They are inward teachings 3 Evident teachings 4 Irresistible teachings 5 Arbitrary teachings 6 Determinating fixing and quieting teachings 7 They are consonant to the Word of God 8 Effectuall powerfull transforming teachings 9 Quiet and comfortable teachings 10 Abiding teachings 11 Uniform teachings 12 Only teachings 6. Prove the conclusion that only those that know the things of God can have the teachings of the spirit upon their hearts Where that place of Scripture is opened 1 Cor. 2.14 The naturall man receiveth not the things of the spirit of God because they are spiritually discerned Because all the men that have not the spirit are either bewitched or besotted or overcome with the power of some domineering lust or drunken with the pleasures of sin or have no other light to judge by but that little sparke which is left within them since the fall which is overpressed with the corruptions of sin or are guided by sense which is not able to judge aright of spiritual things 7. Make application 1. By way of insormation to shew that the greatest part of Christians are void of the spirit from that place of Scripture 2 Cor. 3 17. Where the spirit of the Lord is there is liberty Now most Christians are in a state of bondage Wherein you have three respects how the spirit is called a spirit of liberty 2. By way of exhortation to stir you up to seek after the spirits teachings upon a three fold account 1. It is a singular blessing to be taught by the spirit 2 The teachings of the spirit are better then all other teachings and the wisedome of the spirit is better then all other wisdom whatsoever for these reasons 1. All other knowledge it breeds distraction of mind and pierceth the soul through with many sorrows 2. A little knowledge with true grace is better then all the knowledge in the world without the light of the spirit 3. Other knowledge it puffeth up but the light of the spirit it humbleth 4. All other knowledge it doth but furnish a man that he might be a more able instrument for the Divel and to carry on his designs in the world 5. All other knowledge will but aggravate our condemnation because it is not sanctified by the spirit 6. All other knowledge it is subservient to the light of the spirit 7. All other knowledge will never make a man a good Christian 8 All other knowledge will never satisfie and quiet our souls 9. All other knowledge is but vanity and vexation of spirit 10. All other knowledge it rather hinders then promotes the salvation of men 11. God hath a time when he will blast upon all humane unsanctified knowledge 2. If thou art taught by the spirit it is an evident sign thou art the friend of God 3. If thou art taught by the spirit it is a true sign that thou art instated into the Covenant of grace 8. Give several signs whereby we may know we are taught of the spirit 1. He that is taught by the spirit of God is of an humble spirit 2. He is of a joyful spirit 3. He that is taught from above will not grudge at the dispensations of God to others but will do what lies in his power to teach others 4. He that is taught of the spirit is a man of another spirit then he was before 5. He is of a meek spirit Wherein you have the several kindes of meeknesse opened and what it is to be of a meek spirit 6. He that is taught of the spirit is one that seareth God Wherein you have the several kinds of fear declared and what it is to fear God aright 7 He that is taught of the spirit will still desire to have further discoveries of the spirit upon his heart 8 He that is taught of the spirit is of a heavenly mind and can perform all duties in a spiritual manner 9. Shew what are the extraordinary teachings of the Spirit from the ordinary 10. This head is discovered in four particulars Declare the times wherein the spirits teachings are most manifest 1. In times of affliction 2. Neer the time of death 11. Answer several doubts and questions arising from the spirits teachings 12 Declare that it is the duty of every Christian to walk up to that light which God hath given him 1 To the light of nature 2 To the light of conscience 3 To the light of naturall improvements morall education good examples 4 To the light of the word which includes both Law and Gospel 1 Those that have only the light of the Law ought to walk up to that light 2 It highly concerns all Christians to walk up to the light of the Gospel because of the nature of this most excellent light and the aggravations of their sins who sin against it 5 To the sight of the conviction of the Spirit of God Reasons 1 Because every one shall be judged according to what measure of light he hath received 2 From the nature of light which manifests to us our evil deeds that thereby they may be reformed 3 Because he that walks not up in some cases to the light of his conscience offends in not so doing Where is shewed in what cases we may walk according to the light of our own consciences The Teachings OF CHRIST'S SPIRIT Upon the Hearts of BELIEVERS 1 COR. 2.12 Now we have received not the spirit of the world but the Spirit which is of God that we might know the things which are freely given unto us of God IN the former Chapter the blessed Apostle of the Gentiles after his wonted salutation to this Church of Corinth in the 10th verse of the same Chapter he exhorts them to unanimity and concord of spirit to wit that there be no dissentions among them but that they be knit together in one minde and in one judgment And to bring them over to this oneness of spirit of being knit together in love he doth not come in a rigorous way pleading his authority as the Apostle of Christ or the power of the Keyes or Church censures or denouncing the threatnings of the Law and the curses of God but by a sweet and alluring compellation calling them brethren and befeeching them in the Name of Jesus Christ he winnes them over to the obedience of the truth Hence observe That the readiest way to win gainsaying bretheren to the obedience of the faith Note is not to be of a fiery spirit as James and John were and presently to count them as disjoyned and disunited from the body of Christ and to count them enemies to the power of godliness and to excommunicate and dismember them but as good spirituall bone-setters according to the Apostles word Gal. 6.1 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Gal. 6.1 Metapho ra à Ghirurgis artus dissolu tos leviter connect entibus Mal. 3.2 3 To restore our fallen brethren with the spirit of meekness and to pray for them daily and to expect their re-union when the light
say For the holy Ghost shall teach you in the same hour what ye ought to say Whether the Saints in the Primitive times who suffered for the Gospel or the Martyrs in Queen Maries daies had not these influences of the Spirit upon their sad exigencies when they were brought before their cruell persecutors to answer for themselves is beyond all controversie Certainly silly men and women I mean in respect of any deep knowledge could never on a sudden express their mindes so excellently concerning the things of God had they not more than ordinary at such a time the teachings of the Spirit upon their hearts witness that woman of Exeter mentioned in the Book of Martyrs with many others The times wherein the Spirits teachings are most manifest 1. In times of affliction thou art most of all sensible of the teachings of the Spirit upon thy heart In themselves they manifest nothing to the soul but the displeasure of an angry Judge intending to destroy them but the Spirit concurring along with them and shewing us the minde and will of God they are precious cordials and purgations for the sinne of our souls If afflictions could make us hearken to the voice of God and savingly instruct us and teach us those things which concern our everlasting peace why do not many wicked wretches who live under the scourge of the Almighty all their daies who have one wave of affliction after another upon them learn obedience by the rod and understand the minde and intent of God Afflictions in themselves are neither good nor evil but accordingly as they are improved by us through the help of the Spirit according to the will of God Now although the Spirit hath written the things of God long before upon our hearts yet the manifestation of those things most of all is apparent to us when God doth instruct us by his rod together with his Spirit that those graces which for a long time were not discerned by us being pressed down by affliction may send forth a precious smell in the nostrils of our God and to the sense of others We learn by afflictions 1. To see those things which we never perceived to be in us before to wit the actings of divine grace in us supporting us and carrying us along chearfully through this valley of Baca and the actings of our spirit towards God again in way of filiall affection and son-like obedience under his hand being taught by the Spirit what the mind of God is concerning them As no man knoweth the vileness of his heart till God is pleased to let Satan have his liberty to tempt him and his own hearts lusts to draw him aside So none can know the prevailings of grace upon his own heart and the efficacy of divine teachings and the triall and experience of those things which are written upon his heart till God shall bring him under the fiery triall The Spirit hath taught us that all trust and confidence is to be reposed in God alone because God alone is able to deliver us and that we may thereby be quit and set free from all those distracting fears which do molest us Psal 37.5 Commit thy waies unto the Lord that thy thoughts may be established Now our confidence in God is then most of all exercised when all other props and staies do fail us and we cast our selves under the arms of Almighty God We know not our own strength against the temptations of sinne and Satan that we are fortified with the whole armour of God Ephes 6. to wit the shield of faith the helmet of hope the breast-plate of righteousness the sword of the Spirit the Spirit of prayer and supplication the inward support and aid of the Spirit of God and the continuall prayers of Jesus Christ interceding for us at the right hand of his Father that our graces fail not in the hour of tribulation till God shall smite us with his rod. By afflictions the teachings of the Spirit of God upon our hearts are most known to others Rev. 14.12 Here we may reade the patience of the Saints the sincerity of their hearts the power of divine grace and the sweetness of the comforts of the Spirit upon their hearts when we see them cheerfully willingly and joyfully submitting themselves to the good pleasure of God 2. By afflictions we are more and more acquainted with the evil nature of sinne which hath brought such afflictions upon us with the holiness of God which cannot away with sinne and sinners and with the exact justice of God against it in so severely punishing of it with the benefit that comes by seeking Gods face and by walking up to the light which God hath put within us 3. The Spirit of God is very active upon the hearts of believers at such a time in rooting out the remainders of originall corruption and in the exciting of those things which he hath put within them 2. Near the time of death Sweet have been the discoveries of Gods Spirit upon the hearts of his children when they have been near the time of their dissolution for these reasons 1. Because near such a time Satan and all our spirituall enemies will muster up all their assaults to weaken a believers faith hope and confidence in God especially when the believer hath been a hainous sinner formerly and after his conversion hath fallen into some gross sinne to the wounding of his own conscience and to the quenching of the blessed Spirit for a time though the sin is done away by the blood of Jesus Christ and the pardon of it sealed by the testimony of the Spirit yet the devil will be pudling in this old sore and perswading him to the contrary telling him that his conversion was never reall because since he hath fallen so foully in the flesh The devil tempted Christ when he was near the time of his suffering to drive him from his hope and confidence in God his Father Saith Christ The Prince of this world cometh and hath nothing in me Joh. 14.30 Christ was perfectly holy so that no temptation could take hold of him to overcome him ☞ or to taint him with the least sinne But we poor creatures when the devil comes to tempt us have something in us we have a great deal of unbelief abiding in us we have a body of sinne and of death and hereupon our bullwarks would easily fall our confidence in God would easily give place to unbelief were not the Spirit of God which is in us stronger than him who by way of eminency is in the world 1 Joh. 4.4 to wit the devil Now God on the other side fils a believer with continuall fresh and renewed supplies of his Spirit and with new experiences of his love unto him bringing unto his remembrance all former loving kindnesses past between God and his soul what a great work was wrought upon him in the work of conversion what various dispensations of
unless Jesus Christ intercedes and makes up the difference VIII We reade of a spirit of infirmity Luke 13.11 There was a woman which had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years i. e. she had a vehement and a great infirmity lying upon her IX We reade of a spirit of judgement and of a spirit of burning Isa 4.4 When the Lord shall have washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion by the spirit of judgement and by the spirit of burning i. e. by great judgements and by burning afflictions That Gods judgments are compared to fire appears by that place in the Prophet Ezekiel where God saith of wicked men Ezek. 21.32 I will bring them into the fire and there I will leave them You see the sad condition of wicked men God brings them into the fire of affliction and never takes them our again When God comes to deal with wicked men for their sinnes when he begins he makes an end Afflictions shall not rise up the second time saith the Prophet Nahum Nah. 1.9 But though God may bring sore judgements upon his own people and bring them into the fire of affliction he takes them out of the fire again and doth not leave them in it as he doth wicked men but when he hath accomplisht his own work upon them and they are fit vessels for his use he takes them out of the fire It is a sign thou art not reprobate silver but tried silver and a true Saint if thou canst patiently and beleevingly undergo the siery triall And though thou maiest be ready for the present to faint under the afflicting hand of God thinking that God hath forgotten thee and that he will be gracious to thee no more yet when Gods time is fully come and thy filth is throughly done away God will take thee out of the sire and thou shalt be a glorious Saint in the sight of God Indeed Gods people may be sorely smutted and besmeared with the fire of affliction as we see by experieuce that fire commonly blacks things before it makes them clear but yet they shall not be consumed as the wicked shall be but shall be delivered Ps 34 17. The Lord knoweth how to deliver the righteous out of all their afflictions Well may Gods judgements be compared to fire to the spirit of judgement and to the spirit of burning for these reasons 1. Fire purifies it separates the dross from the pure metall so afflictions they purifie the soul Gods children are afflicted that they might be made partakers of his holiness Heb. 12.10 Before affliction came upon us we were unclean we were worldly earthly minded we forgot our God we were impure instruments fit only for the devils service But by afflictions we are cleansed we are more spirituall and have learnt to minde heavenly things more watchfull more industrious to pump out sinne as fast as it comes into the soul and to be more diligent in Gods service afflictions are Gods files whereby he takes away that rust that defiles the soul How many hath a fit of sickness an outward cross in their estates relations good names the missing of their expectations the unfaithfulness of friends the deceit that is in the world or some grief which hath been as a continuall dropping upon their souls as the Stone Wind-cholick Falling sickness c. driven home from the house of their spirituall bondage and from this mysticall Egypt where there is nothing but pollution to bethink themselves of the house of their heavenly Father Before saies David Psal 119.67 I was afflicted I went astray but now have I learned thy righteous judgements Affliction it is Gods pruning knife whereby he lops off the superfluous branches it is Gods Razor whereby he shaves off the excrescencies of sinne it is Gods niter whereby he cleanseth our defiled garments They are Gods messengers sent to call us forth our of Sodom the spirituall Sodom where there is nothing but filthiness and wallowing in the mire of sinne to prepare our hearts to meet Jesus Christ our Bridegroom in the beavenly Canaan As the shepherd sets his dog at the sheep to fetch it out of the mire and dirt wherein it is plunged so afflictions are as it were Gods dogs to bark and hunt us out of the pollutions of the world that we may be made meet for the inheritance of the Saints in light 2. Fire melts some things and consumes others Afflictions melt the heart of Gods people but they consume the ungodly Josias heart melted when he heard the Law of the Lord read 2 King 22.19 though he did but hear what threatnings God had made against the breach of his Law his heart melted within him Manasses heart melted under Gods offliction Poverty of spirit comes often from poverty of purse in a childe of God But the afflictions of the wicked they do but perboyl them for hell they are but heralds of everlasting vengeance Gods pledges that he will never do them good they do but eat out their spirits their comforts their common graces against the eternall consumption of their spirits by that ever gnawing worm 3. Fire it softens some things and it hardens others So afflictions they soften the godly but harden the wicked the more God afflicted Ahaz the more he sinned and the more his heart was hardened therefore God hath put this brand of infamy upon him never to be wiped off again 2 Chron. 28.22 This is that King Ahaz So Pharachs heart was hardened by Gods judgements It is a most dreadfull sign God intends to make thee a brand of hell fire if thy heart is hardened under the afflicting hand of God How afflictions may be said to harden Fire it softens the wax but hardens the clay afflictions do not harden as considered absolutely in themselves but accidentally as they meet with the corruptions of mens wicked hearts A wicked man is like the Smiths Anvill the more he is smitten the more rebellious and stout hearted he is ☜ Affliction it is so farre from driving a wicked man to God that it drives him farther from him making him desperate in his wicked courses and like Julian the Apostate when the dart of Gods vengeance hath been upon them they have blasphemed and cursed the holy Name of God It is a most dreadfull thing and a great aggravation of our condemnation when we adde sinne to sinne under the afflicting hand of God As in Ames 4. saies the Lord I have brought such and such judgements upon you yet have you not returned unto me saith the Lord. But Gods people are of another disposition of a flexible and of a pliable nature ready to receive whatsoever God shall impart unto them they consider that God is their Father and that all their afflictions shall be for their good That God corrects them but in measure Enashim of a weak sickly crazy man and with the rods of a man and that it is either
God hath set him apart and endowed him with gifts and graces sutable for such a work there is required an outward call which is a designation approbation and setting him apart peculiarly for the work of the Pastorall charge and office the Church and people of God electing him in whose hearts he hath approved himself by his pious life and wholesom doctrine and the Presbyters by the laying on of hands ratifying their election and confirming him in his Office Acts 6. v. 3. with v. 6. 1 Tim. 4.14 Yet the inward call the call of Gods Spirit is the principall call because thereby a man is sure that God hath appointed him for this work who will bless him in it if he be faithfull unto the death Happy is that servant who goeth forth in the Name of the Lord his God that is in the authority of his God God will bless his labours and give him the reward of his work 12. Every Christian ought to walk up according to his light and that measure of knowledge which he hath received Wo be to those that walk not up to that light which God hath given them Luke 12.47 He that knoweth his Masters will and doth it not shall be beaten with many stripes 1. They that have only the light of nature to see by ought to walk up according to their light By the light of nature we know that there is a God that this God is one only God for there can be but one cause of all causes who is the first cause of all causes of whom all causes depend in esse in operari one that is infinite in whom the perfections of all the creatures do meet as all the lines do in the center that this God is to be worshipped and that this God is to be worshipped after his own way and method for who dares be so impudent to prescribe Rules and Canons of Gods worship but God himself Hence we know naturally that as there is a God so that this God hath his word wherein he delivers his minde how we ought to serve him and after what manner to do him homage By the light of nature we know that we must live honestly justly that we must wrong no man and give every one his own The Gentiles who withheld the truth in unrighteousness Rom. c. 1. and disobeyed the light of nature were punished with a dreadfull judgement from God being given over to a reprobate minde to commit all iniquity with greediness Those that walk not up to the light of nature shall be damned as well as those that sin against the light of the Gospel though their damnation shall be the lesser Although the light of nature is not a sufficient light for salvation yet I conceive that if the Heathens would but improve that naturall light which they have unto the glory of God God would come in with a greater light for the salvation of their souls And who knows but that if the Heathens did improve that light which they have to Gods glory but that God might break in upon them with a greater light with the light of the Spirit upon their hearts The work of nature is the work of the God of nature according to the Philosophicall Axiom Causa causae etiam causa causati Etsi hoc axioma cum grane salis accipiendum and if God did see us walk up to that light God would come in with a greater light upon our souls 2. The light of conscience every man ought to walk up according to the light of his own conscience Pro. 20.27 Saith Solomon The spirit of a man is the candle of the Lord searching all the inward parts of the belly God hath set up a candle in every man whereby in some measure he may be able to distinguish between good and evil This candle of the Lord is conscience searching all the inward parts of the belly which conscience is both a witness and a Judge a witness to testifie to our deeds accordingly as they be and a Judge to absolve us or condemn us for them Miserable is the condition of those persons who have their consciences continually accusing them Saith God to Cain Gen. 4.7 It lies at the door like a Mastiff-dog If thou dost well shalt thou not be accepted and if thou dost evil sin lieth at the door Sin by a Metonymy for the guilt of sinne The guilt of sinne lieth at the door it lieth at the door as a Mastiff dog lies at the door it will let thee have no rest day nor night it will haunt thee up and down in thy bed-chamber Saith Solomon Pro. 10.20 Curse not the King no not in thy thought for the bird of the air shall tell the matter and that which hath wings shall carry the thing This bird of the air is our own conscience which will never let us alone till we have confessed them Wo be to those that sinne against their own consciences their sinnes will finde them out and will torment them Blessed be they that endeavour to keep a good conscience void of offence towards God and man that will approve their hearts as in the sight of God that would not violate the peace of their own consciences in the omission of any known duty or in the commission of any known sinne for the whole world A good conscience is a continuall feast He that would keep faith and a good conscience let him be sure to walk up according to the dictates of it 3. To the light of naturall improvements morall educations wholesom instructions good examples pious conversations Wo be to those who walk not up to the light of naturall improvements that by their studies good conference offices conditions employments have much improved that light which they had according to the contemplative part of it and yet never truly have digested this light with the incomes of it by turning it into practise for the benefit of their souls Perhaps they have got a great deal of knowledge by reading by good education holy counsels observance of others and yet are never the better in their lives and conversations He that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow unless true sanctified grace be joined with it And all those good instructions morall educations which thou hast had from thy parents Master friends relations and others will but aggravate thy condemnation one day unless thou art reformed by them The good examples and the pious conversations of others do but reprove the hardness of thy heart and will rise up in judgement against thee at the last day because thou hast been admonished by their righteous dealings Noah in preparing an Ark according to Gods Word condemned the old world of unbelief and of stiff necked impenitency Every pin the good man drove into the Ark was a secret reproof of their unbelief Wo be to those that hate the light of counsell of instruction of reproof and of exhortation Consult that