the Deeds of the Flesh. It is we that are to mortifie the Deeds of the Flesh it is our Duty but of our selves we cannot do it it must be done in or by the Spirit Whether we take the Spirit here for the Person of the Holy Ghost as the Context seems to require or take it for the gracious Principle of spiritual Life in the Renovation of our Nature not the Spirit himself but that which is born of the Spirit it is all one as to our purpose the Work is taken from our own Natural Power or Ability and resolved into the Grace of the Spirit Sect. 16 And that we go no further for the proof of our Assertion it may suffice to observe That the Confirmation of it is the principal Design of the Apostle from the second Verse of that Chapter unto the end of the 13 th That the Power and Reign of Sin its Interest and Prevalency in the Minds of Believers are weakened impaired and finally destroyed so as that all the pernicious Consequences of it shall be avoyded by the Holy Ghost and that these things could no otherwise be effected he both affirms and proves at large In the foregoing Chapter from the 7 th Verse unto the end he declares the Nature Properties and Efficacy of In-dwelling sin as the Remainders of it do still abide in Believers And whereas a two-fold Conclusion might be made from the Description he gives of the Power and Actings of this sin or a double Question arise unto the great Disconsolation of Believers he doth in this Chapter remove them both manifesting that there was no cause for such Conclusions or Exceptions from any thing by him delivered The first of these is that if such if this be the Power and Prevalency of In-dwelling sin if it so obstruct us in our doing that which is good and impetuously incline unto evil what will become of us in the End how shall we answer for all the Sin and Guilt which we have contracted thereby We must we shall therefore perish under the Guilt of it And the second Conclusion which is apt to arise from the same Consideration is that seeing the Power and Prevalency of Sin is so great and that we in our selves are no way able to make Resistance unto it much less to overcome it it cannot be but that at length it will absolutely prevail against us and bring us under its Dominion unto our everlasting Ruine Both these Conclusions the Apostle obviates in this Chapter or removes them if laid as Objections against what he had delivered And this he doth Sect. 17 1 By a Tacit Concession that they will both of them be found true towards all who live and dye under the Law without an Interest in Jesus Christ. For affirming that there is no condemnation unto them that are in Christ Jesus he grants that those who are not so cannot avoyd it Such is the Guilt of this sin and such are the Fruits of it in all in whomsoever it abides that it makes them obnoxious unto Condemnation But 2 There is a Deliverance from this Condemnation and from all liableness thereunto by free Justification in the Blood of Christ v. 1. For those who have an Interest in him and are made partakers thereof although sin may grieve them trouble and perplex them and by its Deceit and Violence cause them to contract much Guilt in their surprizals yet they need not despond or be utterly cast down there is a stable ground of Consolation provided for them in that there is no Condemnation unto them that are in Christ Jesus 3 That none may abuse this Consolation of the Gospel to countenance themselves unto a Continuance in the service of sin he gives a Limitation of the Subjects unto whom it doth belong namely all them and only them who walk not after the Flesh but after the Spirit v. 1. As for those who give up themselves unto the Conduct of this Principle of In-dwelling sin who comply with its Motions and Inclinations being acted wholly by its Power let them neither flatter nor deceive themselves there is nothing in Christ nor the Gospel to free them from Condemnation It is they only who give up themselves to the Conduct of the Spirit of Sanctification and Holiness that have an interest in this Priviledge 4 As to the other Conclusion taken from the Consideration of the Power and Prevalency of this Principle of sin he prevents or removes it by a full Discovery how and by what means that Power of it shall be so broken its strength abated its prevalency disappointed and its self destroyed as that we need not fear the Consequents of it before mentioned but rather may secure our selves that we shall be the death thereof and not that the death of our Souls Now this is saith he by the Law or Power of the Spirit of Life which is in Christ Jesus v. 2. And thereon he proceeds to declare that it is by the effectual working of this Spirit in us alone that we are enabled to overcome this spiritual Adversary This being sufficiently evident it remaineth only that we declare the Way and Manner how he produceth this Effect of his Grace Sect. 18 1 The Foundation of all Mortification of Sin is from the Inhabitation of the Spirit in us He dwells in the Persons of Believers as in his Temple and so he prepares it for himself Those Defilements or Pollutions which render the Souls of men unmeet Habitations for the Spirit of God do all of them consist in sin inherent and its Effects These therefore he will remove and subdue that he may dwell in us suitably unto his Holiness Rom. 8. 11. 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 dwelleth in you Our mortal Bodyes are our Bodies as obnoxious unto Death by reason of sin as v. 10. And the Quickening of these mortal Bodyes is their being freed from the Principle of Sin or Death and its Power by a contrary Principle of Life and Righteousness It is the freeing of us from being in the Flesh that we may be in the Spirit v. 9. And by what Means is this effected It is by the Spirit of him that raised Jesus from the Dead that is of the Father which also is called the Spirit of God the Spirit of Christ v. 9. For he is equally the Spirit of the Father and the Son And he is described by this Periphrasis both because there is a similitude between that Work as to its Greatness and Power which God wrought in Christ when he raised him from the Dead and what he worketh in Believers in their Sanctification Ephes. 1. 19 20. and because this Work is wrought in us by vertue of the Resurrection of Christ. But under what especial Consideration doth he effect this Work of mortifying sin in us It is as
designed unto no other End but to make his Grace effectual Hence is he said to send and give his Son also And the whole Work of the Holy Ghost as our Sanctifier Guide Comforter and Advocate is to make the Love of the Father effectual unto us Joh. 10. 13 14. As this out of his own Love and Care he hath Condescended unto so the Fountain of it being in the Love and Purpose of the Father and that also or the making them effectual being their End he is rightly said to be Given of him 3. In the whole Communication of the Spirit respect is had unto his Effects or the Ends for which he is given What they are shall be afterwards declared Now the Authority of this Giving respects principally his Gifts and Graces which depend on the Authority of the Father 2. This Expression denotes Freedom What is given might be withheld This is the Gift of God as he is called Joh. 4. 10 not the Purchase of our Indeavours nor the Reward of our Desert Some men delight to talk of their Purchasing Grace and Glory But the one and the other are to be bought without Money and without Price Even Eternal Life it self the End of all our Obedience is the Gift of God through Jesus Christ our Lord Rom. 6. 23. The Scripture knows of no earnings that Men can make of themselves but Death For as Austin says Quicquid tuum est peccatum est and the Wages of Sin is death To what End or Purpose soever the Spirit is bestowed upon us whether it be for the Communication of Grace or the Distribution of Gifts or for Consolation and Refreshment it is of the Meer Gift of God from his absolute and Sovereign Freedom Sect. 5 Secondly In Answer hereunto they are said to Receive him on whom as a Gift he is bestowed as in the Testimonies before mentioned And in Receiving two things are implyed 1. That we contribute nothing thereunto which should take off from the thing Received as a Gift Receiving answers Giving and that implys freedom in the Giver 2. That it is their Priviledg and Advantage For what a Man Receives he doth it for his own Good First then we have him freely as a Gift of God For to Receive him in general is to be made Partaker of him as unto those Ends for which he is given of God Be those Ends what they will in respect of them they are said to Receive him who are made Partakers of him Two things may be pleaded to take off the Freedom of this Gift and of our Reception and to cast it on something necessary and required on our part For 1. our Saviour tells us that the World cannot Receive him because it seeth him not neither knoweth him Joh. 14. 17. Now if the World cannot Receive him there is required an Ability and Preparation in them that do so that are not in the World and so the Gift and Communication of the Spirit depends on that Qualification in us But all Men are Naturally alike the World and of it No One Man by Nature hath more Ability or strength in Spiritual things than another For all are equally dead in Trespasses and Sins all equally Children of Wrath. It must therefore be enquired how some come to have this Ability and Power to Receive the Spirit of God which others have not Now this as I shall fully manifest afterwards is merely from the Holy Ghost himself and his Grace respect being had herein only unto the Order of his Operations in us some being Preparatory for and dispositive unto other One being instituted as the means of obtaining another the whole being the Effect of the free Gift of God For we do not make our selves to differ from others nor have we any thing that we have not Received 1 Cor. 4. 7. Wherefore the Receiving of the Holy Ghost intended in that Expression of our Saviour with respect whereunto some are able to receive him some are not is not absolute but with respect unto some certain Work and End And this as is plain in the Context is the receiving of him as a Comforter and a Guide in Spiritual Truth Here-unto Faith in Christ Jesus which also is an effect and fruit of the same Spirit is antecedently required In this sense therefore Beleivers alone can receive him and are enabled so to do by the Grace which they have received from him in their first Conversion unto God But 2dly it will be said that we are bound to pray for him before we receive him and therefore the bestowing of him depends on a Condition to be by us fulfilled For the Promise is that our Heavenly Father will give the Holy Spirit unto them that ask him Luke 11. 13. But this doth not prove the bestowing and receiving of him not to be absolutely free Nay it proves the Contrary It is Gratia indebita undeserved Grace that is the proper object of Prayer And God by these encouraging Promises doth not abridge the Liberty of his own Will nor derogate from the Freedom of his Gifts and Grace but only directs us into the way whereby we may be made Partakers of them unto his Glory and our own Advantage And this also belongs unto the Order of the Communication of the Grace of the Spirit unto us This very Praying for the Spirit is a Duty which we cannot perform without his Assistance For no man can call Jesus Lord but by the Holy Ghost 1 Cor. 12. 3. He helps us as a Spirit of Grace and Supplication to pray for him as a Spirit of Joy and Consolation Sect. 6 3. This is such a Gift as in God proceeds from Bounty For God is said to give him unto us richly Tit. 3. 6. This will be spoken unto in the fourth Way of his Communication Onely I say at present the greatness of a Gift the free Mind of the Giver and want of desert or merit in the Receiver are that which declare Bounty to be the spring and fountain of it And all these concur to the height in God's Giving of the Holy Ghost Sect. 7 Again on the part of them who receive this Gift Priviledg and Advantage are intimated They receive a Gift and that from God and that a great and singular Gift from Divine Bounty Some indeed receive him in a sort as to some Ends and Purposes without any advantage finally unto their own Souls So do they who prophesie and cast out Devils by his Power in the Name of Christ and yet continuing workers of Iniquity are rejected at the last day Matth. 7. 22 23. Thus it is with all who receive his Gifts only without his Grace to sanctifie their Persons and their Gifts and this whether they be ordinary or extraordinary But this is only by accident There is no Gift of the Holy Ghost but is good in its own Nature tending to a good End and is proper for the Good and Advantage of them by whom it is
the edification of the Church Ephes. 4. 10 11 12 13. The owning therefore and avowing the Work of the Holy Ghost in the Hearts and on the Minds of Men according to the Tenor of the Convenant of Grace is the principal part of that Profession which at this day all Believers are called unto Sect. 5 4. We are taught in an especial manner to pray that God would give his Holy Spirit unto us that through his Aid and Assistance we may live unto God in that Holy Obedience which he requires at our hands Luk. 11. 9 10 12 13. Our Saviour enjoyning an importunity in our Supplications v. 9 10. and giving us encouragement that we shall succeed in our Requests v. 11 12. makes the Subject Matter of them to be the Holy Spirit Your Heavenly Father shall give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him v. 13. Which in the other Evangelists is good things Mat. 7. 11. because he is the Author of them all in us and to us Nor doth God bestow any good thing on us but by his Spirit Hence the Promise of bestowing the Spirit is accompanied with a Prescription of Duty unto us that we should ask him or pray for him which is included in every Promise where his sending giving or bestowing is mentioned He therefore is the great Subject Matter of all our Prayers And that signal Promise of our Blessed Saviour to send him as a Comforter to abide with us for ever is a Directory for the Prayers of the Church in all Generations Nor is there any Church in the World fallen under such a total Degeneracy but that in their Publick Offices there are Testimonies of their ancient Faith and Practice in praying for the coming of the Spirit unto them according to this Promise of Christ. And therefore our Apostle in all his most solemn Prayers for the Churches in his dayes makes this the chief Petition of them That God would give unto them and increase in them the Gifts and Graces of the Holy Spirit with the Spirit himself for sundry especial Effects and Operations whereof they stood in need Ephes. 1. 17. Chap. 3. 16. Col. 2. 2. And this is a full conviction of what importance the Consideration of the Spirit of God and his Work is unto us We must deal in this Matter with that confidence which the Truth instructs us unto and therefore say That he who prayeth not constantly and diligently for the Spirit of God that he may be made partaker of him for the Ends for which he is promised is a Stranger from Christ and his Gospel This we are to attend unto as that whereon our Eternal Happiness doth depend God knows our State and Condition and we may better learn our Wants from his Prescription of what we ought to pray for than from our own Sense and Experience For we are in the Dark unto our own Spiritual Concerns through the Power of our Corruptions and Temptations and know not what we should pray for as we ought Rom. 8. 26. But our Heavenly Father knows perfectly what we stand in need of And therefore whatever be our present Apprehensions concerning our selves which are to be examined by the Word our Prayers are to be regulated by what God hath enjoyned us to ask and what he hath promised for to bestow Sect. 6 5. What was before mentioned may here be called over again and farther improved yea it is necessary that so it should be This is the solemn Promise of Jesus Christ when he was to leave this World by Death And whereas he therein made and confirmed his Testament Heb. 9. 15 16 17 He bequeathed his Spirit as his great Legacy unto his Disciples And this he gave unto them as the great Pledg of their future Inheritance 2 Cor. 1. 22. which they were to live upon in this World All other good things he hath indeed bequeathed unto Believers as he speaks of Peace with God in particular Peace I leave with you my Peace I give unto you John 14. 27. But he gives particular Graces and Mercies for particular Ends and Purposes The Holy Spirit he bequeaths to supply his own Absence John 16. 17. that is for all the Ends of Spiritual and Eternal Life Let us therefore consider this Gift of the Spirit either formally under this Notion that he was the principal Legaoy left unto the Church by our dying Saviour or materially as to the Ends and Purposes for which he is so bequeathed and it will be evident what valuation we ought to have of Him and his Work How would some rejoice if they could possess any Relique of any thing that belonged unto our Saviour in the dayes of his Flesh though of no use or benefit unto them Yea how great a part of Men called Christians do boast in some pretended Parcels of the Tree whereon he suffered Love abused by Superstition lies at the bottom of this Vanity For they would embrace any thing left them by their dying Saviour But he left them no such things nor did ever bless and Sanctify them unto any holy or Sacred Ends. And therefore hath the abuse of them been punished with blindness and Idolatry But this is openly testified unto in the Gospel then when his Heart was overflowing with Love unto his Disciples and Care for them when he took an Holy Prospect of what would be their Condition their Work Duty and Temptations in the World and thereon made Provision of all that they could stand in need of he promiseth to leave and give unto them his Holy Spirit to abide with them for ever directing us to look unto Him for all our Comforts and Supplies According therefore unto our valuation and esteem of Him of our Satisfaction and Acquiescency in Him is our regard to the Love Care and Wisdom of our Blessed Saviour to be measured And indeed it is only in his Word and Spirit wherein we can either honour or despise him in this World In his own Person he is exalted at the Right Hand of God far above all Principalities and Powers So that nothing of ours can immediately reach him or affect him But it is in our regard to these that he makes a Tryal of our Faith Love and Obedience And it is a matter of Lamentation to consider the contempt and scorn that on various Pretences is cast upon this Holy Spirit and the Work whereunto he is sent by God the Father and by Jesus Christ. For there is included therein a contempt of them also Nor will a pretence of honouring God in their own way secure such Persons as shall contract the guilt of this Abomination For it is an Idol and not the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who doth not work effectually in the Elect by the Holy Ghost according to the Scriptures And 2. if we consider this Promise of the Spirit to be given unto us as to the Ends of it Then Sect. 7 6. He is promised and given as
dead in Sin And herein is seated that peculiar obstinacy whence it is that no Unregenerate Person doth or can answer his own Conviction or walk up unto his Light in Obedience For the Will may be considered two wayes 1. As a rational vital Faculty of our Souls 2. As a free Principle freedom being of its Essence or Nature This therefore in our Conversion to God is renewed by the Holy Ghost and that by an effectual implantation in it of a Principle of Spiritual Life and Holiness in the room of that Original Righteousness which it lost by the Fall That he doth so is proved by all the Testimonies before insisted on 1. This is its Renovation as it is a rational vital Faculty and of this Vivification see before 2. As it 's a free Principle it is determined unto its Acts in this case by the powerful Operation of the Holy Ghost without the least impeachment of its Liberty or Freedom as hath been declared And that this is so might be fully evinced as by others so by the ensuing Arguments For 1. if the Holy Ghost doth not work immediately and effectually upon the Will producing the creating in it a Principle of Faith and Obedience infallibly determining it in its free Acts then is all the Glory of our Conversion to be ascribed unto our selves and we make our selves therein by the obediential actings of our own free-will to differ from others who do not so comply with the Grace of God which is denyed by the Apostle 1 Cor. 4. 7. Neither can any purpose of God concerning the Conversion of any one Soul be certain and determinate seeing after he hath done all that is to be done or can be done towards it the Will remaining undetermined may not be converted contrary to those Testimonies of our Saviour Rom. 8. 28. Mat. 11. 25 26. John 6. 37. Neither can there be an Original Infallibility in the Promises of God made to Jesus Christ concerning the multitudes that should believe in him seeing it is possible no one may so do if it depends on the undetermined Liberty of their Wills whether they will or no. And then also must Salvation of necessity be of him that willeth and of him that runneth and not of God that shews mercy on whom he will have mercy contrary to the Apostle Rom. 9. 15 16. And the whole Efficacy of the Grace of God is made thereby to depend on the Wills of Men which is not consistent with our being the Workmanship of God created in Christ Jesus unto good Works Ephes. 2. 10. Nor on this Supposition do Men know what they pray for when they pray for their own or other Mens Conversion to God as hath been before declared There is therefore necessary such a Work of the Holy Spirit upon our Wills as may cure and take away the Depravation of them before described sreeing us from the state of Spiritual Death causing us to live unto God determing them in and unto the Acts of Faith and Obedience And this he doth whilst and as he makes us new Creatures quickens us who are dead in Trespasses and Sins gives us a new Heart and puts a new Spirit within us writes his Law in our Hearts that we may do the Mind of God and walk in his wayes worketh in us to will and to do making them who were unwilling and obstinate to become willing and obedient and that freely and of choice Sect. 56 In like manner a prevailing Love is implanted upon the Affections by the Spirit of Grace causing the Soul with Delight and Complacency to cleave to God and his Wayes This removes and takes away the Enmity before described with the Effects of it Deut. 30. 6. The Lord thy God will circumcise thine Heart and the Heart of thy Seed to love the Lord thy God with all thy Heart and with all thy Soul that thou mayest live This Circumcision of the Heart consists in the putting off the body of the sins of the flesh as the Apostle speaks Col. 2. 11. He Crucifies the Flesh with the Lusts and Affections thereof Some Men are inclined to think that all the Depravation of our Nature consists in that of the sensitive part of the Soul or our Affections The vanity and folly of which Opinion hath been before discovered Yet it is not denied but that the Affections are signally depraved so that by them principally the Mind and Will do act those Lusts that are peculiarly seated in them or by them do act according to their perverse and corrupt Inclinations Gal. 5. 24. Jam. 1. 14 15. Wherefore in the Circumcision of our Hearts wherein the Flesh with the Lusts Affections and Deeds thereof are crucified by the Spirit he takes from them their Enmity Carnal Prejudices and Dâ—praved Inclinations really though not absolutely and perfectly and instead of them he fills us with Holy Spiritual Love Joy Fear and Delight not changing the being of our Affections but sanctifying and guiding them by the Principle of Saving-Light and Knowledg before described and uniting them unto their proper Object in a due manner From what hath been spoken in this third Argument it is evident that the Holy Spirit designing the Regeneration or Conversion of the Souls of Men worketh therein effectually powerfully and irresistibly which was proposed unto confirmation Sect. 57 From the whole it appears that our Regeneration is a Work of the Spirit of God and that not any Act of our own which is only so is intended thereby I say it is not so our own as by outward Helps and Assistance to be educed out of the Principles of our Natures And herein is the Scripture express for mentioning this Work directly with respect unto its Cause and the manner of its Operation in the effecting of it it assigns it positively unto God or his Spirit 1 Pet. 1. 3. God according to his abundant Mercy hath begotten us again James 1. 18. Of his own Will begat he us with the Word of Truth John 3. 5 6 8. Born of the Spirit 1 John 3. 9. Born of God And on the other hand it excludes the Will of Man from any active interest herein I mean as to the first beginning of it 1 Pet. 1. 23. Born again not of Corruptible Seed but of Incorruptible by the Word of God which liveth and abideth for ever John 1. 13. Which were born not of Blood nor of the Will of the Flesh nor of the Will of Man but of God see Matth. 16. 17. Titus 3. 5. Ephes. 2. 9 10. It is therefore incumbent on them who plead for the Active Interest of the Will of Man in Regeneration to produce some Testimonies of Scriptures where it is assigned unto it as the effect unto its proper Cause Where is it said that a Man is Born again or Begotten a-new by himself And if it be granted as it must be so unless violence be offered not only to the Scripture but to
God can be intended in this Place But it is the Spirit of God himself and his Work that is expressed Sect. 9 This therefore was the Work of the Holy Spirit of God in reference unto the Earth and the Host thereof The whole matter being Created out of which all Living Creatures were to be educed and of which they were to be made he takes upon him the Cherishing and Preservation of it that as it had its Subsistence by the Power of the Word of God it might be carried on towards that Form Order Beauty and Perfection that it was designed unto To this purpose he Communicated unto it a Quickning and prolifick Vertue inlaying it with the Seeds of animal Life unto all kinds of things Hence upon the Command of God it brought forth all sorts of Creatures in Abundance according to the Seeds and Principles of Life which were communicated unto the Rude inform Chaos by the cherishing Motion of the Holy Spirit Without him all was a dead-Sea a confused deep with Darkness upon it able to bring forth nothing nor more prepared to bring forth any one thing than another But by the Moving of the Spirit of God upon it the Principles of all those Kinds Sorts and Forms of things which in an unconceivable variety make up its Host and Ornament were communicated unto it And this is a better account of the Original of all things in their several kinds than any is given by ancient or Modern Philosophers And hence was the Old Tradition of all things being formed of Water which the Apstle alludes unto 2 Pet. 3. 5. The whole is declared by Cyprian whose words I have therefore transcribed at large And as at the first Creation so in the Course of Providence this Work of Cherishing and Nourishing the Cretures is assigned in an especial manner unto the Spirit Psal. 104. 30. Thou sendest forth thy Spirit they are Created and thou renewest the Face of the Earth The Making or Creation of things here intended is not the first great Work of the Creation of all but the daily Production of Creatures in and according to their Kind For in the verse foregoing the Psalmist treats of the decay of all sorts of Creatures in the World by a Providential cutting off and finishing of their Lives v. 29. Thou hidest thy Face they are troubled thou takest away their breath they dye and return unto their Dust. That under this continual decay and dying of all sorts of Creatures the World doth not come to Emptiness and Desolation the only Reason is because the Spirit of God whose Office and Work it is to uphold and preserve all things continually produceth by his Power a new supply of Creatures in the room of them that fall off like Leaves from the Trees and return to their Dust every day And whereas the Earth it self the common Nurse of them all seems in the Revolution of every year to be at an end of its Use and Work having Death brought upon the Face of it and oft-times entring deep into its Bowels the Spirit of God by its influential Concurrence renews it again causing every thing afresh to bring forth Fruit according unto its Kind whereby its Face receiveth a new Beauty and Adorning And this is the Substance of what the Scripture expresly asserts concerning the Work of the Spirit of God towards the inanimate part of the Creation His actings in reference unto Man and that Obedience which he owed to God according to the Law and Covenant of his Creation is nextly to be considered Sect. 10 Man in his Creation falleth under a two-fold Notion For he may be considered either meerly naturally as to the essentially constitutive parts of his Being or morally also with reference unto his Principles of Obedience the Law given unto him and the End proposed as his Reward And these things are distinctly proposed unto our contemplation in the Scripture The first is expressed Gen. 2. 7. And the Lord God formed Man of the Dust of the Ground and breathed into his Nostrils the Breath of Life and Man became a Living Soul 1. There is the Matter whereof he was formed 2. The Quickning Principle added thereunto And 3. the Effect of their Conjunction and Union For the Matter he was made of it is said he was formed 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 dust of the Ground or dust gathered together on an heap from and upon the Ground 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Prov. 8. 26. So is God the great 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the universal framer of All represented as an Artificer who first prepares his Matter and then forms it as it seemeth good unto him And this is mentioned for two ends First To set forth the Excellency Power and Wisdom of God who out of such vile contemptible Matter as an heap of Dust swept as it were together on the Ground could and did make so excellent curious and glorious a Fabrick as is the Body of Man or as was the Body of Adam before the Fall Secondly To mind Man of his Original that he might be kept humble and in a meet dependance on the Wisdom and Bounty of his Creator for thence it was and not from the Original Matter whereof he was made that he became so excellent Hereof Abraham makes his solemn Acknowledgment before the Lord Gen. 18. 27. Behold I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord which am but Dust and Ashes He ashes himself with the Remembrance of his Original And this as it were God reproacheth Adam withal upon his Sin and Transgression Gen. 3. 19. Thou shalt return unto the Ground for out of it wast thou taken For Dust thou art and unto Dust thou shalt return He lets him know that he had now by sin lost that Immortality which he was made in a condition to have enjoyed and that his Body according to his Nature and Constitution should return again into its first Principles or the Dust of the Earth Into this formed Dust Secondly God breathed 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Breath of Life Divine aurae particulam a vital immortal Spirit This God breathed into him as giving him something of himself somewhat immediately of his own not made out of any praecreated Matter This is the Rational Soul or Intelligent Spirit Thus Man became a middle Creature between the Angels above and the sensitive Animals below His Body was formed as the Beasts from the Matter made the first Day and digested into dry Land on the third Day His Soul was an immediate Production of and Emanation from the Divine Power as the Angels were So when in the Works of the New Creation our Blessed Saviour bestowed the Holy Ghost on his Disciples he breathed on them as a sign that he gave them something of his own This Coelestial Spirit this Heavenly Breath was unto Man a quickning Principle For thirdly the Effect hereof is that Man became 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a living Soul His Body was
the People of God into destructive and Judgment-procuring sins Numb 33. 16. And in the whole of his Enterprize he thought to have satisfied his Covetousness with a reward for cursing them by his Enchantments And yet this Man not onely professeth of himself that he heard the Words of God and saw the Visions of the Almighty Numb 24. 4. but did actually foretel and prophesie Glorious Things concerning Christ and his Kingdom Shall we then think that the Holy Spirit of God will immix his own Holy Inspirations with the wicked suggestions of the Devil in a South-sayer Or shall we suppose that the Devil was the Author of those Predictions whereas God reproacheth false Gods and their Prophets acted by them that they could not declare the things that should happen nor shew the things that were to come afterwards Isa. 41. 22 23. So also it is said of Saul that the Spirit of the Lord departed from him and an Evil Spirit vexed him and yet afterwards that the Spirit of God came upon him and he prophesied 1 Sam. 19. 24. The Old Prophet at Bethel who lyed unto the Prophet that came from Judah and that in the Name of the Lord seducing him unto Sin and Destruction and probably defiled with the Idolatry and false Worship of Jeroboam was yet esteemed a Prophet and did foretel what came to pass 1 Kings 13. Sect. 18 Sundry things may be offered for the Solution of this Difficulty For 1. as to that place of the Apostle Peter 1. It may not be taken Universally that all who prophesied at any time were Personally Holy but only that for the most part so they were 2. He seems to speak particularly of them only who were Pen-men of the Scripture and of those Prophesies which remain therein for the Instruction of the Church concerning whom I no way doubt but that they were all Sanctified and Holy 3. It may be that he understandeth not real inherent Holiness but only a Separation and Dedication unto God by especial Office which is a thing of another nature 2. The Gift of Prophesie is granted not to be in it self and its own Nature a Sanctifying Grace nor is the Inspiration so whereby it is wrought For whereas it consists in an affecting of the Mind with a transient irradiation of Light in hidden things it neither did nor could of it self produce Faith Love or Holiness in the Heart Another Work of the Holy Ghost was necessary hereunto 3. There is therefore no Inconsistency in this Matter that God should grant an immediate Inspiration unto some that were not really sanctified And yet I would not grant this to have been actually done without a just Limitation For whereas some were established to be Prophets unto the Church in the whole course of their Lives after their first Call from God as Samuel Elijah Elisha Jeremiah and the rest of the Prophets mentioned in the Scripture in like manner I no way doubt but they were all of them really sanctified by the Holy Spirit of God But others there were who had only some occasional Discoveries of hidden or future things made unto them or fell into some Extasies or Raptures with a Supernatural Agitation of their Minds as it is twice said of Saul for a short Season And I see no Reason why we may not grant yea from Scripture-Testimonies we must grant that many such Persons may be so acted by the Holy Spirit of God So was it with wicked Caiaphas who is said to Prophesie John 11. 51. And a great Prophesie indeed it was which his words expressed greater than which there is none in the Scripture But the Wretch himself knew nothing of the Importance of what was uttered by him A suddain Impression of the Spirit of God caused him against his Intention to utter a Sacred Truth and that because he was High Priest whose words were of great Reputation with the People And as Balaam was over-ruled to Prophesie and speak good of Israel when he really designed and desired to curse them So this Caiaphas designing the Destruction of Jesus Christ brought forth those words which expressed the Salvation of the World by his Death 5. For the Difficulty about Balaam himself who was a Sorcerer and the Devil's Prophet I acknowledg it is of Importance But sundry things may be offered for the removal of it 1. Some do contend that Balaam was a Prophet of God only That indeed he gave himself unto Judicial Astrologie and the Conjectures of future Events from Natural Causes But as to his Prophesies they were all Divine and the Light of them affecting only the Speculative Part of his Mind had no influence upon his Will Heart and Affections which were still corrupt This Tostatus pleadeth for But as it is expresly said That he sought for Enchantments Numb 24. 1. So the whole Description of his Course and End gives him up as a Cursed Sorcerer and he is expresly called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Sooth-sayer John 12. 22. Which word though we have once rendred by Prudent that is One who prudently conjectureth at future Events according unto present appearing Causes Isa. 3. 2. yet it is mostly used for a Diabolical Diviner or Sooth-sayer And for what he said of himself That he heard the Voice of God and saw the Visions of the Most High it might be only his own boasting to procure veneration to his Diabolical Incantations But in Reputation we find he was in those dayes in the World and supposed he was to utter Divine Oracles unto Men. This God in his Providence made use of to give out a Testimony to the Nations concerning the coming of the Messiah the Report whereof was then almost lost amongst Men. In this condition it may be granted that the Good Spirit of God without the least Reflection on the Majesty and Purity of his own Holiness did over-rule the Power of the Devil cast out his Suggestions from the Man's Mind and gave such an Impression of Sacred Truths in the room of them as he could not but utter and declare For that instant he did as it were take the Instrument out of the Hand of Satan and by his Impression on it caused it to give a sound according to his Mind which when he had done he left it again unto his Possession And I know not but that he might do so sometimes with others among the Gentiles who were professedly given up to receive and give out the Oracles of the Devil So he made the Damsel possessed with a Spirit of Divination and Sooth-saying to acknowledg Paul and his Companions to be Servants of the most High God and to shew to Men the way of Salvation Acts 16. 16 17. And this must be acknowledged by them who suppose that the Sybills gave out Predictions concerning Jesus Christ seeing the whole strain of their Prophetical Oracles were expresly Diabolical And no Conspiracy of Men or Devils shall cause him to forego his Sovereignty over them
execution of his Office as the King and Head of the Church is included in these words But his first Sanctifying Work in the Womb is principally intended For those Expressions a Rod out of the Stem of Jesse and a Branch out of his Roots with respect whereunto the Spirit is said to be communicated unto him do plainly regard his Incarnation And the Soul of Christ from the first moment of its Infusion was a Subject capable of a Fulness of Grace as unto its habitual Residence and Inbeing though the actual exercise of it was suspended for a while until the Organs of the Body were fitted for it This therefore it received by this first Unction of the Spirit Hence from his Conception he was Holy as well as harmless and undefiled Heb. 7. 26. An Holy Thing Luke 1. 35. radically filled with a Perfection of Grace and Wisdom Inasmuch as the Father gave him not the Spirit by Measure John 3. 34. See to this purpose Our Commentary on Heb. 1. v. 1. p. 17. see John 1. 14 15 16. Sect. 2 Thirdly The Spirit carried on that Work whose Foundation it had thus laid And Two Things are to be here diligently observed 1. That the Lord Christ as Man did and was to exercise all Grace by the Rational Faculties and Powers of his Soul his Understanding Will and Affections For he acted Grace as a Man made of a Woman made under the Law His Divine Nature was not unto him in the place of a Soul nor did immediately operate the things which he performed as some of old vainly imagined But being a perfect Man his Rational Soul was in him the immediate principle of all his Moral Operations even as ours are in us Now in the Improvement and Exercise of these Faculties and Powers of his Soul he had and made a Progress after the manner of other Men. For he was made like unto us in all things yet without sin In their Encrease Enlargement and Exercise there was required a Progression in Grace also And this he had continually by the Holy Ghost Luke 2. 40. The Child grew and waxed strong in Spirit The first Clause refers to his Body which grew and increased after the manner of other Men as v. 52. He increased in Stature The other respects the confirmation of the Faculties of his Mind he waxed strong in Spirit So v. 47. he is said to increase in Wisdom as in Stature He was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 continually filling and filled with new Degrees of Wisdom as to its Exercise according as the Rational Faculties of his Mind were capable thereof an increase in these things accompanied his years v. 52. And what is here recorded by the Evangelist contains a Description of the Accomplishments of the Prophesie before mentioned Isa. 11. 1 2 3. And this Growth in Grace and Wisdom was the peculiar Work of the Holy Spirit For as the Faculties of his Mind were enlarged by Degrees and strengthened so the Holy Spirit filled them up with Grace for Actual Obedience Sect. 3 2. The Humane Nature of Christ was capable of having New Objects proposed to its Mind and Understanding whereof before it had a simple Nescience And this is an inseparable adjunct of Humane Nature as such as it is to be weary or hungry and no vice or blameable defect Some have made a great outcry about the ascribing of Ignorance by some Protestant Divines unto the Humane Soul of Christ Bellarm. de Anim. Christi Take Ignorance for that which is a moral Defect in any kind or an unacquaintedness with that which any one ought to know or is necessary unto him as to the Perfection of his Condition or his Duty and it is false that ever any of them ascribed it unto him Take it meerly for a nescience of some things and there is no more in it but a denial of Infinite Omniscience nothing inconsistent with the highest Holiness and Purity of Humane Nature So the Lord Christ sayes of himself that he knew not the Day and Hour of the End of all things and our Apostle of him that he learned Obedience by the things that he suffered Heb. 5. 8. In the representation then of things anew to the Humane Nature of Christ the Wisdom and Knowledg of it was objectively increased and in new Tryals and Temptations he experimentally learned the new Exercise of Grace And this was the constant Work of the Holy Spirit in the Humane Nature of Christ. He dwelt in him in fulness for he received him not by measure And continually upon all occasions he gave out of his unsearchable Treasures Grace for Exercise in all Duties and Instances of it From hence was he habitually Holy and from hence did he exercise Holiness entirely and universally in all things Sect. 4 Fourthly The Holy Spirit in a peculiar manner anointed him with all those extraordinary Powers and Gifts which were necessary for the Exercise and Discharging of his Office on the Earth Isa. 61. 1. The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me because the Lord hath anointed me to Preach good Tydings unto the Meek he hath sent me to bind up the broken-hearted to proclaim Liberty to the Captives and the opening of the Prison unto them that are bound It is the Prophetical Office of Christ and his discharge thereof in his Ministry on the Earth which is intended And he applies these words unto himself with respect unto his Preaching of the Gospel Luke 4. 18. For this was that Office which he principally attended unto here in the World as that whereby he instructed Men in the Nature and Use of his other Offices For his Kingly Power in his Humane Nature on the Earth he exercised but sparingly Thereunto indeed belonged his sending forth of Apostles and Evangelists to preach with Authority And towards the End of his Ministry he instituted Ordinances of Gospel-Worship and appointed the Order of his Church in the Foundation and Building of it up which were Acts of Kingly Power Nor did he perform any Act of his Sacerdotal Office but only at his Death when he gave himself for us an Offering and a Sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling Savour Ephes. 5. 2. wherein God smelt a Savour of Rest and was appeased towards us But the whole course of his Life and Ministry was the Discharge of his Prophetical Office unto the Jews Rom. 15. 8. Which he was to do according to the great Promise Deut. 18. 18 19. And on the Acceptance or Refusal of him herein depended the Life and Death of the Church of Israel v. 19. Acts 3. 23. Heb. 1. 1. John 8. 44. Hereunto was he fitted by this Unction of the Spirit And here also is a distinction between the Spirit that was upon him and his being anointed to Preach which contains the Communication of the Gifts of that Spirit unto him As it is said Chap. 11. 3. The Spirit rested on him as a Spirit of Wisdom to make
that is intended Sect. 9 And because this is a Matter of great Importance namely how the Lord Christ offered up himself unto God as a Sacrifice by the Eternal Spirit I shall farther explain it though but briefly Those who look only on the outward part of the Death of Christ can see nothing but suffering in it The Jews took him and they with the Souldiers both scourged and slew him hanging him on the Tree But the principal Consideration of it is his own offering himself a Sacrifice unto God as the great High Priest of the Church to make Atonement and Reconciliation for Sinners which was hid from the World by those outward Acts of Violence which were upon him And this he did by the Eternal Spirit wherein we may take notice of the ensuing Instances 1. He Sanctified Consecrated or Dedicated himself unto God for to be an Offering or Sacrifice John 17. 19. For their sakes that is the Elect I sanctifie my self The Lord Christ was before this perfectly sanctified as to all Inherent Holiness so that he could not speak of sanctifying himself afresh in that sense Neither was it the Consecration of himself unto his Office of a Priest For this was the Act of him who called him He glorified not himself to be made an High Priest but he that said unto Him Thou art my Son Heb. 5. 6. He made him a Priest by his Death after the Power of an Endless Life Chap. 7. 16 20 21. Wherefore he consecrated himself to be a Sacrifice as the Beast to be Sacrificed of old was first devoted unto that purpose Therefore it is said that he thus Sanctified or Consecrated himself that we might be Sanctified Now we are Sanctified by the Offering of the Body of Christ once for all Heb. 10. 10. This was his first Sacerdotal Acts. He dedicated himself to be an Offering to God And this he did through the Effectual Operation of the Eternal Spirit in him 2. He went voluntarily and of his own accord to the Garden which answered the Adduction or bringing of the Beast to be Sacrificed unto the Door of the Tabernacle according to the Law for there he did not only give up himself into the hands of those who were to shed his Blood but also actually entred upon the offering up of himself unto God in his Agony when he offered up Prayers and Supplications with strong Crying and Tears Heb. 5. 7. which declares not the Matter but the Manner of his Offering 3. In all that ensued all that followed hereon unto his giving up the Ghost he offered himself to God in and by those Actings of the Grace of the Holy Spirit in him which accompanied him to the last And these are diligently to be considered because on them depends the Efficacy of the Death of Christ as to Atonement and Merit as they were enhanced and rendred excellent by the Worth and Dignity of his Person For it is not the Death of Christ meerly as it was penal and undergone by the way of Suffering that is the Means of our Deliverance but the Obedience of Christ therein which consisted in his offering of himself through the Eternal Spirit unto God that gave efficacy and success unto it We may therefore enquire what were those Principal Graces of the Spirit which he acted in this offering of himself unto God And they were 1. Love to Man-kind and Compassion towards Sinners This the Holy Soul of the Lord Jesus was then in the highest and most inconceivable Exercise of This therefore is frequently expressed where mention is made of this Offering of Christ Gal. 2. 20. Who loved me and gave himself for me Rev. 1. 5. Who loved us and washed us in his own Blood And Compassion is the first Grace required in an High Priest or Sacrificer Heb. 5. 2. God being now upon a Design of Love for it was in the pursuit of Eternal Love that Christ was sent into the World John 3. 16. Tit. 3. 4 5 6. This Love that was now in its most inconceivable Advancement in the Heart of Christ was most grateful and acceptable unto him And this Intenseness of Love did also support the Mind of Christ under all his Sufferings as Jacob through the greatness of his Love unto Rachel made light of the seven years Service that he endured for her Gen. 29. 20. And so did the Lord Christ endure the Cross and despise the shame for the Joy of saving his Elect which was set before him Heb. 12. 2. And this was one Grace of the Eternal Spirit whereby he offered himself unto God 2. That which principally acted him in the Whole was his unspeakable Zeal for and Ardency of Affection unto the Glory of God These were the Coals which with a Vehement Flame as it were consumed the Sacrifice And there were two things that he aimed at with respect unto the Glory of God 1. The manifestation of his Righteousness Holiness and Severity against Sin His Design was to repair the Glory of God wherein it had seemed to suffer by sin Psal. 40. 6 7 8. and Heb. 10. 5 6 7. He came to do that with full desire of Soul expressed in those words Lo I come which Legal Sacrifices could not do namely to make satisfaction to the Justice of God for sin to be a propitiation to declare his Righteousness Rom. 3. 25. And this he doth as to the manner of it with inexpressible Ardency of Zeal and Affections v. 8. I delight to do thy Will O my God yea thy Law is in the midst of my Bowels he doubles the Expression of the Intenseness of his Mind hereon And therefore when he was to prepare himself in his last Passeover for his Suffering he expresseth the highest ingagement of Heart and Affections unto it Luke 22. 15. With desire have I desired to eat this Passeover with you before I suffer As with respect unto the same Work he had before exprest it I have a Baptism to be Baptized withal and how am I straitned or pained till it be accomplished Luke 12. 50. His Zeal to advance the Glory of God in the manifestation of his Righteousness and Holiness by the offering up himself as a Sin-Offering to make Atonement gave him no Rest and Ease until he was engaged in it whence it wrought unto the utmost 2. The Exercise of his Grace and Love This he knew was the way to open the Treasures of Grace and Love that they might be poured out on Sinners to the Everlasting Glory of God For this was the Design of God in the whole Rom. 3. 24 25 26. This Zeal and Affection unto the Glory of God's Righteousness Faithfulness and Grace which was wrought in the Heart of Christ by the Eternal Spirit was that wherein principally he offered up himself unto God 3. His Holy Submission and Obedience unto the Will of God which were now in the height of their Exercise and Grace advanced unto the utmost in them was another
especial part of this his Offering up himself That this was wrought in him by the Holy or Eternal Spirit was before declared And it is frequently expressed as that which had an especial Influence into the Efficacy and Merit of his Sacrifice Psal. 2. 8. He humbled himself and became Obedient unto Death the Death of the Cross. And when he offered up Prayers and Supplications though he were a Son yet learned he obedience by the things that he suffered Heb. 5. 8. That is he experienced Obedience in Suffering It is true that the Lord Christ in the whole course of his Life yeelded Obedience unto God as he was made of a Woman made under the Law Gal. 4. 4. But now he came to the great Tryal of it with respect unto the especial command of the Father to lay down his Life and to make his Soul an Offering for sin Isa. 53. 10. This was the highest Act of Obedience unto God that ever was or ever shall be to all Eternity And therefore doth God so express his satisfaction therein and acceptance of it Isa. 53. 11 12. Phil. 2. 9 10. This was wrought in him this he was wrought unto by the Holy Spirit and therefore by him offered himself unto God 4. There belongs also hereunto that Faith and Trust in God which with fervent Prayers Cries Supplications he now acted on God and his Promises both with respect unto himself and to the Covenant which he was sealing with his Blood This our Apostle represents as an especial Work of his testified unto in the Old Testament Heb. 2. 13. I will put my trust in him And this 1. respected himself namely that he should be supported assisted and carried through the Work he had undertaken unto a blessed Issue Herein I confess he was horribly assaulted until he cryed out My God my God why hast thou forsaken me Psal. 22. 1. But yet after and through all his dreadful Tryal his Faith and Trust in God were Victorious This he expressed in the Depth and Extremity of his Tryals Psal. 22. 9 10 11. and made such an open Profession of it that his Enemies when they supposed him lost and defeated reproached him with it v. 8. Matth. 27. 43. To this purpose be declared himself at large Isa. 50. 7 8 9. So his Faith and Trust in God as to his own supportment and deliverance with the accomplishment of all the Promises that were made unto him upon his ingagement into the Work of Mediation were victorious 2. They respected the Covenant and all the Benefits that the Church of the Elect was to be made Partaker of thereby The Blood that he now shed was the Blood of the Covenant and it was shed for his Church namely that the Blessings of the Covenant might be communicated unto them Gal. 3. 13 14. With respect hereunto did he also exercise Faith in God as appears fully in his Prayer which he made when he entred on his Oblation John 17. Now concerning these Instances we may observe three Things to our present purpose 1. These and the like gracious Actings of the Soul of Christ were the Wayes and Means whereby in his Death and Bloodshedding which was violent and by force inflicted on him as to the outward Instruments and was penal as to the Sentence of the Law he voluntarily and freely offered up himself a Sacrifice unto God for to make Atonement And these were the things which from the dignity of his Person became Efficacious and Victorious Without these his Death and Bloodshedding had been no Oblation 2. These were the things which rendred his Offering of himself to be a Sacrifice of a sweet smâ—lling Savour unto God Ephes. 5. 2. God was so absolutely delighted and pleased with these high and glorious Acts of Grace and Obedience in Jesus Christ that he smelt as it were a Savour of Rest towards Mankind or those for whom he offered himself so that he would be angry with them no more curse them no more As it is said of the Type of it in the Sacrifice of Noah Gen. 8. 20 21. God was more pleased with the Obedience of Christ than he was displeased with the Sin and Disobedience of Adam Rom. 5. 17 18 19. It was not then the outward suffering of a violent and bloody Death which was inflicted on him by the most horrible wickedness that ever Humane Nature brake forth into that God was atoned Acts 2. 23. Nor yet was it meerly his enduring the Penalty of the Law that was the means of our Deliverance But the voluntary giving up of himself to be a Sacrifice in these Holy Acts of Obedience was that upon which in an especial manner God was reconciled unto us All these things being wrought in the Humane Nature by the Holy Ghost who in the time of his Offering acted all his Graces unto the utmost He is said thereon to offer himself unto God through the Eternal Spirit by whom as our High Priest he was Consecrated Spirited and Acted thereunto Sect. 10 Eighthly There was a peculiar Work of the Holy Spirit towards the Lord Christ whilst he was in the State of the Dead For here our precedeing Rule must be remembred namely that notwithstanding the Union of the Humane Nature of Christ with the Divine in the Person of the Son yet the Communications of God unto it beyond Subsistence were voluntary Thus in his Death the Union of his Natures in his Person was not in the least impeached but yet for his Soul or Spirit he recommends that in an especial manner into the Hands of God his Father Psal. 31. 5. Luke 23. 46. Father into thy Hands I commend my Spirit for the Father had ingaged himself in an Eternal Covenant to take care of him to preserve and protect him even in Death and to shew him again the Way and Path of Life Psal. 16. 11. Notwithstanding then the Union of his Person his Soul in its separate State was in an especial manner under the care protection and power of the Father preserved in his Love until the Hour came wherein he shewed him again the Path of Life His Holy Body in the Grave continued under the especial care of the Spirit of God and hereby was accomplished that great Promise That his Soul should not be left in Hell nor the Holy One see Corruption Psal. 16. 10. Acts 2. 31. It is the Body of Christ which is here called the Holy One as it was made an holy Thing by the Conception of it in the Womb by the Power of the Holy Ghost And it is here spoken of in contradistinction unto his Soul and opposed by Peter unto the Body of David which when it died saw Corruption Acts 2. 29. This Pure and Holy Substance was preserved in its Integrity by the overshadowing Power of the Holy Spirit without any of those Accidents of change which attend the dead Bodies of others I deny not but there was use made of the Ministry of
Angels about the dead Body of Christ whilst it was in the Grave even those which were seen sitting afterwards in the place where he lay John 20. 12. by these was it preserved from all outward Force and Violation But this also was under the peculiar care of the Spirit of God who how he worketh by Angels hath been before declared Sect. 11 Ninthly There was a peculiar Work of the Holy Spirit in his Resurrection this being the compleating Act in laying the Foundation of the Church whereby Christ entred into his Rest the great Testimony given unto the finishing of the Work of Redemption with the satisfaction of God therein and his acceptation of the Person of the Redeemer It is on various accounts assigned distinctly to each Person in the Trinity And this not only as all the external Works of God are individed each Person being equally concerned in their Operation but also upon the account of their especial respect unto and interest in the Work of Redemption in the manner before declared Unto the Father it is ascribed on the account of his Authority and the declaration therein of Christ's perfect accomplishment of the Work committed unto him Acts 2. 24. Him hath God raised up having loosed the Pains of Death because it was not possible that he should be holden of it it is the Father who is spoken of And he is said as in other places to raise Christ from the Dead but this he doth with respect unto his loosing the Pains of Death 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 These are the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which with a little alteration of one Vowel signifie the Sorrows of Death or the Cords of Death For 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 are the Sorrow of Death and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 are the Cords of Death see Psal. 18. 4. Psal. 116. 3. And these Sorrows of Death here intended were the Cords of it that is the Power it had to bind the Lord Christ for a season under it For the Pains of Death that is the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 tormenting Pains ended in his death it self But the Consequents of them are here reckoned unto them or the continuance under the Power of Death according unto the Sentence of the Law These God loosed when the Law being fully satisfied the Sentence of it was taken off and the Lord Christ was acquitted from its whole Charge This was the Act of God the Father as the Supream Rector and Judg of all Hence he is said to raise him from the Dead as the Judg by his Order delivereth an acquitted Prisoner or one who hath answered the Law The same Work he also takes unto himself John 10. 17 18. I lay down my Life that I may take it again no Man taketh it from me but I lay it down of my self I have power to lay it down and I have power to take it again For although Men by violence took away his Life when with wicked hands they crucified and slew him Acts 2. 23. Chap. 3. 15 Yet because they had neither Authority nor Ability so to do without his own consent he saith No Man could or did take away his Life that is against his Will by Power over him as the lives of other Men are taken away for this neither Angels nor Men could do So also although the Father is said to raise him from the Dead by taking off the Sentence of the Law which he had answered yet he himself also took his Life again by an Act of the Love Care and Power of his Divine Nature his living again being an Act of his Person although the Humane Nature only died But the peculiar efficiency in the reuniting of his most Holy Soul and Body was an Effect of the Power of the Holy Spirit 1 Pet. 3. 18. He was put to death in the Flesh but quickned in the Spirit 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 he was restored to Life by the Spirit and this was that Spirit whereby he preached unto them that were disobedient in the dayes of Noah v. 19 20. or that Spirit of Christ which was in the Prophets from the Foundation of the World 1 Pet. 1. 11 12. by which he preached in Noah unto that disobedient Generation 2 Pet. 2. 5. whereby the Spirit of God strove for a season with those Inhabitants of the Old World Gen. 6. 3. that is the Holy Spirit of God To the same purpose we are instructed by our Apostle Rom. 8. 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 which dwelleth in you God shall quicken our Mortal Bodies also by the same Spirit whereby he raised Christ from the Dead For so the Relation of the one Work to the other requires the words to be understood And he asserts again the same expresly Ephes. 1. 17 18 19 20. he prayes that God would give his Holy Spirit unto them as a Spirit of Wisdom and Revelation v. 17. The Effects thereof in them and upon them are described v. 18. and this he desires that they may so be made Partakers of that by the Work of the Spirit of God in themselves renewing and quickning of them they might have an experience of that exceeding greatness of his Power which he put forth in the Lord Christ when he raised him from the Dead And the Evidence or Testimony given unto his being the Son of God by his Resurrection from the Dead is said to be according to the Spirit of Holiness or the Holy Spirit Rom. 1. 4. He was positively declared to be the Son of God by his Resurrection from the Dead 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is by the powerful working of the Holy Spirit This also is the intendment of that Expression 1 Tim. 3. 16. Justified in the Spirit God was manifest in the Flesh by his Incarnation and Passion therein and justified in the Spirit by a Declaration of his acquitment from the Sentence of Death and all the Evils which he underwent with the Reproaches wherewith he was contemptuously used by his Quickning and Resurrection from the Dead through the mighty and effectual working of the Spirit of God Sect. 12 Tenthly It was the Holy Spirit that glorified the Humane Nature and made it every way meet for its Eternal Residence at the Right Hand of God and a Pattern of the Glorification of the Bodies of them that believe on him He who first made his Nature Holy now made it Glorious And as we are made conformable unto him in our Souls here his Image being renewed in us by the Spirit so he is in his Body now glorified by the Effectual Operation of the same Spirit the Exemplar and Pattern of that Glory which in our Mortal Bodies we shall receive by the same Spirit For when he appears we shall be like him 1 John 3. 2. seeing he will change our vile Bodies that they
Church They praying by his especial Guidance and Assistance say Come or Preachers say unto others Come and the Bride or the Body of the Church acted by the same Spirit joyn with them in this great Request and Supplication and thereunto all Believers are invited in the following words and let him that heareth say Come Sect. 10 All these things were necessary to be premised in general as giving some insight into the Nature of the Operations of the Holy Spirit in us and towards us And hereby we have made our Way plain to the consideration of his especial Works in the Calling Building and Carrying on the Church unto Perfection Now all his Works of this kind may be reduced unto three Heads 1. Of Sanctifying Grace 2. Of Especial Gifts 3. Of peculiar Evangelical Priviledges Only we must observe that these things are not so distinguished as to be negatively contradistinct to each other for the same thing under several Considerations may be all these a Grace a Gift and a Priviledg All that I intend is to reduce the Operations of the Holy Spirit unto these Heads casting each of them under that which it is most eminent in and as which it is most directly proposed unto us And I shall begin with his Work of Grace BOOK III. VVORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IN THE New Creation BY REGENERATION CHAP. I. 1. The New Creation Compleated 2. Regeneration the especial Work of the Holy Spirit 3 4 5 6 7 8 9. Wrought under the Old Testament but clearly revealed in the New And 10 11 12. is of the same kind in all that are Regenerate 13 14. The Causes and Way of it being the same in all 15 16. It consisteth not in Baptism alone Nor 17 18. in a Moral Reformation of Life But 19 20. a New Creature is Formed in it whose 21 22. Nature is declared and 23. farther explained 24. Denial of the Original Depravation of Nature the Cause of many Noxious Opinions 25 26. Regeneration consisteth not in Enthusiaslick Raptures their Nature and Danger 27. The whole Doctrine necessary dâ—spised corrupted vindicated Sect. 1 WE have formerly declared the Work of the Holy Spirit in Preparing and Forming the Natural Body of Christ. This was the beginning of the New Creation the Foundation of the Gospel-State and Church But this was not the whole of the Work he had to do As he had provided and prepared the Natural Body of Christ so he was to prepare his Mystical Body also And hereby the Work of the New Creation was to be compleated and perfected And as it was with respect unto him and his Work in the Old Creation so was it also in the New All things in their first production had Darkness and Death upon them For the Earth was Void and without Form and Darkness was upon the Face of the Deep Gen. 1. 2. Neither was there any thing that had either Life in it or Principle of Life or any Disposition thereunto In this condition he moved on the prepared Matter preserving and cherishing of it and communicating unto all things a Principle of Life whereby they were animated as we have declared It was no otherwise in the New Creation There was a Spiritual Darkness and Death came by sin on all Mankind Neither was there in any Man living the least Principle of Spiritual Life or any Disposition thereunto In this State of things the Holy Spirit undertaketh to create a New World New Heavens and a New Earth wherein Righteousness should dwell And this in the first place was by his Effectual Communication of a New Principle of Spiritual Life unto the Souls of God's Elect who were the Matter designed of God for this Work to be wrought upon This he doth in their Regeneration as we shall now manifest Sect. 2 1. Regeneration in Scripture is every-where assigned to be the proper and peculiar Work of the Holy Spirit John 3. 3 4 5 6. Jesus answered and said unto Nicodemus Verily verily I say unto thee Except a Man be born again he cannot see the Kingdom of God Nicodemus saith unto him How can a Man be born when he is old can he enter the second time into his Mothers Womb and be born Jesus answered Verily verily I say unto thee Except a Man be born of Water and of the Spirit he cannot enter into the Kingdom of God That which is born of the Flesh is Flesh and that which is born of the Spirit is Spirit It was an ancient knowing Teacher of the Church of the Jews a Master in Israel whom our Blessed Saviour here discourseth withal and instructs For on the consideration of his Miracles he concluded that God was with him and came to enquire of him about the Kingdom of God Our Saviour knowing how all our Faith and Obedience to God and all our Acceptance with him depended on our Regeneration or being born again acquaints him with the necessity of it wherewith he is at first surprized Wherefore he proceeds to instruct him in the Nature of the Work whose necessity he had declared And this he describes both by the Cause and the Effect of it For the Cause of it he tells him it is wrought by Water and the Spirit By the Spirit as the Principal Efficient Cause and by Water as the Pledg Sign and Token of it in the initial Seal of the Covenant the Doctrine whereof was then preached amongst them by John the Baptist or the same thing is intended in a redoubâ—ed Expression the Spirit being signified by the Water also under which Notion he is often promised Sect. 3 Hereof then or of this Work the Holy Spirit is the Principal Efficient Cause whence he in whom it is wrought is said to be born of the Spirit v. 8. so is every one that is born of the Spirit And this is the same with what is delivered Chap. 1. v. 13. Who are born not of Blood nor of the Will of the Flesh nor of the Will of Man but of God The Natural and Carnal Means of Blood Flesh and the Will of Man are rejected wholly in this Matter and the whole Efficiency of the New Birth is ascribed unto God alone His Work answers what-ever Contribution there is unto Natural Generation from the Will and Nature of Man For these things are here compared and from its Analogie unto Natural Generation is this Work of the pirit called Regeneration so in this place is the Allusion and Opposition between these things expressed by our Saviour That which is born of the Flesh is Flesh and that which is born of the Spirit is Spirit v. 6. And herein also we have a farther Description of this Work of the Holy Spirit by its Effect or the Product of it It is Spirit a new Spiritual Being Creature Nature Life as shall be declared And because there is in it a Communication of a new Spiritual Life it is called a Vivification or quickning with respect unto the State wherein all Men
the baptismal Regeneration of Infants which is so plainly professed by the Church wherein he is dignified But this is publickly declared avowed and vended as allowed Doctrine amongst us and therefore deserves to be noticed though the person that gives it out be at irreconcilable feuds with himself and his Church Of Morality and Grace an account shall be given elsewhere At present the work of Regeneration is that which is under our consideration And concerning this those so severely treated teach no other Doctrine but what for the substance of it is received in all the Reformed Churches in Europe and which so many learned Divines of the Church of England confirmed with their suffrage at the Synod of Dort Whether this deserves all the scorn which this haughty person pours upon it by his swelling words of vanity will to indifferent persons be made appear in the ensuing discourse as also what is to be thought of the description of it given by that Author which whether it savour more of ignorance and folly or of pride and fulsom errors is hard to determine I know some words in it are used with the old Pelagian trick of ambiguity so as to be capable of having another sense and Interpretation put upon them than their present use and design will admit of But that Artifice will be immdiately rendred useless Sect. 2 There is a two-fold state of men with respect unto God which is comprehensive of all individuals in the World For all men are either Unregenerate or Regenerate There being an Affirmation and a Negation concerning the state of Regeneration in the Scripture one of them may be used concerning every capable Subject every man living is so or he is not so And herein as I suppose there is a general consent of Christians Again it is evident in the Scripture and we have proved it in our way that all men are born in an unregenerate Condition This is so positively declared by our Saviour that there is no rising up against it Joh. 3. 3 4 5 6 7 8. Now Regeneration being the delivery of men or the means of it from that state and condition wherein they are born or are by nature we cannot discover wherein it doth consist without a declaration of that state which it gives us deliverance from And this in the first place we shall insist upon at large giving an account of the state of lapsed nature under a loss of the Original Grace of God And these things I shall handle practically for the Edification of all sorts of Believers and not in the way and method of the Schools which yet shall be done elsewhere Sect. 3 In the Declaration of the state of corrupted nature after the fall and before the Reparation of it by the Grace of Jesus Christ that is the effectual Operation of the Holy Spirit The Scripture principally insists on 3 things 1 The Corruption and Depravation of the Mind which it calls by the name of Darkness and Blindness with the consequents of vanity ignorance and folly 2 The Depravation of the Will and Affections which it expresseth several wayes as by weakness or impotency and stubbornness or obstinacy 3 By the general name of death extended to the condition of the whole soul and these have various Effects and Consequences as in our explanation of them will appear Sect. 4 1. All Men by nature not inlightened not renewed in their minds by the saving effectual Operation of the Holy Spirit are in a state of Darkness and Blindness with respect unto God and Spiritual things with the way of pleasing him and living unto him Be men otherwise and in other things never so wise knowing learned and skilful in Spiritual things they are dark blind ignorant unless they are renewed in the Spirit of their Minds by the Holy Ghost This is a matter which the World cannot endure to hear of and is ready to fall into a tumult upon its mention They think it but an Artifice which some weak men have got to reflect on and condemn them who are wiser than themselves On the like occasion did the Pharisees ask of our Saviour that question with pride and scorn are we blind also Joh. 9. 40. But as he lets them know that their presumption of light and knowledg would serve only to aggravate their sin and condemnation v. 41. so he plainly tells them that notwithstanding all their boasting they had not heard the voice of God at any time nor seen his shape Joh. 5. 37. Sect. 5 Some at present talk much about the power of the intellectual faculties of our Souls as though they were neither debased corrupted impaired nor depraved All that disadvantage which is befallen our anture by the entrance of Sin is but in the disorder of the affections and the inferiour sensitive parts of the Soul which are apt to tumultuate and rebel against that poor untainted light which is in the Mind And this they speak of it without respect unto its Renovation by the Holy Spirit for if they include that also they are in their discourses most notorious confused triflers Indeed some of them write as if they had never deigned once to consult with the Scriptures and others are plainly gone over into the Tents of the Pelagians But setting aside their modern Artifices of confident boasting contemptuous reproaches and scurrilous railings it is no difficult undertaking so to demonstrate the depravation of the Minds of men by nature and their impotency thence to discern Spiritual things in a spiritual manner without a saving effectual Work of the Holy Spirit in their Renovation as that the proudest and most petulant of them shall not be able to return any thing of a solid answer thereunto And herein we plead for nothing but the known doctrine of the ancient Catholick Church declared in the writings of the most learned Fathers and Determinations of Councils against the Pelagians whose errors and heresies are again revived among us by a crew of Socinianized Arminians Sect. 6 We may to this purpose first consider the Testimonies given in the Scripture unto the Assertion as laid down in general Matth. 4. 16. The People which sat in darkness saw great Light and to them that sat in the Region and Shadow of Death Light is sprung up Of what kind this Darkness was in particular shall be afterwards declared For the present it answers what is proposed That before the Illumination given them by the Preaching of the Gospel the People mentioned sat in Darkness or lived under the Power of it And such as was the Light whereby they were relieved of the same kind was the Darkness under which they were detained And in the same sense when Christ preached the Gospel the Light shined into Darkness the Darkness comprehended it not John 1. 5. gave not place to the Light of the Truth declared by him that it might be received in the Souls of Men. The Commission which he gave to Paul
these Threatnings are his who hath right to give them and power to execute them And with his Authority his Glorious Greatness and his Infinite Power come under consideration So also doth his Goodness and Love in an especial manner with many other things even all the known Properties of his Holy Nature all which concur in giving Weight Power and Efficacy unto these Motives and Arguments Sect. 14 3. Great Power and Efficacy is added hereunto from the management of these Motives in the preaching of the Word Herein by some the Rhetorical Faculty of them by whom it is dispensed is of great consideration For hereby are they able to prevail very much on the Minds of Men. Being acquainted with the Inclinations and Dispositions of all sorts of Persons the nature of their Affections and Prejudices with the Topicks or kinds and heads of Arguments meet to affect them and prevail with them as also the wayes of insinuating Perswasive Motives to their Minds they express the whole in words elegant proper expressive and suited to allure draw and ingage them unto the Wayes and Duties proposed unto them Herein do some place the principal Use and Efficacy of the Ministry in the dispensation of the Word with me it is of no consideration For our Apostle rejects it utterly from any place in his Ministry 1 Cor. 2. 4. My Speech and my Preaching was not with enticing words of Man's Wisdom but in the demonstration of the Spirit and of Power Some of late have put in faint and weak Exceptions unto the latter Clause as though not an evidence of the powerful presence of the Spirit of God in the Dispensation of the Gospel were intended therein but the power of working Miracles contrary to the whole scope of the place and consent of the best Expositors But that by the first Clause the Perswasive Act of Humane Oratory is excluded from Use and Efficacy in the preaching of the Gospel none as yet hath had the impudence to deny But let this also be esteemed to be as useful and efficacious in this Work as to the end of Preaching in the Conversion of the Souls of Men as any can imagine it shall be granted Only I shall take leave to resolve the Efficacy of Preaching into two other Causes Sect. 15 1. The Institution of God He hath appointed the Preaching of the Word to be the Means the only outward ordinary Means for the Conversion of the Souls of Men 1 Cor. 1. 17 18 19 20. Mar. 16. 15 16. Rom. 1. 16. And the Power or Efficacy of any thing that is used unto an End in Spiritual Matters depends solely on its Divine Appointment unto that End Sect. 16 2. The Especial Gifts that the Spirit of God doth furnish the Preachers of the Gospel withal to enable them unto an effectual discharge of their Work Ephes. 4. 11 12 13. whereof we shall treat afterwards All the Power therefore that these things are accompanied withal is resolved into the sovereignty of God For he hath chosen this way of Preaching for this End and he bestows these Gifts on whom he pleaseth From these things it is that the Perswasive Motives which the Word abounds withal unto Conversion oâ— turning to God from Sin have that peculiar Efficacy on the Minds of Men which is proper unto them Sect. 17 4. We do not therefore in this Case suppose that the Motives of the Word are left unto a meer Natural Operation with respect unto the Ability of them by whom it is dispensed but moreover that it is blessed of God and accompanied with the Power of the Holy Spirit for the producing of its Effect and End upon the Souls of Men. Only the Operation of the Holy Ghost on the Minds and Wills of Men in and by these means is supposed to extend no further but unto Motives Arguments Reasons and Considerations proposed unto the Mind so to influence the Will and the Affections Hence his Operation is herein Moral and so Metaphorical not real proper and Physical Now concerning this whole Work I affirm these two things Sect. 18 1. That the Holy Spirit doth make use of it in the Regeneration or Conversion of all that are Adult and that either immediately in and by the Preaching of it or by some other Application of Light and Truth unto the Mind derived from the Word For by the Reasons Motives and Perswasive Arguments which the Word affords are our Minds affected and our Souls wrought upon in our Conversion unto God whence it becomes our reasonable Obedience And there are none ordinarily converted but they are able to give some account by what Considerations they were prevailed on thereunto But 2. We say that the whole Work or the whole of the Work of the Holy Ghost in our Conversion doth not consist herein but there is a real Physical Work whereby he infuseth a gracious Principle of Spiritual Life into all that are effectually Converted and really Regenerated and without which there is no Deliverance from the State of Sin and Death which we have described which among others may be proved by the ensuing Arguments Sect. 19 The principal Arguments in this Case will ensue in our Proofs from the Scriptures that there is a Real Physical Work of the Spirit on the Souls of Men in their Regeneration That all he doth consisteth not in this Moral Swasion the ensuing Reasons do sufficiently evince 1. If the Holy Spirit worketh no otherwise on Men in their Regeneration or Conversion but by proposing unto them and urging upon them Reasons Arguments and Motives to that purpose then after his whole Work and notwithstanding it the Will of Man remains absolutely indifferent whether it will admit of them or no or whether it will convert it self unto God upon them or no for the whole of this Work consists in proposing Objects unto the Will with respect whereunto it is left undertermined whether it will chuse and close with them or no. And indeed this is that which some plead for For they say That in all Men at least all unto whom the Gospel is Preached there is that Grace present or with them that they are able to comply with the Word if they please and so believe repent or do any Act of Obedience unto God according to his Will And if they will they can refuse to make use of this Assistance Aid Power or Grace and so continue in their Sins What this Grace is or whence Men have this Power and Ability by some is not declared Neither is it much to be doubted but that many do imagine that it is purely Natural only they will allow it to be called Grace because it is from God who made us Others acknowledg it to be the Work or Effect of Grace Internal wherein part of the difference lay between the Pelagians and Semi-pelagians of old But they all agree that it is absolutely in the Power of the Will of Man to make use of
the Souls of Believers purifying and cleansing of their Natures from the pollution and uncleanness of sin renewing in them the Image of God and thereby enabling them from a spiritual and habitual Principle of Grace to yield obedience unto God according unto the Tenor and Terms of the New Covenant by vertue of the Life and Death of Jesus Christ. Or more briefly It is the Vniversal Renovation of our Natures by the Holy Spirit into the Image of God through Jesus Christ. Hence it followes that our Holiness which is the Fruit and Effect of this Work the Work as terminated in us as it comprizeth the renewed Principle or Image of God wrought in us so it consists in an Holy Obedience unto God by Jesus Christ according to the Terms of the Covenant of Grace from the Principle of a Renewed Nature Our Apostle expresseth the whole more briefly yet namely He that is in Christ Jesus is a New Creature 2 Cor. 5. 17. For herein he expresseth both the Renovation of our Natures the Endowment of them with a new Spiritual Principle of Life and Operation with Actings towards God suitable thereunto I shall take up the first general Description of it and in the Consideration of its Parts give some account of the Nature of the Work and its Effects and then shall distinctly prove and confirm the true Nature of it wherein it is opposed or call into question Sect. 3 1 It is as was before proved and is by all confessed the Work in us of the Spirit of God It is the Renovation of the Holy Ghost whereby we are saved And a reall internall powerfull physical work it is as we have proved before abundantly and shall afterwards more fully confirm He doth not make us holy only by perswading us so to be He doth not only require us to be holy propose unto us Motives unto Holiness give us Convictions of its necessity and thereby excite us unto the pursuit and attainment of it though this he doth also by the Word and Ministration thereof It is too high an impudency for any one to pretend an owning of the Gospel and yet to deny a Work of the Holy Ghost in our Sanctification And therefore both the Old and New Pelagians did and do avow a Work of his herein But what is it that really they ascribe unto him meerly the Exciting our own Abilities aiding and assisting us in and unto the Exercise of our own native Power which when all is done leaves the Work to be our own and not his and to us must the Glory and Prayse of it be ascribed But we have already sufficiently proved that the things thus promised of God and so effected are really wrought by the exceeding greatness of the Power of the Spirit of God and this will yet afterwards be made more particularly to appear Sect. 4 2 This Work of Sanctification differs from that of Regeneration as on other Accounts so especially on that of the Manner of their being wrought The work of Regeneration is Instantaneous consisting in one single creating Act. Hence it is not capable of Degrees in any subject No One is more or less Regenerate than Another every one in the world is absolutely so or not so and that equally although there are Degrees in their state on other Reasons But this work of Sanctification is progressive and admits of Degrees One may be more sanctified and more holy than another who is yet truely sanctified and truely holy It is begun at once and carryed on gradually But this Observation being of great importance and such as if rightly weighed will contribute much Light unto the Nature of the whole work of Sanctification and Holiness I shall divert in this Chapter unto such an Explanation and Confirmation of it as may give an understanding and furtherance herein 1. An Encrease and Growth in Sanctification or Holiness is frequently in the Scripture enjoyed us and frequently promised unto us So speaks the Apostle Peter in a way of Command 2 Pet. 3. 18. Fall not be not cast down from your own steadfastness but grow or encrease in Grace It is not enough that we decay not in our Spiritual Condition that we be not diverted and carryed off from a steady Course in Obedience by the Power of Temptations but an endeavour after an Improvement an Encrease a thriving in Grace that is in Holiness is required of us And a Complyance with this Command is that which our Apostle so commendeth in the Thessalonians 2 Epist. Chap. 1. v. 3. namely the exceeding growth of their Faith and abounding of their Love that is the thriving and encrease of those Graces in them that which is called increasing with the increase of God Col. 2. 19. or the Encrease in Holiness which God requires accepts approves by supplyes of spiritual strength from Jesus Christ our Head as it is there expressed The Work of Holiness in its beginning is but like seed cast into the Earth namely the seed of God whereby we are born again And it is known how seed that is cast into the Earth doth grow and encrease Being variously cherished and nourished it is in its nature to take root and to spring up bringing forth fruit So is it with the Principle of Grace and Holiness It is small at first but being received in good and honest Hearts made so by the Spirit of God and there nourished and cherished it takes root and brings forth fruit And both these even the first planting and the encrease of it are both equally from God by his Spirit He that begins this good Work doth also perform it to the Day of Jesus Christ Phil. 1. 6. And this he doth two wayes 1 By Encreasing and Strengthning those Graces of Holiness which we have received and been engaged in the exercise of There are some Graces whose Exercise doth not depend on any outward Occasions but they are and that in their actual Exercise absolutely necessary unto the least Degree of the Life of God such are Faith and Love No man doth no man can live to God but in the Exercise of these Graces Whatever Dutyes towards God men may perform if they are not enlivened by Faith and Love they belong not unto that Spiritual Life whereby we live to God And these Graces are capable of Degrees and so of Increase For so we read expresly of little Faith and great Faith weak and strong Faith both true and the same in the substance but differing in Degrees So also is there fervent Love and that which comparatively is but cold These Graces therefore in carrying on the work of Sanctification are gradually encreased So the Disciples prayed our Saviour that he would encrease their Faith Luke 17. 5. That is adde unto its Light confirm it in its Assent multiply its Acts and make it strong against its Assaults that it might work more effectually in difficult Duties of Obedience which they had an especial regard unto as is
needfull unto them The Spirit is promised as a Comforter unto Believers as engaged in the Profession of the Gospel and meeting with Conflicts inward and outward on the Account thereof The first Promise of the Holy Ghost as a Comforter was made to the Disciples when their Hearts were filled with sorrow on the departure of Christ and this is the Measure of all others John 16. 7. And this is evident both from the Nature of the thing it self and from all the Promises which are given concerning him to this End and Purpose And it will be wholly in vain at any time to apply spiritual Consolations unto any other sort of Persons All men who have any interest in Christian Religion when they fall into Troubles and Distresses be they of what sort they will are ready to enquire after the things that may relieve and refresh them And whereas there are many things in the Word suited unto the Relief and Consolation of the distressed they are apt to apply them unto themselves and others also are ready to comply with them in the same Charitable Office as they suppose But no true Spiritual Consolation was ever administred by the Word unto any but Exercised Believers however the Minds of men may be for the present a little relieved and their Affections refreshed by the things that are spoken unto them out of the Word For the Word is the Instrument of the Holy Ghost nor hath it any Efficacy but as he is pleased to use it and apply it And he useth it unto this End and unto no other as being promised as a Spirit of Consolation only to sanctified Believers And therefore when Persons fall under spiritual Convictions and Trouble of Mind or Conscience upon the Account of Sin and Guilt it is not our first work to tender Consolation unto them whereby many in that Condition are deluded but to lead them on to Believing that being justified by Faith they may have peace with God which is their proper Relief And in that state God is abundantly willing that they should receive strong Consolation even as many as fly for Refuge to the Hope that is set before them 4 The Spirit of God is promised and received as to Gifts for the Edification of the Church This is that which is intended Acts 2. 38 39. And his whole Work herein we shall consider in its proper place The Rule and Measure of the Communication of the Spirit for Regeneration is Election The Rule and Measure of the Communication of the Spirit for Sanctification is Regeneration And the Rule and Measure of his Communication as a Spirit of Consolation is Sanctification with the Afflictions Temptations and Troubles of them that are sanctified What then is the Rule and Measure of his Communication as a Spirit of Edification I answer Profession of the Truth of the Gospel and its Worship with a Call unto the benefiting of others 1 Cor. 12. 7. And here two Rules must be observed 1 That he carryes not his Gifts for Edification out of the Pale of the Church or Profession of the Truth and Worship of the Gospel 2 That he useth a Soveraign and not a Certain Rule in this Communication 1 Cor. 12. 11 13. so as that he is not wanting unto any true Professors in proportion to their Calls and Opportunities Sect. 4 2 ly Whereas the Spirit of Sanctification is promised only unto them that are Regenerate and do believe May we in our Prayers and Supplications for him plead those Qualifications as Arguments and Motives for the further Communications of him unto us Ans. 1. We cannot properly plead any Qualification in our selves as though God were Obliged with respect unto them to give a man encrease of Grace ex congruo much less ex condigno When we have done all we are unprofitable Servants As we begin so we must proceed with God meerly on the Account of Soveraign Grace 2. We may plead the Faithfulness and Righteousness of God as engaged in his Promises We ought to pray that he would not forsake the Work of his own hands that he who hath begun the good work in us would perfect it unto the day of Jesus Christ that with respect unto his Covenant and Promises he would preserve that New Creature that Divine Nature which he hath formed and implanted in us 3. Upon a sense of the Weakness of any Grace we may humbly profess our sincerity therein and pray for its encrease So cryed the poor man with tears Lord I believe help thou mine unbelief Matth. 9. 24. And the Apostles in their Prayer Lord increase our Faith Luke 17. 5. owned the Faith they had and prayed for its encrease by fresh supplyes of the Holy Spirit Again 3 ly May Believers in Trouble pray for the Spirit of Consolation with respect unto their Troubles it being unto such that he is promised Ans. 1 They may do so directly and ought so to doe yea when they do it not it is a sign they turn aside unto broken Cisterns that will yield them no Relief 2 Troubles are of two sorts Spiritual and Temporal Spiritual Troubles are so either Subjectively such as are all inward Darknesses and Distresses on the Account of sin or 2 ly Objectively such are all Persecutions for the Name of Christ and the Gospel It is principally with respect unto these that the Spirit is promised as a Comforter and with regard unto them are we principally to pray for him as so promised 3 In those outward Troubles which are Common unto Believers with other men as the death of Relations Losses of Estate or Liberty they may and ought to pray for the Spirit as a Comforter that the Consolations of God administred by him may out-ballance their outward Troubles and keep up their hearts unto other Dutyes 4 ly May all Sincere Professors of the Gospel pray for the Spirit with respect unto his Gifts for the Edification of others seeing unto such he is promised for that End Ans. 1. They may do so but with the ensuing Limitations 1 They must do it with express Submission to the Sovereignty of the Spirit himself who divideth to every one as he will 2 With respect unto that Station and Condition wherein they are placed in the Church by the Providence and call of God Private persons have no warrant to pray for Ministerial Gifts such as should carry them out of their Stations without a Divine Direction going before them 3 That their End be good and right to use them in their respective places unto Edification So ought Parents and Masters of Families and all Members of Churches to pray for those Gifts of the Spirit whereby they may fill up the Dutyes of their Places and Relations From the Consideration of this Order of the Dispensation of the Spirit we may be directed how to pray for him which we are both commanded and encouraged to doe Luke 11. 13. For we are to pray for him with respect unto those
himself that he might redeem us from all Iniquity and purifie unto himself a peculiar people zealous of Good Works Tit. 2. 14. For the Blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth us from all our sins 1 Joh. 1. 7. For he loved us and washed us from our sins in his own Blood Rev. 1. 5. The Blood of Jesus Christ purgeth our Consciences from dead works to serve the living God Heb. 9. 14. Respect I acknowledge in some of these places may be had unto the Expiation of the Guilt of sin by the Blood of Christ as offered in Sacrifice for so in himself he purged our sins Heb. 1. 3. But as they all suppose a Defilement in sin so the most of them respect its cleansing by the Application of the Vertue of the Blood of Christ unto our Souls and Consciences in our Sanctification And 3 moreover where Sanctification is enjoyned us as our Duty it is prescribed under this Notion of cleansing our selves from sin Wash you make you clean Isa. 1. 16. O Jerusalem wash thine Heart from wickedness that thou mayest be saved Jer. 4. 14. Having therefore these promises let us cleanse our selves from all filthiness of the flesh and the spirit perfecting holiness in the fear of God 2 Cor. 7. 1. Every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself 1 Joh. 3. 3. Psal. 119. 9. 2 Tim. 2. 20. and the like Expressions of this Duty occur in other places Sect. 2 4 Answerable unto these Promises and Precepts and in the Confirmation of them we have the Institution of the Ordinance of Baptisme the Outward way and Means of our Initiation into the Lord Christ and the Profession of the Gospel the great Representation of the Inward washing of Regeneration Tit. 3. 5. Now this Baptisme in the First place expresseth the outward putting away the filth of the flesh by external washing with material water 1 Pet. 3. 21. And that which answers hereunto can be in nothing but the inward purifying of our Souls and Consciences by the Grace of the Spirit of God that is saith our Apostle the putting off the Body of the sins of the flesh Col. 2. 11. which contains the whole Defilement and Corruption of sin And this also was typed out unto us by all the Legal Purifications of Old Wherefore we shall do three things in the Explication of this first Branch of our Sanctification 1 Shew That there is a spiritual Pollution and Defilement in Sin 2 Declare What it is or wherein it doth consist And 3 Manifest how it is removed or washed away and Believers made Holy thereby Sect. 3 For the First it needs not much to be insisted on Our Minds and their Conceptions are in these things to be regulated by Divine Revelations and Expressions And in the whole Representation made unto us in the Scripture of the Nature of Sin of our Concernment therein of the Respect of God towards us on the Account thereof of the Way and Means whereby we may be delivered from it there is nothing so much inculcated as its being filthy abominable full of defilement and pollution which is set forth both in the plain Expressions and various Similitudes On the Account hereof is it said to be abhorred of God the abominable thing which his Soul hateth which he cannot behold which he cannot but hate and detest and is compared to Blood Wounds Sores Leprosie Scum loathsome Diseases With respect hereunto is it so frequently declared that we must be washed purged purified cleansed as in the Testimonyes before cited before we can be accepted with him or be brought to the Enjoyment of him And the work of the Spirit of Christ in the Application of his Blood unto us for the taking away of sin is compared to the Effects of Fire Water Sope Nitre every thing that hath a purifying cleansing Faculty in it These things so frequently occurr in the Scripture and Testimonies concerning them are so multiplyed that it is altogether needless to produce particular Instances This is evident and undenyable that the Scripture which regulates our Conceptions about Spiritual things expressly declares all sin to be uncleanness and every sinner to be defiled thereby and all unsanctified persons to be wholly unclean and how far these Expressions are Metaphorical or wherein the Metaphor doth consist must be afterwards declared Besides there is no Notion of Sin and Holiness whereof Believers have a more sensible spiritual Experience For although they may not or do not comprehend the Metaphysical Notion or Nature of this Pollution and Defilement of Sin yet they are sensible of the Effects it produceth in their Minds and Consciences They find That in sin which is attended with shame and self-Abhorrency and requires deep Abasement of Soul They discern in it or in themselves on the Account of it an unsuitableness unto the Holiness of God and an unfitness thereon for Communion with him Nothing do they more earnestly labour after in their Prayers and Supplications than a cleansing from it by the Blood of Christ nor are any Promises more precious unto them than those which express their Purification and purging from it For these are they which next unto their Interest in the Attonement made by the Sacrifice of Christ give them boldness in their approaches unto God So our Apostle fully expresseth it Heb. 10. 19 20 21 22. Having therefore boldness to enter into the Holiest by the Blood of Jesus by a New and Living Way which he hath consecrated for us through the Veyl that is to say his flesh and having an High Priest over the House of God let us draw near with a true Heart in full Assurance of Faith having our Hearts sprinkled from an evil Conscience and our Bodies washed with pure Water The Foundation of all our Confidence in our Access unto God the Right and Title we have to approach unto him is laid in the Blood of Christ the Sacrifice he offered the Attonement he made and the Remission of sins which he obtained thereby which Effect of it he declares v. 19. Having boldness by the Blood of Jesus The way of our Access is by pleading an Interest in his Death and Suffering whereby an Admission and Acceptance is consecrated for us v. 20. by a new and living way which he hath consecrated And our encouragement to make use of this Foundation and to engage in this Way is taken from his discharge of the Office of an High-Priest in our behalf And having an High Priest over the House of God let us draw near But besides all this when we come to an Actual Address unto God that we may make use of the Boldness given us in the full Assurance of Faith it is moreover required that our hearts be sprinkled and our bodyes washed that is that our whole Persons be purifyed from the Defilement of sin by the Sanctification of the Spirit And this Experience of Believers we cannot only oppose unto and plead against the stupidity of such
the Author and Cause of Mortification in us 21 The Manner of the Operation of the Spirit in the Mortification of Sin 22 Particular Means of the Mortification of Sin 23 Duties necessary unto the Mortification of Sin directed unto by the Holy Ghost 24 Mistakes and Errors of Persons failing in this matter 28 How Spiritual Duties are to be managed that Sin may be mortified 33 Influence of the Vertue of the Death of Christ as applyed by the Holy Spirit into the Mortification of Sin Sect. 1 THere is yet another Part or Effect of our Sanctification by the Holy Ghost which consisteth in and is called Mortification of Sin As what we have already insisted on concerneth the Improvement and Practice of the Principle of Grace wherewithall Believers are indued so what we now propose concerneth the Weakning Impairing and Destroying of the Contrary Principle of Sin in its Root and Fruits in its Principle and Actings And whereas the Spirit of God is every where said to sanctifie us we our selves are commanded and said constantly to mortifie our Sins For Sanctification expresseth Grace communicated and received in general Mortification Grace as so received improved and acted unto a certain End And I shall be brief in the handling of it because I have formerly published a small Discourse on the same Subject And there are two things that I shall speak unto 1 The Nature of the Duty it self 2 The Manner how it is wrought in us by the Holy Ghost which I principally intend Sect. 2 It is known that this Duty is frequently enjoyned and prescribed unto us Col. 3. 5. Mortifie therefore your Members that are on the Earth Fornication Vncleanness inordinate Affection evil Concupiscence and Covetousness which is Iâ—â—atry 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 may be supplyed Mortifie your Members that are on the Earth that is your carnal earthly Affections avoyding or by avoyding Fornication c. And so a distinction is made between carnal Affections and their Fruits Or the special sins mentioned are instances of these carnal Affections Mortifie your carnal Affections namely Fornication and the like wherein there is a Metonymy of the Effect for the Cause And they are called our Members 1 Because as the whole Principle of sin and Course of sinning which proceedeth from it being called the Body of Sin Rom. 6. 6. or the Body of the Sins of the Flesh Col. 2. 11. with respect thereunto these particular Lusts are here called the members of that Body Mortifie your members For that he intends not the Parts or Members of our Natural Bodyes as though they were to be destroyed as they seem to imagine who place Mortification in outward Afflictions and Macerations of the Body he addes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that are on the Earth that is Earthly carnal and sensual 2 These Affections and Lusts the Old man that is our depraved Nature useth naturally and readily as the Body doth its Members And which addes Efficacy unto the Allusion by them it draws the very Members of the Body into a complyance with it and the service of it against which we are cautioned by our Apostle Rom. 6. 12. Let not therefore sin reign in your mortal Bodies that is our natural Bodies that ye should obey it in the Lusts thereof which Exhortation he pursues v. 19. as ye have yielded your Members servants unto Vncleanness and to Iniquity unto Iniquity even so now yield your Members servants to Righteousness unto Holiness Which some neglecting do take the Members of Christ that is of their own Bodies which are the Members of Christ and make them the members of an Harlot 1 Cor. 6. 15. And many other Commands there are to the same purpose which will afterwards occurre Sect. 3 And concerning this great Duty we may consider three things 1. The Name of it whereby it is exressed 2. The Nature of it wherein it consists 3. The Means and Way whereby it is effected and wrought First For the Name it is two wayes expressed and both of them Metaphorical 1 By 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which we render to mortifie our selves The first is used Col. 3. 5. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which is mortifie that is Extinguish and destroy all that Force and Vigour of Corrupted Nature which enclines to earthly carnal things opposite unto that spiritual Heavenly Life and its actings which we have in and from Christ as was before declared 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is eneco morte macto to kill to affect with or destroy by Death But yet this word is used by our Apostle not absolutely to destroy and to kill so as that which is so mortified or killed should no more have any Being but that it should be rendred useless as unto what its strength and vigour would produce So he expresseth the Effects of it in the passive word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Rom. 4. 19. He considered not his own Body now dead now mortified The Body of Abraham was not then absolutely dead only the natural Force and Vigour of it was exceedingly abated And so he seems to mollifie this Expression Heb. 11. 12. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which we well render of one and him as good as Dead 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 intimating a Respect unto the thing treated of So that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to mortifie signifies a continued Act in taking away the Power and Force of any thing untill it comes to be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 dead unto some certain Ends or Purposes as we shall see it is in the Mortification of sin Rom. 8. 13. If ye through the Spirit doe mortifie the Deeds of the Body ye shall live 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 another word to the same purpose it signifies as the other doth to put to death But it is used in the Present Tense to denote that it is a work which must be alwayes doing If ye do mortifie that is If you are alwayes and constantly imployed in that work And what the Apostle here calls 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Deeds of the Body he therein expresseth the Effect for the Cause Metonymically For he intends 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as he expresseth the same thing Gal. 5. 24. The Flesh with its Affections and Lusts whence all the corrupt Deeds wherein the Body is instrumental do arise Sect. 4 2 The same Duty with relation unto the Death of Christ as the Meritorious Efficient and Exemplary Cause is expressed by Crucifying Rom. 6. 6. Our old Man is Crucifyed with him Gal. 2. 20. I am crucified with Christ Chap. 5. 20. They that are Christs have crucified the Flesh with the Affections and Lusts. Chap. 6. 14. By the Lord Jesus Christ the World is crucified unto me and I unto the World Now as perhaps there may be something intimated herein of the Manner of mortification of sin which is Gradually carryed on unto its final Destruction as a Man dyes on the Cross yet that which is principally
Prayes as he ought no man joyns in Prayer with another who prayes as he ought but these Petitions are a part of his Prayer Especially will they be so and ought they so to be when the Mind is peculiarly engaged in the Design of destroying sin And these Petitions or Requests are as far as they are gracious and effectual wrought in us by the Holy Ghost who therein maketh intercession for us according to the Will of God And hereby doth he carry on this work of the Mortification of sin for his Work it is He makes us to put up prevalent Requests unto God for such continual supplyes of Grace whereby it may be constantly kept under and at length destroyed And this is the first way whereby this Duty hath an Influence into Mortification namely Morally and by way of Impetration Sect. 32 Secondly This Duty hath a real Efficiency unto the same End It doth its self when rightly performed and duly attended unto mightily prevail unto the weakning and Destruction of sin For in and by fervent Prayer especially when it is designed unto this End the Habit Frame and Inclinations of the Soul unto universal Holiness with a Detestation of all sin are increased cherished and strengthened The soul of a Believer is never raised unto a higher Intension of spirit in the pursuit of love unto and delight in Holiness nor is more conformed unto it or cast into the mould of it than it is in Prayer And frequency in this Duty is a principal means to fix and consolidate the mind in the form and likeness of it And hence doe Believers oft-times continue in and come off from Prayer above all Impressions from sin as to Inclinations and Complyances Would such a frame alwayes continue how happy were we But abiding in the Duty is the best way of reaching out after it I say therefore that this Duty is really Efficient of the Mortification of sin because therein all the Graces whereby it is opposed and weakened are excited exercised and improved unto that End as also the Detestation and Abhorency of sin is increased in us And where this is not so there are some secret flaws in the Prayers of men which it will be their wisdom to find out and heal Sect. 33 Fourthly The Holy Spirit carrieth on this work by applying in an especial manner the death of Christ unto us for that end And this is another thing which because the World understandeth not it doth despise But yet in whomsoever the Death of Christ is not the death of sin he shall dye in his sins To evidence this Truth we may observe 1 in general That the Death of Christ hath an especial influence into the Mortification of sin without which it will not be Mortified This is plainly enough testified unto in the Scripture By his Cross that is his Death on the Cross We are crucified unto the world Gal. 6. 14. Our old man is crucified with him that the Body of sin might be destroyed Rom. 6. 6. That is sin is Mortified in us by vertue of the Death of Christ 2 In the Death of Christ with respect unto sin there may be considedered 1. His Oblation of himself and 2. The Application thereof unto us By the first it is that our sins are expiated as unto their Guilt but from the latter it is that they are actually subdued as to their Power For it is by an Interest in and a participation of the Benefits of his Death which we call the Application of it unto us Hereon are we said to be buried with him and to rise with him whereof our Baptism is a pledge Rom. 6. 3 4. not in an outward Representation as some imagine of being dipped under the water and taken up again which were to make one sign the sign of another but in a powerful Participation of the vertue of the Death and Life of Christ in a death unto sin and newness of life in Holy Obedience which Baptisme is a pledge of as it is a token of our initiation and implanting into him So are we said to be baptized into his death or into the likeness of it that is into its power ver 3. 3 The old man is said to be crucified with Christ or sin to be Mortified by the Death of Christ as was in part before observed on two Accounts 1 Of Conformity Christ is the Head the Beginning or Idea of the New Creation The first born of every Creature Whatever God designeth unto us therein he first exemplified in Jesus Christ And we are predestinated to be conformed to the Image of his Son Rom. 8. 29. Hereof the Apostle gives us an express instance in the Resurrection Christ the first Fruits afterwards they that are Christs at his coming 1 Cor. 15. 23. It is so in all things all that is wrought in us it is in resemblance and conformity unto Christ. Particularly we are by Grace planted into the likeness of his Death Rom. 6. 5. being made conformable unto his Death Phil. 3. 10. and so to be dead with Christ Col. 2. 20. Now this conformity is not in our Natural Death nor in our being put to death as he was for it is that which we are made partakers of in this Life and that in a way of Grace and Mercy But Christ died for sin for our sin which was the meritorious procuring cause thereof And he lived again by the Power of God A likeness and conformity hereunto God will work in all Believers There is by nature a Life of sin in them as hath been declared This Life must be destroyed sin must dye in us and we thereby become dead unto sin And as he rose again So are we to be quickened in and unto newness of life In this death of sin consists that Mortification which we treat about and without which we cannot be conformed unto Christ in his Death which we are designed unto And the same Spirit which wrought these things in Christ will in the pursuit of his Design work that which answers unto them in all his Members Sect. 34 2 In respect of Efficacy vertue goeth forth from the Death of Christ for the subduing and Destruction of sin It was not designed to be a dead unactive passive Example but it is accompanied with a Power conforming and changing us into its own likeness It is the Ordinance of God unto that End which he therefore gives efficacy unto It is by a fellowship or participation in his sufferings that we are made conformable to his Death Phil. 3. 10. this 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is an interest in the Benefit of his suffering we also are made partakers thereof This makes us conformable to his Death in the Death of sin in us The Death of Christ is designed to be the Death of sin let them who are dead in sin deride it whilest they please If Christ had not dyed sin had never dyed in any sinner unto Eternity Wherefore that
otherwise done but by Holiness of Heart and Life by Conformity to God in our Souls and living unto God in fruitfull Obedience Can men devise a more effectual Expedient to cast Reproach upon him than to live in Sin to follow divers lusts and pleasures to preferre the World and present things before Eternity and in the mean time to Profess That the Life of Christ is their Example as all unholy Professors and Christians doe Is not this to bear witness with the World against him that indeed his Life was unholy Surely it is high time for such Persons to leave the Name of Christians or the Life of Sin It is therefore alone in Conformity to him in the Holiness we are pressing after that we can give him any Glory on the Account of his Life being our Example Sect. 18 2 We can give him no Glory unless we bear Testimony unto his Doctrine that it is Holy Heavenly filled with Divine Wisdom and Grace as we make it our Rule And there is no other way whereby this may be done but by holy Obedience expressing the Nature End and Vsefulness of it Titus 2. 11 12. And indeed the Holy Obedience of Believers as hath been declared at large before is a thing quite of another Kind than any thing in the World which by the Rules Principles and Light of Nature we are directed unto or instructed in It is Spiritual Heavenly Mysterious filled with Principles and Actings of the same Kind with those whereby our Communion with God in Glory unto Eternity shall be maintained Now although the Life of Evangelical Holiness be in its Principle Form and chief Actings secret and hidden hid with Christ in God from the Eyes of the World so that the Men thereof neither see nor know nor discern the spiritual Life of a Believer in its Being Form and Power yet there are alwayes such evident appearing fruits of it as are sufficient for their Conviction that the Rule of it which is the Doctrine of Christ alone is Holy Wise and Heavenly And Multitudes in all Ages have been won over unto the Obedience of the Gospel and Faith in Christ Jesus by the Holy Fruitfull Usefull Conversation of such as have expressed the Power and Purity of his Doctrine in this Kind Sect. 19 3 The Power and Efficacy of the Death of Christ as for other Ends so to purifie us from all Iniquity and to purge our Consciences from dead Works that we may serve the living God is herein also required The World indeed sometimes riseth unto that height of Pride and contemptuous Atheisme as to despise all Appearance and Profession of Purity But the Truth is if we are not cleansed from our Sins in the Blood of Christ if we are not thereby purified from Iniquity we are an Abomination unto God and shall be Objects of his Wrath for ever However the Lord Christ requireth no more of his Disciples in this matter unto his Glory but that they Profess that his Blood cleanseth them from their sins and evidence the Truth of it by such Wayes and Means as the Gospel hath appointed unto that End If their Testimony herein unto the Efficacy of his Death be not received be despised by the World and so at present no apparent Glory redound unto him thereby he is satisfied with it as knowing that the Day is coming wherein he will call over these things again when the Rejecting of this Testimony shall be an Aggravation of Condemnation unto the unbelieving World Sect. 20 I suppose the Evidence of this last Argument is plain and exposed unto all it is briefly this Without the Holiness prescribed in the Gospel we give nothing of that Glory unto Jesus Christ which he indispensibly requireth And if men will be so sottishly foolish as to expect the greatest Benefits and Advantages by the Mediation of Christ namely Pardon of Sin Salvation Life and Immortality whilest they neglect and refuse to give him any Revenue of Glory for all he hath done for them we may bewail their Folly but cannot prevent their Ruine He saves us freely by his Grace but he requires that we should express a sense of it in ascribing unto him the Glory that is his due And let no man think this is done in Wordy Expressions it is no otherwise effected but by the Power of an Holy Conversation shewing forth the Prayses of him who hath called us out of Darkness into his marvellous Light Nay there is more in it also if any one profess himself to be a Christian that is a Disciple of Jesus Christ to follow the Example of his Life to Obey his Doctrine to express the Efficacy of his Death and continue in an unholy Life he is a false Traytor to him and gives in his Testimony on the side of the World against Him and all that he hath done for us And it is indeed the flagitious Lives of professed Christians that have brought the Life Doctrine and Person of our Lord Jesus Christ into Contempt in the World And I advise all that read or hear of these things diligently and carefully to study the Gospel that they may receive thence an Evidence of the Power Truth Glory and Beauty of Christ and his Wayes for he that should consider the Conversation of men for his Guide will be hardly able to determine which he should choose whether to be a Pagan a Mahumetan or a Christian. And shall such Persons by reason of whom the Name of Christ is dishonoured and blasphemed continually expect Advantage by him or Mercy from him Will men yet think to live in Sensuality Pride Ambition Covetousness Malice Revenge Hatred of all Good men and Contempt of Purity and to enjoy Life Immortality and Glory by Christ Who can sufficiently bewayl the dreadfull Effects of such an horrid Infatuation God teach us all duely to consider that all the Glory and Honour of Jesus Christ in the World with respect unto us depends on our Holiness and not on any other thing either that we are have or may doe If therefore we have any Love unto him any spark of Gratitude for his unspeakable Love Grace Condescension Sufferings with the Eternal Fruits of them any Care about or Desire of his Glory and Honour in the World if we would not be found the most hatefull Traytors at the last Day unto his Crown Honour and Dignity if we have any Expectation of Grace from him or Advantage by him here or hereafter let us labour to be Holy in all manner of Conversation that we may thereby adorn his Doctrine express his Vertues and Prayses and grow up into Conformity and Likeness unto him who is the First-born and Image of the Invisible God 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 FINIS AN Alphabetical TABLE of some Especial Matters contained in this Book A. Page Section ABasement in the Remembrance of the Defilement of Sin a necessary Duty 401 14 No Ability in Sinners to purge themselves from their Natural Pollution 379
Mistakes about Ability to comply with Gods Commands 544 20 Abuse of the best Duties Possible 398 13 Abuse of spiritual Gifts 1 1 Abuse of Eternal Love devilish 525 14 Acquaintance with the Pollution of Sin necessary 394 11 Every Gracious Act of the Will wrought by the Holy Spirit 470 10 Difference between the Act of the Spirit in forming the Humane Nature of Christ and the Act of the Son in assuming it 133 12 To be acted by the Spirit what it is 468 11 How the Holy Prophets were Acted by the Spirit 104 10 All Actings of the Person of the Son of God towards the Humane Nature voluntary 129 6 Actings of the Holy Spirit not ascribed unto him exclusively 130 9 Internal Actings of the blessed Trinity where one Person is the Object of the Love of another natural and necessary to the Being of God 45 5 External Actings of one Divine Person towards another of what sort 46 5 All Actions internal and external to be tryed by the Word 412 3 Internal Acts of the Holy Trinity how undivided 131 9 All Acts of Natural Life from God 465 6 No Vital Acts under the Power of Death Spiritual 246 21 Act of the Holy Ghost in forming the Body of Christ a Creating Act. 132 Two-fold Event of Mens falls into Actual Sins 291 292 7 8 Actual Sins how they spring from Original Sins 289 5 Actual supplyes of Grace necessary to the Mortification of Sin 486 23 Actual assistance of Grace necessary unto Obedience 548 27 Adam how he had the Spirit of God in the state of Innocency 76 14 Adam had many things revealed unto him 100 6 Adherence and Assimulation Effects of of Love 496 Adjuncts of Divine Inspiration 103 9 Admiration an effect of love 514 26 Administration of Grace not equal at all times 547 24 Advantage and Priviledge in the Participation of the Gifts of the Spirit 83 7 Advantage of the New Testament in our Access to God 155 2 Advantage of Duties vitiated in their Performance 249 28 Great Advantage of spiritual Experience 342 Affections wrought upon and excited by Convictions 200 18 Affections fixed by Grace on spiritual things 201 18 Affections when renewed work sensibly 353 Affections how depraved how sanctified 285 57 Affections the Means of Convictions 294 13 Afflictions how they purge away sin 391 9 Afflictions how sanctified and made usefull ibid. Various Aggravations of the Defilement of Sin 379 Aggravations of sin in them who have received a Principle of Grace 549 29 All personal Properties assigned unto the Holy Spirit in the Scripture 48 8 Alienation from the Life of God what it is 216 22 Alienation of the Minds of men from the Gospel on what Ground 233 54 Allusion unto Local Motion in sending of the Spirit whence taken 84 8 Angels Gods Host. 70 6 Ministry of Angels about the Body of Christ when dead 147 10 Anointing at the Inauguration of Governours what it signified 117 The Spirit of Antichrist what it is 41 17 An Anti-Spirit set up in Opposition to the Spirit of God 19 23 Apostasie of the Church in several Ages with respect unto the Persons of the Holy Trinity 24 27 Apostasie of Christian Churches in the Rejection of the Holy Spirit and his Work 25 27 Apostasie from beginnings of Conversion how brought on 300 24 Appellations or Titles of the Holy Spirit in the Scripture 34 9 Appearances of the Holy Spirit under visible Signs 52 15 Appearances of Persons in Divine Visions 108 14 All Apprehensions of Divine Operations to be tryed by the Rule of the Word 187 Apprehension of Eternal danger from the Law before Conversion 308 31 Application of the Blood of Christ for the Cleansing of Sin 371 1 Application to the Blood of Christ for the Cleansing of Sin and the Nature of it 387 388 389 s. 5. 400 405 Applications of the Death of Christ unto the subduing of Sin wherein it consists 494 495 36 Arguments in Prayer for the further Communications of the Spirit 359 4 Weak Arguments for Holiness prejudicial to it 498 2 Arguments to prove the Divine Personality of the Holy Ghost 47 48 c. 8 Articulate Voyces in Divine Revelations how formed 106 12 Internal Assistance of the Spirit of God necessary to every Act of Obedience 465 5 Assumption the only immediate Act of the Person of the Son towards the Humane Nature 129 4 Assurance accompanying Divine Revelations 104 10 Assurance of Success and final preservation an Encouragement to Duties of Holiness 529 21 Assurance of the End an Encouragement unto the use of the Means 530 23 Attonement or Satisfaction not required of Sinners 331 13 False Wayes of making Attonement the Ground of all Superstition ibid. Vain Attempts for the Mortification of Sin 478 8 Auricular Confession an Invention to accommodate the Inclinations of all Flesh 380 Authority in giving the Spirit respects his Gifts and Grace 81 4 Authority of God gives Efficacy to the Word 259 13 Authority of God to be alwayes considered in his Commands 537 10 Sense of the Authority of God to be carried into all our Occasions 542 17 B. Baalam how a Prophet and how a Sorcerer 110 17 Baptized into the Name of the Holy Spirit as into the Father and Son 51 14 Baptisme of Christ the time of his being anointed unto his Prophetical Office 139 140 5 Baptism is not Regeneration 179 15 All that are duely Baptized are not Regenerate 180 16 Baptism how it expresseth our Sanctification 371 2 Baptism washeth not away Sin virtute Operis operati 380 Beauty of the Soul in its Conformity unto God 376 5 Beginning and Ending of the Gift of Prophesie 100 6 Beginnings of Holiness small like seed 340 4 Beginning of Good from our selves a Pelagian Fiction 467 9 Believers alone receive the Spirit in what sense 82 5 Believers much unacquainted with the Nature of Holiness and their own interest therein 327 10 Believers the only Subject of Sanctification 356 6 Benefit and use of the Word Preached 341 5 Benignity and Charity the great Resemblances of God 515 28 Blasphemy of the Jewes against the Name of Jesus 3 3 Blasphemy against the Holy Ghost 64 29 Blindness of may about the Nature of Sin 479 11 The Blood of Christ how it cleanseth from sin 384 3 The Blood of Christ that purgeth sin is the Blood of his sacrifice 385 4 Blood in Sacrifice both Offered and Sprinkled 385 4 The Blood of Christs Sacrifice alwayes in the same condition as to Efficacy 386 Boasting and Despondency prevented by the same Means 345 6 Bodily strength given by the Spirit of God 118 24 Bodily Absence of Christ how supplyed by the Holy Spirit 161 6 Body of Christ formed of the substance of the Blessed Virgin Reasons thereof 132 The Body how depraved by Sin 366 The Body how sanctified 368 Bounty expressed in pouring forth the Spirit 87 13 The Spirit how called the Breath of Gods Mouth 39 13 How God Breathed into
of Christ in the State of the Dead 146 10 Death Natural what it is 240 5 Death Natural and Spiritual wherein they differ and wherein they agree 243 13 Death of Christ applyed by the Spirit for the Mortification of Sin 492 33 Spiritual Death Two-fold 239 2 Decayes in Grace to be found in many 353 Deceits practical about Holiness 420 Dedication unto God in what sence it is Sanctification 324 7 Deep Things of God what and how searched by the Spirit 56 19 Defilement of Sin wherein it doth consist 374 4 Degrees of Prophecy fancied by the Jewes rejected 105 11 Degrees in Holiness and growth in Grace whereon they do depend 167 10 Deliverances means of Conviction 294 13 Delight an Effect of Love 514 27 Delight in Sinners as sinning the highest degree of Shamelesness 397 398 How the Spirit of God departed from Saul 37 11 How the Holy Spirit departeth from Men. 91 19 Natural Depravation discovers the Nature of the Grace of Conversion 279 48 Depravation of the Mind how removed 282 52 Depravation of the Mind by Sin what it is and wherein it doth consist 209 13 Description of Sanctification 338 2 Spiritual Desertions and the Nature of them by some Derided 92 19 Design of the Gospel what it is 330 13 Design to be like unto God the Life of Holiness 503 11 Desires of Heaven of what sort they ought to be 512 21 Despisers of God who are so 538 11 Destruction of Sin in the Root and Principle our great Duty 405 Determination of the Will as a free Principle by Grace proved 284 55 Diabolical Pride in Scoffing at the Humiliation of Sinners 405 Difference between receiving Doctrines Notionally and Things really 219 28 Difference about Free-will stated and debated 434 34 Difference between a Spiritual Life and a Life of Moral Vertue 408 17. 414 6 Difference in Religion before the Entrance of Sin and afterwards 461 81 Differences between the life of Adam in Innocency and the life of Grace in Christ. 241 9 Differences about Regeneration none in it 178 12 Different Operations and Effects of one and the same Spirit 38 12 Different degrees of Graces 340 4 Difficulties of Faith 401 13 Difficulties in Duties from sundry Causes 438 39 Difficulty and Necessity of the Work of Mortification 480 13 Dignity of Professors wherein it consists 511 20 Diligence required in the Exercise of Grace 354 Discerning of Spirits an extraordinary Gift at the first 18 22 Discovery of Graces of Holiness springing from Election 443 46 Discovery of a false Foundation of Duties 364 Dispensation of the Spirit not consined unto the first times of the Church 25 28 Dispensation of the Spirit in general declared 79 80 1 2 3. Take away the Dispensation of the Spirit and the whole Church is ruined 157 Disposition of the Soul unto Acts and Duties of Holiness from an inward Principle 423 16 No Disposition unto spiritual Life in a State of spiritual Death 250 29 A Gracious Disposition expressed by Fear Love and Delight 427 17 Depraved Disposition in the Mind by Nature 215 20 Dispositions unto Regeneration of what sort 191 1 Natural Dispositions of some more sedate than of others 568 4 Disquisitions after God by the Light of Nature and their success 230 48 Distinct Operations ascribed unto the distinct Persons in the Trinity 45 4 Manifestation of the Distinction of Persons in the Divine Nature a great End in the Work of the New Creation 155 2 Distresses upon Conviction of Sin 302 27 Distribution of spiritual Gifts 6 5 Distributions of Grace used by the Ancients 255 6 Disturbance on Divine Revelations whence it proceeds 103 9 Diversity of Gifts an Occasion of Differences in the Churches 7 7 Knowledge of Divine things in their Operations and Effects 20 24 Divine voluntary Actings constantly ascribed unto the Holy Spirit in the Scripture 49 10 Divine Persons succeeded not to each other in their Operations 70 3 Divine Nature in Christ acted not as his Soul 137 2 No true Apprehension of Divine Goodness but in Christ. 229 36 Division of the Holy Spirit in what sence spoken of 93 20 Doctrine of the Spirit of God the second great Principle of the Spirit 8 9 Doctrine of the Spirit the Life of all saving Truth 33 8 Doctrine of the Trinity despised by many 45 4 Doctrine of Regeneration variously described 196 10 Doctrine of some men about Regeneration 261 19 Doctrine of Obedience taught by Christ and what is considerable therein 558 10 Doctrines concerning the Operations of the Spirit of God preached with Efficacy 26 31 Things or Doctrines of the Gospel reduced to two Heads 223 36 The Dove under which shape the Holy Ghost appeared of what sort it was 52 53 15 16 Dreams a Means of Divine Revelation 107 13 Christ how Driven by the Spirit 142 Duty not the Measure of Power 379 Things wrought in a way of Grace prescribed in a way of Duty 379 No Duty of Obedience but an Holy Heart is enclined unto it 425 19 Duty and End to be considered in every Act of Obedience 441 43 Dutyes of Persons intrusted with spiritual Priviledges 7 1 Dutyes required in order to Conversion 192 3 Dutyes of Morality in the Gospel superstitious not the Foundation 235 58 Dutyes of Vnbelievers how Sins 248 25 Good Dutyes how vitiated yet accepted 248 26 The same Dutyes how accepted and rejected with respect unto divers Persons ibid. Dutyes not accepted on the Account of Persons 249 26 Dutyes of Faith Repentance and Obedience on what Grounds to be pressed on men 249 28 Good Dutyes of Vnregenerate men how to be esteemed 250 251 30 Dutyes of themselves will denominate no man Holy 362 Dutyes of Morality and Piety to be encouraged 420 Special Dutyes of those who have received a Principle of Holiness 422 Dutyes Internal and External distinguished 463 2 Dutyes of Believers and Vnbelievers differ in their Substance 471 16 Dutyes required in order unto the Mortication of Sin 487 23 Dutyes how to be performed that Sin may be mortified 489 27 Dutyes of Holiness more clearly revealed by Christ than any other way 557 9 How the Spirit dwelleth in Believers notwithstanding the Remainders of Sin 484 20 E. Earth in the first Creation what it contained 72 8 Education and Convictions in some measure compose Natures Disorders 568 6 Effects of Conviction where to be placed in the Soul 199 15 Effects of natural Vanity and how they are to be opposed 214 19 Effects of Conviction 301 26 Effects of the Priestly Acts of Christ of two sorts 555 3 Especial Effects of Divine Love 514 25 Every work of the Spirit Effectual 198 14 Effectual Work of Grace and our own earnest Endeavours consistent 345 7 Efficacy given to all Ordinances by the Holy Spirit 23 26 No Efficacy in second Causes independently on the first 77 15 Efficacy of Faith whence it ariseth 401 13 Efficacy of the Death of Christ for the destruction of Sin wherein it
whence voluntary and meritorious 146 9 Obligation unto Holiness no less under the Gospel than under the Law 535 6 All Obstacles removed by effectual Grace 270 30 Obstinacy and Stubbornness of the Heart by Nature 277 45 Obstructions of the Growth of Holiness 350 10 Occasions of spiritual decays in Grace 354 How Christ Offered himself to God through the Eternal Spirit 143 8 Office of Witness-bearing unto the Lord Christ discharged by the Holy Spirit 149 13 One singular Spirit of God declared in the Scripture 33 8 The Holy Spirit One dividing as he pleaseth to others 94 21 Operations of the Spirit called the Spirit by a Metonymy 33 8 Divine Operations of all sorts ascribed to the Holy Spirit 59 24 All Divine Operations ascribed unto God absolutely 68 1 Operations of the Holy Spirit on the Humane Nature of Christ of two sorts 128 2 Operations of the Holy Spirit on the Humane Nature of Christ notwithstanding its personal Vnion with the Son 129 3 Operations of the Holy Spirit in Conversion suited unto the Powers of our Souls 270 31 Two-fold Operation of Christ as Three in One 162 Opening of the Heavens what it signifies 52 15 Opinions in the Primitive Church falsly fathered on spiritual Revelations 15 19 Opposition to the Spirit of God and his Works with the Grounds of it 21 25 Pretences of Opposition unto the Spirit of God examined 21 25 Oppositions against the Church suppressed by the Spirit of God 78 16 No Opposition between Gods Commands and his Grace 167 Vniversal Opposition between Sin and Grace 477 7 Order of Divine Dispensations dependeth on the Order of the subsistence of the Divine Persons 39 14 Order of subsistence of the Holy Spirit in the Blessed Trinity 66 33 Order of Operation depending on the Order of Subsistence not the Order of Promination ibid. Outward Order in the Church of no use without the Presence and Work of the Spirit 158 4 Order in Subsistence gives Order in Operation 162 Order of the Mind in its first Creation 212 15 Order of the Gospel inverted by Prejudices 235 58 Order of Precedency in the Acts of Sanctification 410 1 Skill in the Original Text necessary to the Exposition of the Scripture 30 4 Original of all things in their several kinds 73 9 Original of the Spirits Acting in all his Works towards the Church 89 15 Where Original Sin is denyed Regeneration cannot be effected 186 24 Original Order of our Souls wherein it consisted 568 6 Outward Manner and wayes of Divine Revelations 106 11 P. Pains of Death how loosed towards Christ. 147 11 Vanity of Papal Inventions for the Purification of Sin 379 380 Partial departure of the Spirit from any 91 19 Partial Works deceitfull 369 Two Parts of the Life of God 423 16 Particular good End not sufficient to render a Duty Good or Holy 441 44 Peace with God preserved by Sanctification 323 3 How God sanctifieth us as the God of Peace ibid. Pelagius his Artifices 177 9 Doctrine of Pelagius 183 20 Pelagianism renewed 255 5 Pelagianisme reduced unto its Head 256 7 Difference between Pelagians and Semi-Pelagians 262 19 Pelagian Grace inconsistent with Prayer 265 24 Pelagius his Prayer 266 25 Pelagian Grace rejected 458 73 Pen-men of the Scripture whether all holy 111 18 Pen-men of the Scripture not left unto the use of their own Natural Abilities 114 20 Sinless Perfection not attainable in this Life 547 25 Persecution of Erring Persons vain and fruitless 19 20 23 Person of the Spirit and his Operations distinguished 33 8 Third Person in the Trinity whence called the Spirit 34 9 Person of the Father the Fountain of the Trinity 38 13 Some things not proper to a Person assigned to the Holy Ghost in what sence 48 9 The Person of the Holy Spirit not poured out but his Gifts and Graces 87 13 Every Divine Person Author of the same Work 68 1 The Person of Christ how the Fountain of all Grace 455 The whole Person of a Believer the subject of Sanctification 365 Divine Persons succeeded not to each other in their Operations 70 3 Manifestation of the distinction of Persons in the Divine Nature a great End in the Work of the New Creation 155 2 All Personal Properties assigned unto the Holy Spirit in the Scripture 48 8 Personal Vnion or the Subsistence of both the Natures of Christ in one Person the necessary Consequent of Assumption 129 5 Personality of the Holy Spirit from John 14. 15 16. 60 61 25 Perswasive Efficacy of the Word Preached 258 12 Perswasion conferres no Strength 262 21 Perswasions enable not men to convert themselves 266 25 Perswasions of Perfection ruinous to Holiness 355 Pharisaical Confidence 397 12 Wise Philosophers of Old the greatest Despisers of the Gospel 221 222 Physical Operations of Grace proved 269 29 Pleas for Balaam answered 111 112 19 Pleas of Pelagians 263 21 Vain Pleas for the Power of Free-will in Opposition to the Aids of the Spirit 471 15 Pleas for Holiness by unholy persons uncomely and dangerous 498 2 Pleas for Moral Vertue examined 506 15 Pollution or spiritual Defilement in Sin 372 3 Pollution of Sin that property of it whereby it is opposed to the Holiness of God 374 4 Habitual Pollution inconsistent with any Holiness 378 Pouring forth of the Spirit 86 11 Pouring forth of the Spirit alwayes respects the times of the Gospel 87 12 Power ascribed unto the Holy Spirit 58 22 Powers and Operations of Secondary Causes to be owned 77 15 Power of the Mind with respect unto spiritual things examined 216 23 Power in the Mind by Nature to discern spiritual things 221 30 Power of spiritual Darkness 227 43 Power of Darkness in the Devil 228 45 Powers and Duties of the Mind 236 60 Power unto Obedience in the State of Innocency 241 8 Power in Natural men beyond what they do or will use 245 20 Power in the Faculties of Nature as Corrupted 250 29 Power of the Word to prevail on the Souls of Men whereon it depends 258 13 Spiritual Power in the Habit of Holiness 432 31 Commands of the Covenant respect the Power administred in the Covenant 432 30 Spiritual Power wherein it consists 432 31 No Power in Believers unto Duties of Holy Obedience without assistance of the Spirit 465 c. Power administred by Christ enabling us to be Holy 502 8 No Power given by one Covenant to fulfill the Commands of the other 544 20 All power unto Obedience from Grace 546 22 Two-fold power necessary unto Obedience 547 26 Practice of Moral Vertue not Gospel Holiness 459 77 Pravity of Sin with respect unto the Holiness of God Two-fold 377 6 Praying for the Spirit prescribed as our Duty 123 124 5 Difference between the Prayers of Wicked men and of Believers 164 6 Prayers of the Church prove Effectual Grace 265 24 Prayers for Grace and Holiness of what Nature 348 349 9 Prayer for the Holy Spirit in what sence 357 2
51 14 Religion in the Papacy wherein it consists 333 13 The only Remedy against the Pollution of Sin 399 Effects of the Remainder of Sin in Believers 429 26 Renovation of the Mind what it is and wherein it consists 282 53 Renovation of the Will wherein it consists 284 55 Renovation of our Natures the Foundation of spiritual Purification 383 Renovation of our Nature how the Foundation of Right and Title to all other things 509 18 Renovation of the Image of God the onely Cure of the Vanity Disorder and Misery of our Souls 568 7 Reparation of our Nature wherein it doth consist 366 Representation of New Objects unto the Rational Faculties of Christ. 138 3 False Representations of the Death of Christ to the Minds of men 495 38 All Repugnancy to Conversion taken away by Grace 275 41 Residence of adverse Principles in the same Faculties of the Soul 477 8 Resignation of all unto the Divine Will necessary 527 17 How the Spirit may be Resisted 165 8 Respect unto Gods Commands wherein it consists 337 14 Restauration of the Image of God an End of Christs Incarnation 554 1 Resting of the Spirit on any 90 18 Resurrection of Christ assigned distinctly unto the Father Son and Spirit 147 11 Nothing Revealed by Christ unto the Church but what is from Christ. 160 Divine Revelation the Rule and Measure of all Religion 44 3 Revelation both materially and formally the Rule of Holiness 412 3 Revelation of God by Christ of what sort 556 6 Rewards and Punishments Enforcements of Obedience 539 13 Inherent Righteousness what it is and wherein it consists 182 19 Righteousness of our own unto Justification not required 332 13 Righteousness unto Justification not the End of Gospel Commands 537 9 Word and Doctrine of Christ the Rule and Measure of Holiness 445 52 Every Rule of Duties besides the Gospel imperfect 560 14 S. First Sacerdotal Act of Christ. 143 9 Sacrifices were done really and spiritually by the Sacrifice of Christ. 386 Several sorts of Sacrifices and their use ib. How the Lord Christ sanctified himself to be an Oblation or Sacrifice 143 9 Sanctified Persons mistaken in the World 188 Affections how depraved how sanctified 285 56 Sanctification of the Humane Nature of Christ in the Womb. 137 1 God the Author of our Sanctification 322 3 Sanctification founded in Attonement 323 3 Sanctification described 323 324 5 Sanctification Two-fold 324 7 Sanctification and Holiness inseparable from the Doctrine Truth and Grace of the Gospel 325 8 Sanctification of Believers a Mysterious Work 326 9 Sanctification and Holiness promised 335 14 Sanctification and Regeneration how they differ 339 4 Sanctification a Progressive Work 339 340 4 5 c. Sanctification to be considered in its Principle and Progress 358 Entire Work of the Holy Ghost in Sanctification explained 435 35 Sanctification no less necessary than Justification 505 14 Satisfaction of Christ the great Encouragement unto Holiness 502 8 Saul how he Prophesied 112 18 Scripture to be attended unto against cavilling Objections 523 8 Secret Chambers where Christ is not what is intended by them 152 15 Seers whence Prophets were so called 102 8 Selfish men unlike to God 516 29 Seminal prolisick Vertue communicated by the Holy Spirit unto the Creation 73 9 Sending of the Spirit and how God is said to send him 84 8 Servile Fear the Nature of it 404 Shame inseparable from the Filth of Sin 375 Casting off Shame the highest Aggravation of Sin 377 5 Sheweth the things of Christ to Believers the things of Christ of two sorts 165 6 Signs and Wonders no infallible Testimony of true Prophets 18 22 Miraculous Works called Signs and why 115 21 No outward Sign can have in it self the Nature of Regeneration 180 16 Various Significations of the Name Spirit 30 31 32 33 2 3 4 5 6. One singular Spirit of God declared in the Scripture 33 8 Great Significations depending on a single Letter 114 20 Sin against the Holy Ghost why remediless 12 14 Where Original sin is denyed Regeneration cannot be effected 186 24 Sin compared unto all things that are defiled and polluted 372 3 Sin fills all Sinners not obdurate with shame 377 5 Glorying in Sin its Abomination 397 12 Sin and Grace cannot bear Rule in the same Person at the same time 429 25 Sin abides whilest we are in the flesh 475 5 Sin weakened by the Improvement and Exercise of Grace 478 8 Single Acts of Obedience will denominate no man holy 415 8 Skill in the Original Text necessary to the Exposition of the Scripture 30 4 Sloth in Holy Duties the Evil and Danger of it 508 17 Socinian Doctrine concerning the Holy Spirit 47 7 New Soul of the Proselyte 180 16 The Soul of Man the quickening Principle in Life Natural not in Life Spiritual 243 13 The Soul and Body how sanctified 368 Sending of the Holy Spirit the principal Promise of the New Testament 8 9 Spirits how to be tryed 17 25 Holy Spirit known by his Operations 21 24 Letter of the Scripture profiteth not the Jewes whilest they have not the Spirit 24 26 Dispensation of the Spirit not confined unto the first times of the Church 25 28 The Name Spirit with the several Significations of it in the Scripture confirmed 28 2 The good Spirit and the holy Spirit the same 38 12 Holy Spirit in what sence called the Spirit of God 38 13 Holy Spirit how called the Spirit of the Son 39 14 The Spirit not called the Spirit of Christ because he was anoynted with him 40 14 The Spirit not called the Spirit of Christ because he inspired the Prophets to foretell his Coming 41 16 The Spirit of Anti-Christ what it is 41 42 17 The Holy Spirit an Eternal Infinite Intelligent Person 46 47 48 49 c. 7 8 9 10 c. The Holy Spirit hath a spiritual Substance and subsistence of his own 54 18 Why the Holy Spirit never appeared in the Person of a Man 55 18 The Holy Spirit the Author of the Ministry of the Church 61 26 The Holy Spirit the Object of mens Actings in Religion 62 28 The Holy Spirit not a Quality or Vertue of the Divine Nature 64 30 The Holy Spirit expressely called God 64 31 The Spirit of the Lord is Jehova 65 31 Spirit of God and the Breath of God the same 75 12 The Holy Spirit given of God and how 80 3 The Spirit how given by the Father in the way of Authority 81 4 The Holy Spirit compared unto Fire and Water and why 88 13 The Holy Spirit One dividing as he pleaseth to others 94 21 Good Spirit of God over-ruling the Devil 112 18 Spirit of God the onely Author of all things good and excellent under the Old Testament 119 28 The Spirit and his Graces the great subject of all the Prayers of Believers 124 5 The Holy Spirit the Promise and Legacy of Christ. 124 6 The Holy Spirit the Spirit of the Son as
well as of the Father what followeth thereon 130 8 The Spirit how and when given by Christ. 157 3 The Holy Spirit supplyes the Bodily absence of Christ. 158 5 How the Spirit glorified Christ. 161 The Spirit that is born of the Spirit what it is 173 3 Holy Spirit worketh by Means ordinarily 187 25 Things of the Spirit of God what they are 218 26 Holy Spirit the immediate Author of Regeneration 254 4 The Holy Spirit the immediate Sanctifier of all Believers 337 15 The Holy Spirit promised with respect unto his Effects 357 2 The Spirit that is formed in Believers what it is 418 12 Holy Spirit the principal efficient Cause of the Mortification of Sin 481 15 c. Vse of Spiritual Gifts 2 1 Abuse of Spiritual Gifts ibid. Spiritual Gifts their Author Nature Vse and End 5 6 7 4 5 6 7. Spiritual Mercies all from the Holy Spirit 125 7 No spiritual Good in any one by Nature 166 10 Spiritual Troubles by some despised 197 10 Spiritual and Natural how opposed 217 25 Spiritual things Foolishness unto men of corrupt Affections 233 53 Spring of spiritual Life in God 246 22 Spiritual Life what it is and wherein it doth consist 246 23 Spiritual things how spiritually to be discerned 282 53 Spiritual Life wherein it consists 419 13 Spiritual things how they are to be taught 460 78 Spiritual Life and Natural compared in their Powers and Acts. 465 7 Work of the Spirit towards the Humane Nature of Christ in the State of the Dead 146 10 State of Regeneration the same in all 179 14 Strength by spiritual Aids from the Holy Spirit 383 Strength administred in each Covenant to fulfill its tearms 545 21 Stupidity in sinning 397 12 Variety of Style in the Holy Scripture whence it proceedeth 114 20 Moral Suasion not the onely Means of Conversion 256 257 c. 7 8 Submission to the Will of God how acted in the Sufferings of Christ. 145 Submission to the Will of God promoted by thoughts of Eternal Love 527 17 All Sufficiency unto Obedience from God none in our selves 467 9 Suitableness between the Mind and Duty from Grace onely 437 Sun Moon and Starres the Host of Heaven 71 6 Supererogation the Vanity thereof 333 13 Supernatural principle of holiness wrought by the Holy Ghost 414 5 Suppositions of a State of Grace may be abused 355 Surprizals with a Spirit of Prophecy 86 11 Symbolical Actions how enjoyned the Prophets 109 15 T. Teaching by the Holy Ghost 59 25 Advantages in the Teachings of Christ above all others 559 12 How the Spirit teacheth us to pray 349 9 Temptations how they hinder and how they further the Growth of Holiness 352 Tempting of the Spirit wherein it consists 63 28 Testimony of the Spirit unto Christ with its Efficacy 150 Skill in the Original Text necessary to the Exposition of the Scripture 30 4 Thankfulness for Cleansing from sinne 403 Three things required to render man meet to live to God 76 14 Things represented in Vision to the Prophets 108 14 Things against the Light of Nature not really enjoyned the Prophets 109 15 Three things required unto the Writing of the Scripture 113 20 Things supposed unto the Work of the Holy Spirit towards the Church 155 2 The same things ascribed unto the Holy Spirit and unto Men in what sence 168 9 Things in the Power of our own Wills required in order unto our Regeneration 193 4 Things of the Spirit of God what they are 218 26 Spiritual Things Foolishness unto men of corrupt Affections 233 53 Tongues and Hands of the Prophets guided by the Holy Ghost 105 10 Mistake of sundry ancient Translations 30 3 Doctrine of the Trinity the great Foundation of all Religion 45 4 The holy Trinity revealed in the New Creation 126 8 Troubles wherein we stand in need of Consolation of two sorts 360 Truth a Grace expressing the Image of God 517 31 Tryal of Prophets and Prophecy under the Old Testament two-fold 18 22 Two-fold State of all Mankind 205 2 Two-fold Work of the Spirit in Sanctification and Supplications answering each other 348 9 V. Vanity of all Pleas and Pretences against the Divine Personality of the Holy Ghost 49 10 Vanity of the Mind what it is and wherein it consists 211 15 Vanity the Nature and Causes of it in the World 213 18 Vanity of Papal Inventions for the Purification of sin 379 380 Valuation of the Means of Cleansing from sin 403 14 Various Significations of the Name Spirit 30 31 32 33 2 3 4 5 6. Variety of Duties required unto the Mortification of Sin 490 28 All Vertue of the especial Operation of the Spirit of God 77 15 Moral Vertues and Endowments in Civil things wrought by the Holy Spirit 118 23 Moral Vertue is not the Holiness of Truth 326 8 Vertues to be imitated in Christ. 450 59 Name and Nature of Moral Vertue examined 459 78 Moral Vertue what intended thereby 506 15 View by Faith of the Blood of Christ as sacrificed and the Efficacy thereof 389 6 View of Sin under suffering usefull 392 View of the State of Nature necessary 393 10 Vindication of the true sence of the Law by Christ. 557 7 8 Vine and Branches their mutual Relation and In-being 456 70 No Violence or Force offered unto the Will by Grace 271 33 Prophetical Visions by the Representation of things to the outward senses 107 14 Visions and Representations of things of two sorts 108 14 What is required to render Visions Divine Revelations 109 14 No Vital Acts under the Power of Death spiritual 246 21 Vivification what it is 279 49 Divine Voluntary Actings constantly ascribed unto the Holy Spirit in the Scripture 49 10 Articulate Voyces in Divine Revelations how formed 106 12 Unalterable Decree of God that no unholy Person shall be saved 521 4 Guilt of Unbelief notwithstanding Natural Impotency 273 37 Unclean the same with Vnholy 370 Things unclean by the Law why made so 375 Uncleansed sinners can never come to the Enjoyment of God 394 10 Uncleansed Sinners can have no Communion with Christ. 406 16 Unction of Christ unto his Prophetical Office 139 4 Understanding with all the proper Acts of it ascribed unto the Spirit 55 19 The Understanding the use of it and how it is depraved 212 16 Understanding corrupted as to the Object of its Acting 281 52 No unholy Person can ever enjoy God 505 13 Vanity of Unholy Persons pretending an Interest in the Mediation of Christ. 562 19 Unholy Persons how of all others they dishonour Jesus Christ. 563 20 Personal Union or the subsistence of both the Natures of Christ in one Person the necessary Consequent of Assumption 129 5 Union with Christ notwithstanding the Defilement of Sin how possible 406 16 Union with Christ by Vertue of the New Creature 407 Union with Christ wherein it consists 419 13 Union with Christ and the Nature thereof 453 66 Whether Union goe before Sanctification and in
consists 493 34 Real internal Efficiency ascribed unto Grace 269 29 Eminent Effusions of the Holy Spirit accompanyed with effectual Delusions of Sathan at the same time 18 22 Plentiful Effusion of the Spirit the great Promise of the Old Testament 122 2 The Elect the subject of the Promise of the Spirit as to Regeneration 357 3 Election the Spring of all true Holiness 442 45 Eternal Election a Cause of and Motive unto Holiness 520 c. No Evidence of Election without Holiness 521 5 Election absolutely considered no part of Gods Revealed Will. 523 10 No man Obliged to believe his Election before Conversion 524 13 Who are bound to believe that they are Elected 525 13 Divine Emanation of the Holy Spirit from the Father and Son 35 9 End of Prophesie in the Church 99 5 End of Miraculous Operations 115 21 End of God in the Work of the Old and New Creature 155 2 End of Afflictions and Tryals 343 6 End of Dutyes Two-fold 441 44 End of Legal Commands 535 5 Ends of Holiness for which it is required 414 4 Principal Ends for which the Holy Spirit is promised 357 3 Enforcements unto Obedience from the Authority of God in his Commands 538 10 11 No Enjoyment of God without Purification from Sin 378 Enmity of the Carnal Mind against God and his Wayes 231 49 50 Natural Impotency and Enmity how taken away 278 46 Enquiry into the Reasons and Difficulties in Holy Duties 438 8 Enthusiastical Raptures no Means of Conversion 186 25 No Enthusiastical Impressions in Conversion 270 32 No Entrance with God without Holiness 504 11 Equity of the Law how it respects the Ability of them that are Obliged by it 249 27 Espousals of the Blessed Virgin with Joseph the Necessity thereof 134 14 Essence and Form of Holiness wherein it consists 415 7 8 Eternal Love a powerfull Motive unto Holiness 525 14 Evangelical Holiness distinguished from all Pretences thereunto 439 40 No Evangelical Truth inconsistent with Holinesse or repugnant thereunto 507 16 Evidences of Regeneration various 177 11 No Evidence of an Interest in the Oblation of Christ unless we are Holy 556 4 Infallible Evidences of Divine Inspiration 104 10 Evil Spirits and their Operations 37 11 Evil Frame of Nature how Cured 383 Evil Spirit how it wrought in Saul 112 18 All Excellencies ascribed unto the Holy Spirit in the Scripture 98 3 How Christ is our Example 447 448 449 Exhortations respect Duty not Ability 244 17 Experience of the work of the Spirit of God in the Souls of Men. 27 31 Experiences of the Truth and Reality of things believed supplyed by the Holy Spirit 341 5 Experience of the Defilement of Sin 372 3 External Duties of two sorts 464 4 Extraordinary Works of the Holy Spirit the several kinds of them 99 4 Extraordinary Acts of Christ during the Course of his private Life 140 F. Face of the Earth by what means Annually renewed 74 9 Facility in Dutyes of Obedience from a Principle of Holiness 436 37 Faith and Obedience with respect unto the Gift of the Holy Ghost how to be regulated 90 16 Faith Actually wrought by Grace 272 36 Faith and Love the Spring of Holiness how they are encreased 340 5 Faith encreased by the due Proposal of its proper Objects 341 5 What Faith is required that a man may please God 362 Faith alone interests us in the purifying Vertue of the Blood of Christ. 388 Faith worketh by Prayer unto the Cleansing of Sin 390 6 How it purgeth the Soul 390 8 Faith whether it be a Fixing of the Imagination 400 The Power of Faith in Conforming the Soul unto God 513 24 Faith of Election tends not to Carelesness 530 22 Faith without Holiness vain 553 38 Faithfulness of God in his Promises to be pleaded in Prayer 360 How the Holy Spirit doth Fall on men 90 17 Reasons of Mens Falling from a Course of Duties 548 26 False pretences unto the Name and Work of the Holy Spirit 13 15 False Prophets how they were Acted ib. 16 False Prophets of two sorts some meerly Acted by the Devil some pretenders only 14 17 False pretences to Divine Revelation Sathans Design therein 15 18 False Prophets why called Spirits 16 21 False Notions of Jews and Mahumetans about the Spirit of God 33 8 The Father how he is said to raise Christ from the Dead 148 All Grace Originally from the Father 163 Dread and Fear attending Convictions of Sin 304 30 Fear inseperable from Guilt 375 Fear of Sin a Fruit of Faith 404 Fear of Man how to be removed 539 13 Fiery Tongues what they signified 54 17 Figurative Expressions multiplyed in the Scripture 48 9 Figurative Expressions setting out the Vileness of Sin 402 The Nature of the Guilt and Filth of Sin how made known 375 The Finger of God what it is 72 7 Filiation a personal Adjunct 133 11 Fire on the Altar what it signified 53 16 Fire and Water the Means of all Typical Cleansing 371 1 Folly of men in seeking after Instruction in Moral Duties from others rather than from Christ. 558 11 The Things of God Foolishness unto the Mind of the Natural man how and in what sence 221 31 No Force put upon the Faculties of our Souls by the Operations of the Spirit 187 Forming of the Host of Heaven and Earth the Work of the Holy Spirit 71 7 Forming of the Body of Christ in the Womb the Work of the Holy Spirit 131 10 Foundation of all Church-Order in the Confession of the Lordship of Christ. 4 2 Foundation of the Ministry of the Church in the Promise of the Spirit 156 3 Foundation of Moral Differences among Mankind 364 Freedome and Bounty in the Gift of the Spirit 82 4 Free-will wherein it ends consists 433 33 Freedom of Corrupted Nature and of Grace 434 33 Frequency in Duties produceth Facility 437 Fruits of Sin Internal and External 476 6 Fruits of Election its onely Manifestation 524 13 Evil Frame of Nature how Cured 383 Fulness of Christ what it is and how Communicated 457 71 Fundamental Principles to be attended unto in the tryal of Spirits 17 12 G. Gift of Prophesie honourable in the Church of Old and why 13 16 Gift of Prophesie falsely pretended unto and abused 13 16 The Gift of Prophesie whether ever given to Wicked men 110 17 Gift of Prophesie not a sanctifying Grace 111 18 Gifts of Civil Government from the Holy Ghost 116 22 Gifts for the Discharge of the Office of Mediator Collated on the Humane Nature of Christ by the Holy Ghost 139 4 Gifts how to be prayed for 360 The Holy Spirit Given of God and how 80 3 Giving and Receiving related ibid. Giving of the Spirit includes Authority Freedom and Bounty 81 4 The Spirit how Given by the Father in the way of Authority 81 4 To Glorifie God as God what it is 44 2 Glorified Body of Christ the Example of ours 149 12 Glorying in Sin its Abomination 397 12