unnecessary Jewish and meerly Ceremonial 2. Tithes are abolished as Jewish and Ceremonial a burden to the Saints of God and a discouragement of Industry and Tillage 3. Ministers are abolished as Antichristian and of no longer use now Christ himself descends into the hearts of the Saints and his Spirit enlighteneth them with Revelations and Inspirations 4. Magistrates are abolished as useless now that Christ himself is in purity of Spirit come amongst us and hath erected the Kingdome of the Saints upon the Earth besides they are Tyrants and Oppressors of the Liberties of the Saints and tye them to Laws and Ordinances meer humane inventions 5. Shewing them a Bible hee said here is a Book you have in great veneration consisting of two parts the Old and New Testament I must tell you 't is abolished it containeth beggarly rudiments Milk for Babes But now Christ is in glory amongst us and imparts a fuller measure of his Spirit to his Saints than this can afford and therefore I am commanded to burn it before your faces so took a Candle that hee had in a Lanthorn and set fire on the leaves Oh horrid and monstrous blasphemy Are not these New Lights think you such as are kindled with some sparkles from the fire of Hell When such Revelations and Visions are admitted then the Word is vilified and decryed And the same Spirit wee see that witnesses in the Saints as they call themselves against Tithes witnesses also against Sabbath Ministers Magistrates yea and against the very Bible too So true is that observation of Aristotle Grant one absurdity and many will unavoidably follow Admit once of New Lights and Visions of the Spirit as they are termed and you cannot keep out the most devilish and damnable errors from following after To return therefore from whence I have a little digressed when I say the Spirit teaches gradually It is thus to be understood that hee sets home Old Truths with New Light and Discoveries of them made to the soul which were not experienced before Gradual progress and such growth in grace and knowledge is the Christians duty as well as the donation of the Spirit of God Grow in grace and in the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ 2 Pet. 3.18 God in the Gospel commands us and hee by his Spirit helps us to grow in grace and knowledge And though the Spirit teaches in the Word that there can be no absolute perfection in this life telling us in the Words of St. John 1 Joh. 1.8 That if wee say wee have no sin wee deceive our selves and the Truth is not in us Yet the Spirit teacheth the soul of a true Christian gradually to breathe after Perfection Hee makes him come to God in and through Christ for justification and absolution from sin ne damnet that the condemning power of sin may be taken away hee breathes after sanctification ne regnet that sin should not reign in their mortal bodies hee breathes after glorification ne sit that sin should not exist or have any being at all in him that hee may be wholly freed from sin CHAP. XIV Practical Deductions from Gods Presence by his Spirit Matter for examination and tryal Seven Rules to try whether wee are taught by Gods Spirit Exhortation to own the Spirit as our Grand Teacher Motives and Directions Matter of Reproof to those that are all for the Spirit and nothing for the Word To Formalists To Carnal Persons Matter of Consolation to true Christians The Spirit teaches them the best lessons Especially four They are taught to walk in the best way To aim at the best ends § 1. FRom the Presence and Teaching of the Spirit of God many practical and profitable inferences may be raised Some few that are most material and most subservient to the design of this Treatise I shall propound and prosecute in this chapter as the Conclusion of the whole I. If God be present to teach his Children by his Spirit If wee would know then whether wee are the Children of God let us examine and try whether wee are taught by the Spirit or no. There is an easie way for our being deceived herein Natural parts may carry men far in the knowledge of the things of God and common illumination of the Spirit may carry us much further and yet all this while wee may come far short from the saving teaching of the Spirit of God 'T is worth while then to examine our selves by such Rules as may clearly undeceive us in a matter of so great concernment § 2. Rule 1. That Knowledge of Divine Truths that drives us off from God comes not from the teachings of the Spirit The very end and main design of the Spirits teaching is to bring us home to God and Christ Now if any Truth drives us off from God how can this come from the Spirits teaching Conviction of sin and self-abhorrency under it may and usually do come from the Spirit of God but then these drive the soul to God for the pardon of sin And when the Spirit is come he shall convince the world of Sin Joh. 16.8 and of Righteousness When the Spirit sets home sin upon the soul in order to conversion and salvation hee also clearly discovers the Righteousness of Christ for the removal of it But when sin is discovered so as to drive us to despair or to tempt us to presume upon Gods mercy without any consideration at all that the Justice of God also must be satisfied this is no teaching of the Spirit Coming unto God in a way God never owned nor prescribed is a direct running away from him So that though wee come to God to presume upon his mercy wee do in reality run away from him because God cannot shew mercy to the eternal dishonour and ruine of his Justice Mercy cannot be exerted on poor sinners till the breaches of Gods honour are repaired and his Justice satisfied Coming to God by Faith through Christ makes way for both and then both Mercy and Justice shall triumph and rejoyce together in the salvation of rebellious sinners § 3. Rule 2. Hee that pretends to much new knowledge and yet continues in his old sins is not taught by the Spirit of God To pretend to the Spirit and live in the flesh is double iniquity Simulata sanctitas est duplex iniquitas The Law of the Spirit frees the soul from the Law of sin and death Rom. 8.2 Vers 5. They that are after the Spirit mind the things of the Spirit read 6 7 8 9. verses Gods Spirit teaches none to continue in the constant practice of known sins Hee doth not allow them to sin and then teach them that that is to be spiritual to deem nothing sin that wee possibly can commit Hee doth not allow souls to live as they lift and then teach them that God sees no sin in his Children How can you be taught of God and yet follow your old courses of sin
knowledge into practice John 13.17 If ye know these things happy are yee if yee do them If the Spirit should teach us knowledge without practice he would leave us lame if practice without knowledge hee would leave us blind but teaching profitably he teaches both that leads us unto happiness There are many obstructions 'twixt the head and the heart which hinder our knowledg from having a kindly influence upon practice which the Spirit by his teaching doth remove So that what enters into the head in the notion comes down to the heart for operation True Christians are of another make than to resemble the Toad which hath a Pearl in the head but the whole body full of poyson They have not the Pearl of knowledge onely but the Jewel of practice also and this makes them truly precious in Gods eyes Alas what will all the notions in the world do good for the mortifying our sins and cleansing the soul from sinful affections without practice If wee have a receipt onely for a disease that troubles us and not take the physick prescribed wee may languish away by the violence of the disease bee the receipt never so rare and admirable Application works cures both as to spiritual and bodily diseases 'T was practice of the Law of God that made St. Paul differ from himself a proud and knowing Pharisee by becoming an humble practical Christian Hee knew much but practised little that left him in Hypocrisie If I have all knowledge and want Charity I am sayes Paul but as sounding Brasse and a tinkling Cymball 'T is not much knowledge but practice according to what they know speaks men thriving Christians indeed Davids Prayer is made for both as knowing that knowledge without practice is but vain Psal 119.66 Teach mee good judgement and knowledge For I have beleeved thy command For good judgement 't is in the Hebrew 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 bonitatem sensus goodnesse of sense and feeling Hee prayes for an inward sense a Spiritual feeling a practical taste of the commands of God His eyes were enlightned before now he desires to have his heart exercised in the Law of God as to the practice of it § 7 Secondly The Spirit teaches profitably in that hee teaches particularly Gods Spirit teaches a true Christian to apply all that he hears and reads unto himself Hee thinks the Commands belongs to him the Threatnings to him and all that is written or preached that speaks matter of obedience or reformation that he is concerned in it hee sees all concerns his souls welfare as if it had been written on very purpose for him Observe here the carriage of ungodly hearts When they hear particular sins reproved they put it off to others such an one say they had his lesson to day hee was met withal in such a Sermon and by such expressions Well but a true Christian in any such close expressions that meet with the conscience is taught by the Spirit to say Numquid ego talis Am not I the man Is not this my sin Is it not my very case He hears hypocrisie condemned in attending upon the service of God Well am not I che Hypocrite that is lashed by those cutting reproofs Hee hears a Christian may obtain assurance young men may overcome the world Have I had these things or no Am not I far short from what a true Christian may bee and ought to bee Thus ungodly men rest onely in the generals but the true Christian brings the generals down to his particular case well knowing that Dolus latet in universalibus That grossest soul-deceit lyes in resting only in universals § 8. 7. The Spirit of God teaches souls Gradually God deals with particular souls as hee hath done with the Church in general clears up truth by degrees The Church at first and when lowest had truth enough discovered to constitute it a true Church but by degrees little and little truths in particular were made more clear Is Casaubonus Ex. con Baron Ex. 1. ss 2. mihi p. 14. Thus every soul when hee becomes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 taught of God hath necessary truths for salvation made known So that suppose him to dye presently after conversion hee hath knowledge enough to carry him to Heaven But the longer hee lives the more he grows an increase is made in his Grace in knowledge as well as in the rest of his Graces Wee have no foundation for such gradual teaching as to expect the Spirit should teach more truths afterwards than are written in the Word of God No but that which I speak of is that the Spirit clears up the same truths with greater evidence of light then the Soul had before if they were truths absolutely necessary And as for other truths which contribute to the well being and not absolutely to the being of a true Christian the Spirit teaches these by degrees some after others none of which perhaps were known to the soul at first conversion But still in revealing New Truths to the soul the Spirit doth not add New Truths to the Word but sets home the Old Truths with New Lights New Light in the faculty wee acknowledge Now lights as to the Object wee reject as that which if once admitted proves the uncontroulable Guide to the grossest delusions For when once the mind is pre-possessed with an expectation of such New Lights then every suggestion of the Devil is presently embraced in it self and propounded unto others as Divine Raptures and Heavenly Visions and Revelations See c. 14. ◠11 And then how miserably forlorn are such deluded creatures when they by such courses tempt God to work miracles for their recovery or they are for ever undone For the pretence of the Spirit in its dictates of Truths besides and above the Word will fetch Arguments from the same Spirit to maintain them though the grossest delusions and so the Word and all ordinary means of reducing such souls to their right wits again become wholly useless and unprofitable Wee have had too many years experience of the dismal sad effects of this grand principle of Enthusiasme and Delusions Affrica was never more fruitful and productive of Monsters of nature than England hath been of Monsters in Morality and Divinity since such New Lights and Revelations have been owned and greedily entertained Instances of this nature are as obvious as for their nature horrid and blasphemous But that the Reader may see these are not meer declamations but great realities let him consider that remarkable one of the five Lights of Walton in Surrey See this as large in the History of Independency 2. part p. 152. Six Souldiers came to the Parish-Church there one of them told the people that hee had a Vision and received a command from God to deliver his Will to them which hee was to deliver and they to receive upon pain of damnation It consisted of five Lights 1. That the Sabbath was abolished as
character had this been of St. Pauls Christianity and Saintship I live according to the light within I am directed by the rule of Reason I avoid all those gross sins that the light of nature checks mee for I am no sensualist nor swearer nor drunkard nor adulterer or prophane person yea but what is all this to the life of Faith in the Son of God And indeed Paul could have said all that and much more whilst hee was in his wretched estate of unregeneracy Yea as touching the Righteousness of the Law hee was blameless Phil. 3.6 Hee was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 such an one that in the judgement of others hee could not be complained of as a breaker of any Law hee was a strict Pharisee a very exact observer of Gods Law Yet how doth hee esteem of these things which once hee counted his gain vers 7. Vers â— But what things were gain to mee these I counted loss for Christ The inside the outside the all of a Moralist reaches no further than the meer outside of a true Beleever I have sometimes thought that the Pharisees prayer which describes his profession of Holiness meerly by negatives was a pretty exact character of that Religion that is most exactly squared by the Light within Quaker God I thank thee sayes the Pharisee that I am not as other men are Extortioners Unjust Adulterers or even as this Pablican Luk. 18. Thus they ordinarily make up their Profession of Negatives they are none of the debaucht prophane swearing rabble Alas what is all this to the Positive part of Christianity to the life of Faith and Holiness in a crucified Jesus and depending upon his Righteousness for eternal salvation Look but to the Positive Practical part of a Pharisees Religion see how they are shamefully out-stript Vers 12. I fast twice in the week Vers 12 I give Tithes of all that I possess Alas what hopes of Heaven in the way of such a Profession that leaves men far short of Pharisaical Holiness When as our Saviour in his Sermon on the Mount tells us plainly Mat. 5. â— Except your Righteousness exceed the Righteousness of the Scribes and Pharisees yee shall in no case enter into the Kingdome of Heaven Well! when all is done the life of Faith is the life that a true Christian must lead that will bring him to Heaven This the Word of God teaches and this was St. Pauls practice when hee out-went his own former Pharisaical Holiness Phil. 3.8 9 I do count all things but dung that I may win Christ and be found in him not having mine own Righteousness which is of the Law but that which is through the Faith of Christ the Righteousness which is of God by Faith § 6. Secondly Heavenly-mindednesse 'T is the VVord of God onely directs us to this â—ol 3.2 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Set your affections upon things that are above not upon things that are below The word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 To set our affections implyes a double act of the soul the one of the mind meditating the other of the will loving and embracing Things above should be objects of a true Christians thoughts will and affections Doth any Loadstone in the world draw Heaven-ward except the VVord of God To mind things that are above is quite crosse to our natural inclinations and our carnal desires And if ever wee are effectual in this duty wee must attribute it wholly to Gods Presence in his VVord that sets it home closely and powerfully upon our hearts Hence S. Paul Phil. 3.2 Our Conversation is in Heaven 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 our Citizen-ship it is in Heaven The VVord of God is a Christians Charter that entitles him to be a Citizen of the New Jerusalem Look to the wisest man in the world that wants Grace and the direction of the VVord hee hath much of the Devil and of the Beast in him his very wisdome is both sensual and Devilish VVill not such as these are stand upon their own heads and shake their heels against Heaven rather than set their hearts and affections and minds there 'T is the VVord of God alone that herein is like to water which mounts up as high as its first rise it had its Original from Heaven and it rests not till it brings mens minds thither again at present and both soul and body too of all true Beleevers at the last § 7. 3. Mortification of all the most hidden and secret sins Rom. 6 1â— Col 3.5 Let not sin raign in your mortal bodies c. Mortisie therefore your members that are upon the earth that is wee must study how to repress and beat down all our corrupt nature however it breaks out whatever affections or unlawful actions do arise wee must slay in their first rising This is a peculiar injunction of the VVord of God to promote inward mortification of the whole body of sin and all the members thereof And this speaks First A serious purpose of resisting of sin and this turns the heart from the waies of sin Secondly An avoiding all the occasions of sin this keeps the heart from returning unto sin Thirdly A daily use of the best means to subdue sin this helps us to a constancy in our purpose against sin that wee may prosperously go on in this work of God § 8. 4. Inward Humility of the mind Be clothed with Humility Pet. 5.5 1 Pet. 5.5 To make Humility the inward ornament of the soul is onely an effect of the VVord of God which no other Rules can reach unto And herein the VVord of God is no waies unreasonable in this Rule for our inward soul-adorning If wee consider man either as a creature depending upon God or as a sinful creature defiled with Original sin or as a renewed creature accomplished with grace the free issue and product of Gods distinguishing mercy who may by grace become sincere but can never be made innocent or as one endowed with humane Learning though his knowledge be much yet his ignorance is greater Such like considerations as these are speaks it highly rational for a man to be truly humble The highest Moralists are ignorant of this spiritual duty because they are unacquainted with those pressing motives that the Word of God urges us to humility with Let never so great a shew of humility be made if wee own not the Word to teach us our very humility will discover our pride Wee may perhaps make a shew of humility because there is some real comeliness in that grace but not in that way or manner that the Word directs us and so wee discover our pride in that wee will not be beholding to the Word to teach us Such duties as these are come not from corrupt nature nor indeed can they for nothing crosses it more than these VVe need not suspect the Devil to have a hand in the putting of us upon the sincere
and experience the Presence of the Spirit and his teaching by the Word I shall to clear up this Argument further answer these two Questions Quest 1. How does the Spirit of God teach in the Word Quest 2. What are the qualifications of the Spirits teaching Quest 1. How does the Spirit teach in the Word Answ These five several waies 1. Removendo by removing of Impediments Before the Spirit of God doth fully dispatch his work hee removes all hinderances and impediments out of the way Though the Spirit of God be not the natural Agent yet herein hee much resembles them They remove hinderances ere they finish their work or can effectually compleat it The fire burns not till the moisture be consumed The Sun enlightens not till the darkness be expelled Thus the Spirit works not fully on the soul to teach it till the hinderances of our learning be removed Four Impediments removed § 2. 1. An unwillingness to be taught Job layeth down the character of a wicked man Therefore they say unto God Job 21.14 depart from us for wee desire not the knowledge of thy waies Observe here the particle Therefore it refers to the fore-going verse 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 They spend their daies in wealth or mirth the word denotes both or whatsoever may be deemed Bonum juaundum A pleasing good thing Therefore they say unto God depart from us Oh 't is wealth and worldly prosperity and carnal jollity that make many so unwilling to be acquainted with God and the knowledge of his waies that is of those waies that God would have them to walk in They are willing to be rich but unwilling to be holy They are forward to entertain jovial mirth but loath to give way to real sorrow for sin If they have but the blessings of Gods left hand they care not for the mercies of his right hand Gain is is their Godliness and Gold is their God But say they wee care not for thee wee desire not the knowledge of thy waies Mercerus in Locum God here rips open the hearts of wicked men They say that is as the Psalmists Fool did in his heart there is no God Few so grosly prophane as to say this openly that they care not for saving knowledge yea but this is in their hearts they are unwilling to be taught They love folly Prov. 1.2 and hate knowledge Now this is that the Spirit removes as a great hinderance of knowledge What Master can do good on any Scholar that is wholly averse to his endeavours unwilling to be taught yea that plainly hates learning Thus there is no good at all to be done on such who are wholly unwilling to learn saving Truths There is the cure Behold I will pour out my Spirit unto you Prov. 1.23 I will make known my words 'T is the Spirit of God must remove our unwillingness to be taught or else wee shall still be block-heads and dunces in the School of Christ Psa 110.3 Thy People shall be willing in the day of thy Power Till Christ send out his Spirit to prepare subjects for him they will not come unto Christ that they may be saved § 3. 2 Impediment Fleshly lusts These Barracado the Spirit of God out of the soul The Spirit of God takes no liking or pleasure in such impure houses Veniunt ad candida tect a columbae Doves come chearfully to white and clean houses The Spirit of God Ephos 4.18 19 the Dove of the Gospel abominates impure unclean and unchaste souls In Ephes 4.18 Wee read of those that are darkened in their understandings Vers 19. gives the reason They gave themselves up to lascivionsness to work all uncleanness with greediness The loss of God at first in Paradise left all men in a state of Ignorance and Darkness but our fleshly lusts and corruptions make us have an hard heart and a seared conscience and keeps us from renewing our acquaintance with God The natural man knoweth not the things of God 'T is true of every natural unregenerate man but most clear in those that are devoted to the worst sort of carnality to fleshly lusts The Spirit of God removes this Impediment § 4. 3 Impediment is Pride Ignorance and Pride ordinarily go together Though few are so sottish as to be proud of their ignorance yet usually ignorant people have so much of pride as to keep out the means of saving knowledge It is ordinary for much natural knowledge to be there where there is not a dram of saving grace Now knowledge without grace makes men devilish proud this was the very sin of the Devils Knowledge puffeth up 1 Cor. 8.1 Now the Spirit of God must make us humble ere wee shall be taught by him A proud Christian seems to be a contradiction when as all things in Christianity administers matter for our humility So that the Spirit must first remove our Pride ere hee will make us Christians indeed § 5. 4 Impediment is Curiosity Curious inquirers have alwaies layn under the lash of Christ Upon all emergencies he takes occasion severely to condemn them Peter is sharply taken up for this by our Saviour who would fain have known what should become of the beloved Disciple John Christ tells Peter If I will John 21.22 that hee tarry till I come what is that to thee follow thou mee A full example and instance wee have of it Act. 1.6 7. All the Disciples being together they asked Christ Lord wilt thou at this time Act. 1.6 7 restore again the Kingdome unto Israel Vers 7. And hee said unto them It is not for you to know the times or the seasons The reason why our Saviour alwaies checks this humour of Curiosity is because the great indulgers of this are most times neglecters of matters of necessity This is plainly hinted at and Curiosity it self reproved and condemned in that place of St. Luke Luke 13.23 24 One asks of Christ Are there few that bee saved What a curious question is here What profit if it should be known or how could this advance the inquirers salvation to know punctually how few or how many shall be saved Our Saviour sets him upon other work secretly yet sharply reproves this fond curiosity vers 24. Strive to enter in at the strait gate As if hee had said what is that to thee whether few or many here is your work if you would be saved you must strive your selves to enter in at the strait gate Bee rather conscientious in practice than curious in your enquiries this is the way to bring you to Heaven This is the most dangerous Engine the Devil uses to undoe souls withall For when the Spirit hath made souls willing to be taught and have thrown by lust and pride which made them slight and under value knowledge And the Devil sees they are in good earnest for knowledge they hear and read Scriptures to get knowledge then hee strives
to turn them to vain inquiries and curious speculations that so if they will be knowing hee may keep them busied about unprofitable curiosities contrary to the saving knowledge taught by the Holy Spirit of God § 6. Five waies Satan promotes Curiosity to prevent saving knowledge First By putting us upon inquiring after those things which God hath not revealed It might prevent many miscarriages in inquisitive curious minds if they had often such handsome jerks as St. Aust in gave him that would needs know what God was doing of before hee created the World hee told him hee was making Hell for such curious inquirers into Gods secrets Secret things belong to God yet the secret of the Lord is with them that fear him Labour to fear God and all those secrets that are for our advantage shall be known It 's the greatest folly in the world to endeavour to be wise beyond Gods revealed will Secondly By making us industrious to inquire after those things that nothing concerns us As when any are busying themselves about the Apostasie of the Angels and searching after reasons of the irrecoverableness of their fall and in the mean while neglect salvation offered by Christ for their own lost and undone souls Thirdly By putting us upon the studying after the knowledge of things less necessary As when one should devote and immerse himself wholly in the searching into the circumstances of Worship and the ceremonies of the Church and in the mean while neglect the studying the very Articles of the Covenant of Grace Fourthly By putting us upon studying the more difficult places of Scripture neglecting those that are most for edification When one reads the Revelations of St. John more than his plain Epistles The Devil knows hee is no loser and the curious soul but a little gainer if hee can but perswade him to be alwaies poring upon Daniels Prophesies with a neglect of Davids Psalms If hee can but put him upon reconciling difficult Scriptures and neglect mortifying unruly lusts and the quickening his affections by the plainest Truths Fifthly By making souls not to rest barely in Gods revealed Will without a reason of it and for it How far this Curiosity-hath driven those of the Socinian perswasion may easily be seen by those many gross opinions that are extant in their writings which make many for-bear to own them as Christians It is a very gross failing in the studying of things of God to bring all things down to the measure of humane reason There is reason for us to beleeve it if God sayes it and to practise any thing if wee are assured that God commands it And yet Christianity is so far from stripping men of their reason that no Profession doth put any upon so true an use of it and doth so ennoble the rational faculties of man as the Christian Religion doth The Spirit of God in teaching souls effectually the things of God for their salvation removes this gross impediment of a curious mind and makes plain necessary and most edifying Truths to be most acceptable § 7. II. Suggerendo The Spirit teacheth the Soul by suggesting Gospel Truths unto the soul When the Spirit of God teaches any in order to make them new men it brings new Truths into the minds of men All Old things are done away and all things become new These are called new Truths in regard of the subject receiving of them not in regard of the Spirits suggesting of them for the same Truths are alwaies taught by the Spirit now as were formerly nor in opposition to the Word for so they are not new Truths but such as of old were revealed and declared in the Word The very office of the Spirit in suggesting Truths is restrained by Christ himself to those Truths which our Saviour had formerly taught us I shall shew further from John 14.26 § 11. There may be new suggestions of the Spirit in setting home Divine Truths upon the mind and these are really new to the soul that receives them but they are old Truths of the Word and not new Revelations that the Spirit teaches to beleeving souls and in this sense we are to understand those Scriptures which speak of the teaching of the Spirit of God Yee need not that any man teach you 1 John 2.27 but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things and is Truth Not that we need not a Ministry but he speaks comparatively you shall not be so helped by any instructions without the Spirit as with the Spirit The Spirit shall declare the Truth as it is in Jesus The Spirit this Holy unction shall teach the Saints all things not all things knowable that is impossible for finite creatures to attain to But The Spirit teaches 1. All things needful for salvation of the Soul 2. All things needful to life and godlinesse 2 Pet. 1.3 3. All things needful to our places callings and ages 4. All things needful to preserve us in the way of Gospel Truth against errour and seducers which is the main thing St. John hints at in that expression So also in the Gospel of St. John When the Spirit of Truth is come he shall guide you into all truth John 16.13 This promise primarily belongs to the Apostles Secondarily to all Beleevers Three things promised to the Apostles First immediate illumination by the Spirit of God Secondly A full knowledge of all those Truths belonging to their Apostle-ship necessary Truths for them at that juncture of time and as to their Office Thirdly Absolute infallibility as to matter of Doctrine Three things also promised to all Beleevers First Mediate illumination teaching Truths by the Spirit of Truth in the use of the means of Grace Secondly Knowledge of all Truths necessary to salvation Thirdly Infallibility too so far forth as they adhere to the spirit teaching in the Word otherwise Gods dearest Children may be overtaken with errours § 8. III. Illuminando By enlightening the mind There must not onely be an object presented and the light of truth without but a light also within for the mind to see objects that are presented All the light in the world is never able to make us see Divine Truths savingly till wee are enlightened of the Lord. Yee were sometimes darkenesse but now are yee light in the Lord. Ephes 5.8 The Ephesians while unregenerate were meer darkenesse but after conversion they are truly enlightned their eyes are cleared their minds are rightly informed so that now they may be rightly called light in the Lord. This is a light within that wee must own and commend to all viz. Light in the Lord. Light that comes in after darknesse that speaks unregeneracy is expelled wee must walk as Children of this light Light in the Lord None truly enlightned but those that are in Christ Out of Christ the highest light is meer darknesse There is no true light that leads to salvation but what comes from Christ the Sun of Righteousnesse And this
is not in every man by Nature but conveyed onely to some by the Spirit of God who is called the Spirit of Wisdome and Revelation Ephes 1.17 Gospel Light in the soul that leads to salvation is the benefit of Christs Redemption and not of our Creation Therefore when Christ is spoken of to come into the world as Mediator to him is attributed this light of salvation The people that walked in darknesse have seen a great light Isa 9. Avenari Lex Hebr. Mal. 4 2. they that dwell in the Land of the shadow of death upon them hath the light shined Some observe that the Hebrew word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to shine hath great affinity with 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to heal It holds true here the light of the Gospel is an healing light where ever it comes All men lye sick in sin and ignorance till this light recover them No soundnesse in the Faith without a clear discovery of this light And it is worth our observation Luk. 4.18 that healing of the broken hearted and recovering sight to the blind are both joyned together and both as the effect of Christs undertaking his mediatory work If Christs as God enlightens every man that comes into the world with the light of reason yet we must not therefore beleeve that Christ enlightens every one by saving Grace as he is Mediator 'T is true all that are savingly enlightened are enlightened by Christ and his Spirit yet there are many that are never enlightened Yea and of all those that are thus savingly enlightned time was that wee might say of them Yee were sometimes darkenesse § 9. What hath been said may sufficiently serve to answer any that would bee satisfied about that inward Light so much spoken of now adayes of which I shall only propound these four things First Every man in the world hath an inward light of nature or light of reason call'd in Scripture Prov. 20.27 the candle of the Lord. According to which every man hath some seeds of the knowledge of good and evil This is the light of mans natural Conscience Rom. 2.14 15. This light serves to many good uses but not to bring Souls to Heaven Secondly Every true Saint one that is regenerated truly by the Word and Spirit hath an inward light of the Spirit the light of Grace This is light in the Lord. According to this Ephes 4.8 a Saint hath his Conscience savingly enlightned This light is not onely useful but necessary to all true Christians in their life here as Christians and will bring them to Heaven at the last Thirdly There is a middle light betwixt the light of Nature and the saving light of Grace that is the common work of the Spirit called illumination too which many in the visible Church do enjoy and yet are reprobates According to this Heb. 4.6 men may have an awakened conscience This light may bee useful to others but it will not advantage a wicked man at all if hee go no further than this common work Fourthly No man that receives inward saving light of the Spirit but was first in great spiritual darkenesse Thus S. Paul saith of the Ephesians Ye were sometimes darkenesse but now are yee light in the Lord. Ephes 5.8 So that it must needs bee a very grosse mistake to think that any a far greater to assert that all are born with this inward saving light And our Saviour was much overseen in sending Paul to open mens eyes and to turn them from darkenesse to light Acts 26.18 by preaching of the Gospel if so be they had this Light by Nature Wee grant you see and if need were would sufficiently prove with undeniable Arguments a Light within yet not such as many ignorantly enough plead for Vide Fr. Junium de Theol. vera c. 16. expl ss 32. T. 1. p. 1414. Let others therefore sit down and embrace that so much admired Darling of an Inward Natural yet saving Light in all wee know 't is but a Changeling and not the genuine off-spring of the Spirit of God Much like that Strumpet-Goddesse of the men of Ephesus Great is Diana of the Ephesians But in St. Pauls Language it proved a great cry about nothing For saies hee Wee know that an Idoll is nothing § 10. IV. The Spirit of God teaches Corroborando by strengthening the mind and understanding The mind of man is full of weakness as well as darkness The Spirit of God in his teaching brings not only light but also strength to the souls of Gods Children Paul prayes that they may be strengthened Eph. 3.16 with might by his Spirit in the inward man The inward man the soul of a Saint is the chief object of the Spirits care For the outward man that is many times weak and vile but the Spirit comes by his teaching to renew and streng-then the inward man that though the outward man decay yet the inward man may be renewed strengthened and confirmed day by day And if any shall enquire how God by his Spirit doth strengthen the minds of his Children Fr. Junius de Th. vera c. 12. p. 1403. T. 1. A learned and judicious Divine gives this solid satisfaction to his inquiry Whatsoever power is implanted in man by nature to apprehend that God by the power of his Spirit doth so possess that to those gifts of nature hee conjoyns the gifts of his grace that are answerable to them For to the Principles that are naturally placed in the understanding hee super-adds the Principles of Grace To Reason that arises out of those Principles hee conjoyns the increase of his Divine Light To the Conclusions and Determinations which reason hath attained to by the most imperfect light of nature hee super-adds supernatural and most perfect Demonstrations out of which heavenly Knowledge may be raised in the minds of godly men To conclude hee propounds heavenly objects to be apprehended by the mind and will after an heavenly manner and also raises the will to the apprehension of those objects that are propounded § 11. V. And lastly Recolligendo The Spirit teaches by raising and recollecting fallen Truths Mans memory is very slippery especially as to Divine Truths very apt to let them slip and leak thorow Therefore wee ought to give the more earnest heed to the things that wee have heard lest at any time wee should let them slip Heb. 2.1 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 lest wee let them run out as leaking Vessels are wont to do Or the Metaphor may be taken from Paper that lets letters sink in and the Ink run abroad that they cannot be distinctly read Thus Divine Truths either leak out or run abroad that they prove useless to souls at the greatest need Now the Spirit recollects and brings in Divine Truths upon several occasions as may be most for the souls advantage Hee shall teach you all things and bring all things to your remembrance what-ever I
and prophaneness See 2 Pet. 1. vers 4 5 6. Those that are made partakers of the Divine Nature have escaped the pollution of the world they add to their virtue knowledge to their knowledge temperance c. The Spirit changes the garments of those he takes to be his Scholars hee throws off the raggs of their old sins and puts on the Robes of Christs Righteousness and upon those Robes hee places this Golden Chain of Graces as an Ornament to him being under the guidance and teaching of the Spirit of God This Chain is made up of many links Faith Virtue Knowledge Temperance Patience Godliness Brotherly Kindness Charity Hee that hath all these is truly knowing vers 8. Hee that wants these is stark blinde vers 9. § 4. Rule 3. Hee is taught by the Spirit that hath the sweetness and comforts of Gospel-Truths made out seasouably to the soul Thus may a Christian know that a promise is set home by the Spirit when it comes in to the upholding of the soul under grievances and afflictions at present incumbent on the soul or for the mortification of sin which is his great burden and trouble of his life Where our own strength and parts fail there the Spirit of God ordinarily comes in with a supply When wee know not in what box our evidences our comfort our quickening our strength lyes then the Spirit of God comes in and opens the promise to us and such places of the Word as are both suitable and seasonable for us § 5. Rule 4. Hee is taught of the Spirit that is impartial in his desires of and endeavours after knowledge What-ever concerns either the Glory of God or the welfare of his soul hee labours to have that made known to him Partiality makes men act onely to have so much knowledge as to have their tongues by it tipt with the language of Canaan when in the mean while they look not at the ordering of their lives as becomes an Israelite indeed The language of Cornelius to Peter is that which well becomes a true Disciple of Christ Wee are all here present before God to hear all things that are commanded thee of God Act. 10.33 Nay be they never so bitter things yet a gracious heart desires to know the worst as well as the best of himself what makes most against him as well as what makes most for him As it was with Eli 1 Sam. 3.17 hee urges Samuel to let him know all that was the mind of God be it never so bitter It is contrary with carnal hearts if any thing cross their lusts or go contrary to their carnal designs they care not for knowing of it Herod cast John into prison because hee told him it was not lawful for him to have his Brothers Wife Mark 6.18 Thus ungodly hearts rise against the Word when it would part them from their sins and ascribe a close and convincing Sermon rather to the envy of the Teacher than to the teaching of the Spirit of God § 6. Rule 5. Hee receives the Truths of God with much humility Paul was desperately proud whilst a Pharisee ignorant of the spirituality of the Law but very humble when hee became a sincere Christian Act. 20.19 Serving the Lord with all humility of mind Sincere souls like the lowest valleyes are very fruitful whilst proud hearts like the lofty hills are barren and unprofitable See the deportment of Agur I am more brutish than any man p. 0.30.2 3 I have not the understanding of a man Yet hee exhorts his Scholars to fetch their knowledge from the High One. The Holy Spirit seeing so deep a Self-denial and Humility in him ranks his wisdome with Solomons and his Proverbs and the Wise mans are both joyned together Rule 6. Hee that is taught by the Spirit by that knowledge is carried out to purifie himself from sin 2 Cor. 7.1 Having these promises let us cleanse our selves from all filthiness of flesh and spirit perfecting holiness in the fear of the Lord. Where the Spirit teaches purity of life is one main lesson The very office of the Spirit is to sanctifie the soul Act. 15.9 Impurity of life is no Livery for the Disciples of Christ to wear 1 John 3.3 Rule 7. Knowledge taught by the Spirit speaks the soul under the influence of the Spirit both before and after his teaching First Antecedently The Spirit puts the soul to pray earnestly for his saving discoveries of Gospel-Truths Luke 11.13 How much more shall the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask it The Spirit here is further discoveries of the Spirit And hee that goes in the sense of his darkness and ignorance seldome comes away without an answer to his prayer Secondly Consequently hee is carried out to praise God for the communication of saving knowledge and teachings of his Spirit Carnal hearts ascribe all to their own parts and industry Gracious souls own Gods Spirit in all their discoveries and do desire to improve all to his glory and praise § 7. II. Hence arises matter for Exhortation If the Spirit be present to teach us wee should easily be exhorted to own the Spirit as our grand Teacher In that it is both our greatest wisdome and chiefest comfort so to do First It is our greatest wisdome Learners if wise make choice of the ablest Masters to teach them There is none better nor abler to teach thee than the Spirit of God Best of men have their imperfections in point of Knowledge and so are but imperfect Teachers But the Spirit of God as hee is omniscient and knoweth all things so hee is infinite and able to teach us all things Job 14 26 Hee that teacheth you all things 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 this word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to teach is oftentimes accommodated in the New Testament to the Articles of Faith in the Gospel and then the meaning is the Spirit teacheth us all things necessary to salvation Is it not our wisdome now to have an Omniscient and Infinite Teacher Other Teachers though never so well accomplished are not able to teach an Art or Science if they meet with an unfit subject A dull Scholar is many times a discredit to an ingenious and very good Master yet the reason is not because the Master wants skill to teach but because the Scholar wants parts to learn Now the Spirit of God either findes or makes men fit to be taught If men want parts hee enlarges the abilities of their minds if they have natural parts hee sanctifies them And indeed in this sense hee findes none but makes all fit to be taught for none hath the least degree of saving and fanctifying knowledge but what comes from the Spirits teaching Secondly It will bee our chiefest comfort One dram of knowledge from the Spirit of God goes further than a thousand notions from natural and meer humane teaching in point of comfort What comfort will the most
knowing men have of all their knowledge and learning if when they come to dye they want Grace That will bee the most comfortable knowledge that a man can reflect upon and find comfort in when he comes to leave the world and is just going to give up his account to God And I leave any to judge whether the profound Schollar the deep Polititian the knowing Artist the skilful Lawyer the expert Physitian the exact Mathematician or the plain practical Christian is like to have more comfort in reflecting upon their knowledge at that day The name of the Holy Spirit our teacher is also Comforter John 14.26 Because what the Spirit teaches advances the Christians comfort as well as informs his conscience § 8. To back the present exhortation further to the two motives mentioned I shall subjoyn some directions which shew us how wee must own the Spirit as our teacher 1. Let us hear him frequently The best teaching cannot come too often The Word of God and Ordinances of the Gospel are those means the Spirit teaches Souls in Frequency in these is our duty and the Spirit will teach us therein Frequent reading the Word Meditate day and night in the Law of the Lord. Psal 1.2 Bee often hearing the Word Preached Psal 26.8 Lord I have loved the habitation of thy house and the place where thine honour dwells Men will bee there often whither their love carries them Gods House will bee frequented by those that have any love to the Ordinances those that do not own them shew they have no love to them at all Psal 122.1 I was glad when they said unto mee come let us go up into the house of the Lord. The great joy of a Christian lyes in this that hee can Frequent Gods Ordinances Oh at what a rate would the persecuted Christians in the primitive times have purchased those liberties of hearing which now may bee had yet most abominably contemned When they were forced to meet in Caves in the night to hear the Word and would lose their lives rather than bee deprived of the benefit of Ordinances § 9. 2. Let us hear the Spirits teaching diligently It is one thing to bee bodily present another to have an ear to hear the Spirit teaching This therefore comes in often in the Gospel Hee that hath an ear to hear let him hear what the Spirit saith Most men are like Idols when they come where the Spirit teacheth they have eyes but see not ears but hear not But if wee would have the Spirit to bee our teacher wee must labour to have that frame that Eli put Samuel into Saying go lye down 1 Sam. 3.9 and it shall bee if hee shall call thee that thou shalt say speak Lord for thy Servant heareth Here is a Rule for us to learn to profit by where-ever God hath a word to speak we should have an ear to hear Speak Lord for thy servant heareth The more earnest heed wee give the more are wee like to keep up the Spirits teaching Heb. 2.1 Therefore wee ought to give the more earnest heed to the things that wee have heard least at any time wee should let them slip Diligence and attention are the best materials to stop our leaking souls from running our 3. Let us hear ardently with devotion 'T is the unhappinesse of all men to be dark by nature and of some in the midst of spiritual light The way for us to have preaching profitable is to begg the Spirits teaching in the teaching of the Word Psal 119.18 Open mine eyes that I may understand the wonderful things of thy Law Hebr. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Reveal mine eyes i. e. take off the veyle of darkenesse and ignorance from mine eyes Had not David Gad and Nathan and other excellent teachers Yet hee prayes to have his eyes opened by the Spirit Where wee may observe hee does begg to have his eyes opened so as not to throw by the Word and to account that Spiritual perfection to live either above or without the Word But his devotion lyes here to have enlightned eyes to look further into Gods Law which hath 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 wonderful things in it or as the word denotes Things that are above and separated from us from our reason and understanding and so want a better teacher the Spirit of God to inform us Gospel Truths like Gods Children are separated things Carnal eyes can see but the outside of true Christians and carnal hearts can perceive but the external part onely of Gospel Truths till the Spirit comes to teach them § 10. Judges 3.20 4. Let us hear him reverently with submission As Eglon to Ehud when he came and told him hee had a message from God Eglon in reverence to that rises off his seat When God speaks in anger hee can make the Heavens and Earth to tremble with fear And if hee speak by his Spirit to our souls in mercy and love wee should tremble too with reverential affection and a Filial fear Great Doctors do command reverence from their inferiour Schollars How would Solomon with his wisdome bee reverenced by us but behold a greater than Solomon is here Here is the Spirit that is wisdome it self to teach souls the way to Heaven Solomons teaching is but the teaching of a man but this is the teaching of God himself which calls for our reverence and submission 5. Let us hear him obediently with resolution to practise To hear the Spirit teach and not to Practice is the next way to lose the benefit of so good a Master If the Spirit kindle a spark within us wee should endeavour to get it up to a perfect flame Quenching of the Spirit either in our selves or others is no work for a Christian to put in practise Quench-coals as to the Spirits teaching are the Devils Granadoes he throws into the world to do mischief withall These are the devils plots to blow up men without fire to undo men by extinguishing the fire of the Spirit within Bee not hearers onely but doers also of the Word Otherwise yee deceive your selves It is the grossest self-deceit Jam. 1.22 because soul-deceit to rest barely in hearing and knowing without doing Hee that knows his Masters will and does it not shall be be aten with many stripes Either obey what ye know is commanded and practise what ye hear or else better never to know or hear at all § 11. III. From Gods Presence and teaching of his Spirit there arises matter of reproof to three sorts of persons 1. To such as depend onely upon the teachings of the Spirit without the Word of God If there be any delusions in the world wee must own this as the Belzebub amongst them This is the master plot the Devil hath used in the late times to lay Gospel Ordinances under the brand of ignominy and grossest contempt Oh it 's an easy way to be spiritual to say the Spirit