by nature under the course and children of Wrath even as others being under the Law Yet now you are free from the curse and from wroath And 2. That though you were once darknesse yet now are you light in the Lord. And 3. Though you were once strangers and alians in your mindes by wicked workes yet now are you drawne nigh to God by the death of his Sonne And 4. Though you were once altogether defiled with pollution and corruption yet now your old man crucified and the deedes of the body are mortified through the Spirit And 5. Though you were once in fear continuaily yet now have you continuall peace in some measure and joy in the Holy Goost and why all this and much more But 6. Trough that priviledge which summes up all others in it In that you are translated out of the kingdome and the power of darknesse into the glorious light and libertie and Kingdome of the Sons of God in Jesus Christ 1. I say your priviledge and glorious prerogative is that though you were by nature under the curse and Children of wrath even as others Yet now you are free from the Curse and from wrath for the Lord Jesus was made a curse for you to free you from the curse of the Law The Lord Jesus lay under the Wrath of the Father that you might lye downe in the love of the Father And that the time of your blood might be a time of love to him so though the Law may curse others yet it cannot curse you For there is no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus Who can lay any thing to thy charge so as to condemne thee Surely none can Neither Satan nor wicked men nor good men nor thine owne conscience nor Angels Nay God himselfe will not for it is he that justifieth thee or rather Christ that died and now being free from every curse and every condemnation O how blessed is thy condition But 2. Looke yet further upon thy priviledges and see that though thou wert once darkenesse yet now art thou light in the Lord though thou wert in a state of blindenesse and ignorance even as other gentiles walked taking thy swinge in the workes of Darkenesse yet now the Lord Jesus by his Spirit hath been a light unto thee Who is a light to lighten the Gentiles as well as others so that though thou wert altogether kept under and couldest not look up unto God being in darknesse yet now by the light of the Spirit thou art able to behold God in the face of Jesus Christ to know the minde of God and what is the acceptable will of God in some measure and now thou seest and and discernest spirituall things for thou hast now the Spirit to teach thee to know the things that are freely given to thee of God So that 3. Though thou wert a stranger and an alian in thy minde by wicked workes workes of darkenesse yet now art thou drawn nigh to God by the death of his Son and though thou wert once a stranger yet now thou art of the common wealth of Israel Though thou wert once a stranger now thou art a fellow Citizen with the Saints in Sion though thou wert once a stranger and an alian yet now thou art of the Family of God of the Houshold of God And what a servant there I and more A Son an adopted Son Nay a fellow heire with Jesus Christ Nay more thou art a Spouse a Bride the Lambes wife Thou art married to the Lord Jesus Now all the sweetnesses that are to be found in these relations are thine Is it a great priviledge to be a Servant to the Kings person Thou art so most eminently Nay he makes thee his friend too But it is more to be a Sonne Why thou art so It is more to be an heire That is thy priviledge too But is it more to bee a Spouse a Bride a Wife This is thy Royall Prerogative Besides many other relations in which thou standest through Iesus Christ as to be Kings and Priests before God c. And all this though thou wert once a stranger unto God and an Alian unto thy Fathers house and wert defiled with wicked workes so as thy person was loathsome yet even then wast thou received into love and haddest these priviledges conferred upon thee and all through the Lord Jesus and the Spirit of life working in him But 4. Thou that wert once altogether daubed all over with black and bloody staines of Corruption yet hast thou now that old man Crucified and these deeds of the body mortified through the Spirit and although thy life were as a sinke continually sending forth abominable corruption that did even infect the very ayre where thou didst breath Yet now through the Spirit of Holinesse given forth unto thee by the Lord Iesus thou art still mortifying the deeds of the body and still crucifying these Corruptions And that spirit that is in thee will never cease untill he hath totally gotten the victory over all thy coruptions and hath set thee in a perfect State even when thou shalt lay downe this fleshly body and this earthly tabernacle so that still in the meane time thou dost increase with the increase of God and so thou shalt grow in the Spirit and decrease in the flesh As John must decrease but Christ must
to be a law in regard of his mighty operation in the Soule it brings downe light and truth and life and power into the soule and workes exceeding strongly in the soule and when it comes what is able to withstand the Spirit What is greater then the Spirit What is stronger then the Spirit If the spirit comes it bears down all opposition Though the flesh lust against the spirit yet the spirit is two strong for the flesh so that it divides the very jonts and marrow So that the Spirit is a law above the law the law is weake and cannot take place in the hearts of men But when the spirit comes with its law it prevails against all and takes place The flesh profiteth nothing saith our Saviour it is the Spirit that quickneth If the spirit quickneth it hath life in it and where life is it is full of activity for life is manifested in this in that it is full of motion quicknesse and agilitie and in beating off every thing that doeth offende it or anoy it So the spirit being a spirit of life it hath a mighty power in it Although the soule be filled with sin and guilt and in that condition cloathed also with ignorance which doth so inviron the foule as it cannot stir in any other way nor hath the least motion of good in it yet when the spirit comes he beares downe all he destroyes all and therefore it is called the spirit of burning in the scripture And when Christ comes to Baptise he is said to Baptise with the holy Ghost and with fire so that when the spirit comes nothing can stand before him and he brings both light and heate and motion in him and is most powerfull in operation But then 3. The spirit may be saide to be a law or to have a law in it as it is a sure and true guide and as it leades every soule in a right and true way And therefore our Saviour tells vs The spirit of truth shall leade you into all truth And indeed the Spirit guides securely and guides safely guides surely and guides Purely for the spirit cannot erre and he that hath the spirit knowes the minde of God and is guided to fullfill the minde of God as farr as he hath the spirit for the spirit is a blessed guide and a blessed rule and about the law for although the law it s true is righteous holy and good yet alas it Cannot bring forth power to inable the Creature to walke suteable to its selfe It is onely the Spirit hath that power and not the law Therefore the Spirit he is the law of the Saints he shews them the truth teaches them the truth and leades them in the truth and gives them power to walke according to the truth for its the spirit that guides the Saints to Christ who is the truth its selfe and so The spirit guides the Saints in the waies of holynesse through the Spirit they mortifie the deeds of the body and live through the spirit they are guided to denie themselves to abandon their owne parts and their own indowments and their owne righteousnesse and to see all in and to fetch all from a Christ Through the Spirit the Saints put away the garment spotted by the flesh and forsake their vaine conversation wherein in times past they walked through the spirit the Saints are guided to deny all vngodlynesse and worldly lusts and to live soberly and holy and Godly in the present evill world through the spirit they are taught to love with an vnfained love the houshold of faith puting away malice and envie and the leaven of discention and wickednesse through the spirit the Saints are guided so to walke as to shine as lights amidst a crooked and perverse generation In a word through the spirit the Saints are guided having discliamed all their owne righteousnesse to doe that which the Jewes could not doe by the light of the law even to submit to the righteousnesse of Christ that is to cloath themselves through faith with the glorious robes of the righteousnesse of the Lord Jesus whereby they see themselves compleat in him and thus the spirit is a pure and a sure guide and in these three respects the Spirit may be said to have a law and so much may suffice for answer to the first queree But 2. Queree 2 In that the Apostle here tells us of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus and doth not say the spirit of life in us but the spirit of life in Christ The queree will be how the spirit of life is said to be in Christ Answer To which I answer The spirit of life is said to be in Christ under two considerations 1. As hee is the Fountaine of life 2. As he communicates the spirit of life unto all his people 1. As the Lord lesus Christ is the fountaine of life as the fulnesse of all life dwells in him for so sayes the Apostle It pleased the Father that in him should all fulnesse dwell 1 Cor. 15.47 45. and the same Apostle also saies he is the Lord from Heaven and that the first Adam was made a living soule but the second Adam was made a quickning spirit and therefore our Saviour tells us the flesh profiteth nothing but it is the spirit that quickens and the words that I speak unto you they are spirit and they are life There is such a fulnesse of the spirit in Christ that whatsoever Christ speakes is spirituall and carries a spirituall signification along with it for indeed the spirit was in him without measure so that in him is life originally or he is the fountaine of Life but then 2. The Spirit of life is in him by way of communication all that of the spirit that is communicated unto us is communicated unto us in and by the Lord Iesus Have wee any life any strength any beautie upon us any grace conveyed unto us It is all conveyed in and through the Lord Iesus Christ And therefore our Saviour tells the Jewes that he was the bread of life the bread of Heaven that came down from Heaven And whosoever did eate of his flesh and drink of his blood should live for ever he breathed the Holy Ghost on his disciples and poures upon every one that beleeves on him rivers of living water rivers of his spirit for he conveies fulnesse of spirituallitie and divine strength into them That man therefore that hath the spirit of life in Christ conveyed into him through the spirit of life in Christ living in him is the most beautifull creature in the world for he carries divine sweetnesse and beautie upon his spirit And he that hath this spirit derived from Christ hath true life in him other men may be alive and yet dead but that man that hath the life of Christ through his spirit that works in him such a soul shall live for ever such a soule shall never die but it shall