that Christ is the minister of sin but all may know you are his disciples And it is sufficient for the Disciple to be and fare as his Master and the Servant as his Lord 1 Pet. 2. 9-11 Mat. 10. 24 25. Ephes 5 1 2 3-8 1 Pet. 2. 20 21 22. 4. Yea in this glorious Gospel there is set before us the things which are not seen which are eternal To move us and prevail with us to avoid and abstain from all intemperance whatsoever On the one hand there is propounded to and set before us a blessed hope to be injoyed at the appearing of our Lord Jesus by all those who are diligent that they may be found of him in peace without spot and blameless And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself from the Pollutions of the world even as he is pure 1 Joh. 3. 3 Every man saith the Apostle that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things now they do it to obtain a corruptible Crown but we an incorruptible men here will deny themselves and abstain from an immoderate and unsober use of meat and drink that they may get a fading and corruptible Crown and it 's very uncertain whether they have it though they give all diligence For many run and strive and but one receiveth the prize But we have an incorruptible Crown set before us the prize of the high calling of God in Christ And therefore it highly concerns us to be temperate in all things as the Apostle also was from this consideration I keep under my body saith he and bring it into subjection lest that by any means when I have preached to others I my self should be a reprobate 1 Cor. 9. 24 25-27 And as the living soberly is contained in the posture in which we should wait for that hope so also the looking for that blessed hope is powerful to ingage us to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts and to live soberly righteously and godly in this present world Tit. 2. 11-13 For we are saved by hope even from our sins and vanities Rom. 8. 24. The promises these exceeding great and precious promises ministred to us in and with the Gospel do powerfully oblige and engage us to cleanse our selves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit perfecting holiness in the fear of God And to add to our faith virtue and to virtue knowledg and to knowledg temperance c. 2 Cor. 7. 1 2. 2 Pet. 1. 4-6 He hath promised that he will hereafter save them that look for him as his grace instructs from all their sins sorrows griefs enemies and compleatly and everlastingly satisfy them with his goodness and they shall inherit all things Oh then let none of us be so profane as for a morsel of meat or for a little Strong Drink to sell our birth-right and deprive our selves of that Inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that fadeth not away reserved in the Heavens for them who are kept by the power of God through faith unto that Salvation ready to be revealed in these last dayes But gird we up the loins of our mind be we sober and hope perfectly for the grace that is to be brought at the Revelation of Jesus Christ As obedient Children not fashioning our selves according to our former lusts in our ignorance But as he that hath called us is holy so let us be boly in all manner of conversation 1 Pet. 1. 4-13 14. Let our loins be alwayes girded about and our lights burnings and we our selves like unto men that wait for their Lord when he will return from the wedding that when he cometh and knocketh we may open to him immediately Blessed are those servants whom the Lord when he cometh shall find watching and not eating and drinking and being drunken Verily I say unto you faith our Saviour that he shall gird himself and make them sit down to meat and will come forth and serve them Luk. 12. 35-38-45 Be we then temperate in all things and let us flee from all insobriety that we may enjoy that Crown of life which the Lord hath promised to them that wait for and love him Considering also On the other hand That Drunkards shall not inherit the kingdom of God for without are dogs whereto Drunkards are compared and which name is given to them because their tables are full of vomit and filthiness so that there is no place clean 1 Cor. 6. 10. 2 Pet. 2. 13-22 with Isa 56. 10 11. and 28. 8. with Rev. 22. 14 15. But to this we have spoken somewhat before and therefore shall not further enlarge to it Yea and now also it is the last time and therefore it behoves us to walk honestly as in the day-time not in rioting and drunkenness The end of all things is at hand be ye therefore sober and watch unto prayer saith 1 Pet. 4. 7. Little Children young men Fathers love not the world neither the things that are in the world love not the lusts of the flesh c. Pamper not the flesh now especially glut not your selves with the good things here below now the world passeth away and the lusts thereof little children it is the last time or hour 1 Joh. 2. 12-15 16-18 And you may perfectly know that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night Therefore sleep not as do others but watch and be sober 1 Thes 5. 2-6 Remember what our Saviour hath foretold and spoken for our admonition upon whom the ends of the World are come As it was in the dayes of Noah so shall it be also in the dayes of the Son of man they did eat they drank c. untill the day that Noah entered into the Ark and the Flood came and destroyed them all Likewise also as it was in the dayes of Lot they did eat they drank they bought they sold c. But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained Fire and Brimstone from Heaven and destroyed them all Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed Luk. 17. 26-30 Oh! be not then drunk with wine lest that day or the day of death come upon us unawares for as a snare shall it come upon all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth watch we therefore and pray alwayes that we may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass and to stand before the Son of man as our Saviour speaks to his Disciples Luk. 21. 34-36 And what we have spoken shall suffice to the first thing we propounded to consider and speak unto Namely the dehortation and admonition which the Apostle gives unto these Believers and at such a time And now we come to speak unto the second thing propounded to be further considered by us from this verse we are speaking unto Namely 2 We have an Argument or motive laid down by the Apostle to engage the Believers that they should
and not sin c. Eph. 4. 22-30 31. And when also they so drink in of this Wine as that they are filled with the fruit of the Spirit with love joy peace long-suffering gentleness goodness faith meekness temperance against which the Law is not The fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth Gal. 5. 16-22 Eph. 5. 8 9. And have the righteousness of the Law fulfilling in them more and more Rom. 8. 3 4. And are seeking after and setting their affections upon things above where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God having their conversation not on earth but in Heaven Col. 2. 12. and 3. 1-5 Philip. 3. 7-9-20 And when they are led by this Spirit and overcome thereby to speak unto and to be teaching and admonishing one another sounding forth Gods praises holding forth the word of life in word and conversation holding fast and holding forth the profession of their faith and hope without wavering without fear of men or their fear without fear of amazement speaking the word of Christ and walking in his way and as he hath left us an example with boldness and confidence and chearfully and confidently enduring whatever they may meet with and undergo taking joyfully the spoiling of their goods for Christ and his Gospel sake so as walking in the wisdom and humility of Christ not being moved by any thing they suffer nor counting their lives dear to themselves that they may finish their course with joy when they are so filled with Christ's Gospel as that it is a burning fire shut up in their bones and they are even constrained to speak what they have seen and heard Psal 39. 1-3 Jer. 20. 7-11 Act. 2. 11-13 The being filled with the Spirit is to be imboldned by it as Esth 7. 5. So of the Apostles and Believers it is said They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and they spake the word of God with boldness And with great power gave the Apostles witness of the Resurection of the Lord Jesus c. Act. 4. 30 31 32. and vers 20. Mic. 3. 8. To which we shall not enlarge any further because we have spoken so largely in shewing the answerableness of the Spirit unto Wine before nor indeed am I in a meet capacity to speak any thing hereabout because I am not filled therewith my self and therefore do but darken Counsel by words without knowledg IV. We come in the last place briefly to note some Instructions from this Exhortation of the Apostle Be ye filled with the Spirit Namely I. That even the Believeres themselves which have received the Holy Spirit and have been sealed therewith unto the day of Redemption may not be filled or so filled with the Holy Spirit as God would have them to be as is before signified in what we have said These were Believers and had received this good Spirit in some measure and yet they are instructed and exhorted to be filled therewith and made more spiritual thereby The Believing Corinthians were Baptized into one body and made to drink into one Spirit and yet they were not filled with the Spirit For the Apostle could not speak unto them as unto spiritual ones but as carnal as unto Babes in Christ 1 Cor. 12. 13. with chap. 3. 1-3 The Believing Hebrews though in receiving the word of Christ they received his Spirit yet alas they still needed to be taught which were the first principles of the Oracles of God and were become such as had need of Milk and not of strong meat Through their dulness of hearing and slowness of heart to believe the first and great things of Gods Law the word of the begining of Christ the Apostle knew not well how to speak unto them of the High-Priesthood of Christ his Sacrifice which he had offered his Mediation in the Heavens and Advocation for Believers his coming again with the high acts and works of faith c. Heb. 5. 10-14 and 6. 1 2 c. The Thessalonian-Believers though they received the word in much affliction with joy of the Holy Spirit yet there were wants found in their Faith and therefore the Apostle did pray night and day exceedingly that he migh see their face and might perfect that which was lacking in their faith 1 Thes 1. 2-6-10 and 2. 13. and 3. 10. There may be much or somewhat lacking in them that have received this good Spirit as to their being filled therewith there may be somewhat wanting in their knowledg faith establishment rejoycing confidence consolation in Christ conformity unto Christ conversation c. They may be and some of them are but little children And others though they be young men yet still they may receive and dirnk in more and more of this Spirit in the Testimony of Christ yea and the fullest may yet be fuller while they are here in mortal bodies For they receive here but some First fruits of the Spirit Rom. 8. 23. And this Instruction may be of usefulness unto us 1. To warn and admonish us all to take heed and beware of high-mindedness and that we should not think of our selves more highly than we ought to think but to think soberly as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith Rom. 12. 2. 3. A sad and dangerous thing it is for us all to think and say We are rich and increased with goods and have need of nothing This is the high-way so to provoke Christ as to cause him to spue us out of his mouth Rev. 3. 15-17 We have none of us yet attained nor are we already perfect as to attainment Philip. 3. 12 13. Alas how short are we in every thing We have cause continually to cry out and complain of and and bewail our leanness emptiness blindness instability in the faith inconformity to Christ Oh! be we not high-minded think we not more highly of our selves than is meet for that will hinder us from coming continually unto Christ who is the fountain of life and Spirit and all spiritual blessings 2. This instruction shews unto us and informs us that the receit of the Spirit is a gradual thing it is not wholly received at once But the Light and Spirit of Christ is received and shines more and more unto the perfect day Prov. 4. 18. They who have obtained like precious faith with the Apostles and know and are established in the word of truth the Gospel of our salvation may grow in grace and in the knowledg of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ 2 Pet. 1. 1-12 with chap. 3. 18. They who are in Christ go from strength to strength from one degree to another until every one of them appear before God in Zion Psal 84. 4-7 3. This Instruction may teach us that we should not conclude concerning any that they have not the Spirit of Christ because they are not so filled therewith as they should be for the former may be where the latter is wanting as we have
sanctified in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ and by the spirit of our God 1 Cor. 6. 11. Joh. 13. 8 Unto him as our redemption to free us and set us at liberty in our minds from all bondage and thraldom whatsoever whether to sin death Satan an evil conscience Law world or whatever we are naturally inslaved withal Joh. 8. 31 32 36. Rom. 8. 1 2 3. Gal. 5. 1 13. 1 Cor. 1. 29-31 The work of this Holy Spirit is to lift up and glorify Jesus Christ that we may run unto him continually as to that good and only foundation of faith and hope Isa 28. 16. 1 Pet. 2. 4-7 As to the fountain of light and teaching who is the light of the world the Son of righteousness Joh. 8. 12. Matth. 4. 2. To him as the matter of our feeding who is the living bread and the bread that he giveth is his flesh which he hath given for the life of the world Joh. 6. 35. 51-58 So as to have our life in him and he to be our life the life of our Souls and Spirits to be our self as it were Gal. 2. 20. Colos 3. 3 4. And they are in some measure filled with this Spirit who are not led by themselves as men but led and guided by this heavenly Wine so as they suffer the loss of all things and go on to count them as dung that they may gain Christ and be found in him that Christ may be all unto them as the life of their Spirits Philip. 3. 7-9 When they are overcome of this Spirit and subdued and conquered by it to be under its regiment and government and being brought out of themselves are translated and removed into Jesus Christ who is the beginning of the creation of God And so live in the Spirit Gal. 5. 25 and are new Creatures 2 Cor. 5 14 17. Eph. 2. 10. and helped to reckon themselves in and after Jesus Christ Rom. 6. 3-11 Col. 2. 12. And then men may be said to be Filled with the Spirit when they grow up into the knowledg of Christ in all things so as that He in the full of the Testimony is formed in them Gal. 4. 19. And they are filled with the knowledg of Gods will in all wisdom and Spiritual understanding Col. 1. 10. And have through the knowledg of Christ in the Gospel a right judgment concerning all things effected in them He that is Spiritual judgeth discerneth all things yet he himself is judged discerned of no man 1 Cor. 2. 13-15 16. and chap. 3. 1 2. For this the Apostle prayes for these Ephesian Believers that the God of our Lord Jesus the Father of Glory would give unto them the spirit of wisdom and Revelation in the knowledg of Christ the eyes of their understandings being enlightned that they might know what is the hope of his calling c. This he prayed for them who were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise after they believed Eph. 1. 13-17 18-23 and 4. 30. And when as the consequent of the former the Believers are established in the faith and rooted and grounded in Jesus Christ standing fastly and firmly in him For this the Apostle also prays for these Believers That God would grant them according to the riches of his glory to be strengthned with might by his spirit in the inner man that Christ migh dwell in their hearts by faith That they being rooted and grounded in love might be able to comprehend with all Saints what is the breadth and length and depth and height and to know the love of Christ which passeth knowledg That so they might be filled whth all the fulness of God Eph. 3. 16 17-19 And unto this the Apostle exhorts the believing Colossions that they would walk in Christ rooted and built up in him and established in the faith as they had been taught c. Colos 2. 6 7. And when also with the former they are filled with joy and spiritual mirth and have a merry heart effected in them rejoycing in Christ Jesus rejoycing with joy unspeakable and full of glory and having no confidence in the flesh rejoycing in Christ in his Cross and what he hath thereby done for us and obtained into himself and is become and is and in what he is now doing both from Heaven in the name of the Father and in the anointing of the Holy Spirit to us and in Heaven with the father for us and what he will do hereafter As a man when he is in Wine his heart is made merry and chearful therewith he remembers not his former or present poverty affliction and misery but he sings and rejoyces So also it is here in a spiritual consideration This Heavenly Wine being largely drunk in by us will cause our hearts to rejoyce as through Wine even to rejoyce in the Lord Zech. 10. 7. So here the Apostle exhorts these Believers Be ye filled with the spirit singing and making melody in your hearts c. Eph. 5. 18 19 Giving thanks alwayes for all things not only at some times and for such things as our natural spirit is desiring and pleased withall but for those things which seem to be grievous unto us also unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ vers 20. In being filled with this Spirit they are filled with joy and peace with joy in the Holy Ghost Rom. 14. 17. and 15. 13. And whatever occasions of sorrow and sadness they have as with respect to the temptations trials and troubles which they here meet with and depravations which are ordered to them Though their belly trembles and lips quiver and rottentess enters into their bones c. Yet they rejoyce in the Lord and joy in the God of their salvation and even glorify him in the fires Habbak 3. 16-19 Isa 24. 7-14 15 1 Pet. 1. 6-8 Psal 89. 15. 16. Prov. 15. 15. And then they may be said to be Filled with the Spirit when they walk in Christ Jesus as they have received him and through this blessed Spirit crucify continually the lusts and affections of the Flesh Mortify their members which are upon the earth then are they led by this holy Spirit as the Apostle signifies when he saith If ye through the spirit do mortify the deeds of the body ye shall live For as many as are led by the spirit of God they are the Sons of God intimating to us that such as these are in and led by the Spirit Rom. 8. 7-9 13 14. Walk in the Spirit and ye shall not fulfil the lusts of the flesh Gal. 5. 16 17. If we live in the Spirit let us also walk in the Spirit let us not be desirous of vain-glory provoking one another envying one another vers 24 25 26. To this the Apostle exhorts these Believers That they put off as concerning the former conversation the old man which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts To put away lying To be angry