withal that the World which in that Place is opposed unto them that do believe cannot receive him Chap. 14. 17. Other effectual Operations he hath upon the World for their Conviction and the Conversion of many of them But as a Spirit of Consolation He is neither promised unto them nor can they receive him until other gracious Acts of his have passed on their Souls Besides we shall see that all his Actings and Effects as a Comforter are confined unto them that believe and do all suppose Saving Faith as antecedent unto them And this is the great Fundamental Priviledge of true Believers whereby through the Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ they are exalted above all other Persons in this World And this will the more evidently appear when we shall consider those especial Operations Acts and Effects whereby Consolation is administred unto them That the Life of Man is the subject of innumerable Troubles is made evident and uncontroulable by Catholick Experience That Man is born to Trouble as the Sparks fly upward has been the constant Acknowledgment of all that have been wise in all Ages And those who have designed to drown the Sense of them in Security and Sensuality of Life have been ever looked on as greatly exorbitant from the Principles of Nature and Dictates of Reason voluntarily degenerating into the Condition of Creatures bruitish and irrational Others who will not forego the Priviledge of their Being have alwayes made it a principal Enquiry How or whence they might take and receive Relief and Comfort for their Supportment against their unavoidable Troubles Sorrows and Disconsolation Yea it is natural and necessary unto all men so to doe All men cannot but seek after Rest and Peace not only out of Choice but instinct of Nature Trouble and Sorrow being diametrically contrary unto it in its Being and tending unto its Dissolution Wherefore they all naturally seek for Consolation Hence the best and most usefull Part of the Old Philosophy consisted in the Prescription of the Wayes and Means of comforting and supporting the Minds of Men against things noxious and grievous to Nature with the Sorrowes which ensue thereon And the Topicks they had found out unto this Purpose were not to be despised where men are destitute of spiritual Light and supernatural Revelation Neither did the Wisdom or Reason of Man ever arise unto any thing more usefull in this World than to discover any rational Considerations that might allay the Sorrowes or relieve the minds of them that are disconsolate For things that are really grievous unto the Generality of Mankind do outweigh all the real Satisfaction which this Life and World can afford And to place either Satisfaction or Relief in the pursuit of sensual Lusts is bruitish But yet what did all the Spring and Well-Heads of Rational and Philosophical Consolation rise unto what Refreshment did their Streams afford The utmost they attained unto was but to confirm and make obstinate the Minds of men in a Fancy an Opinion or Perswasion contrary unto what they felt and had Experience of For what they contended for was but this that the Consideration of the common Lot of Mankind the unavoidableness of grieving accidents the shortness of humane Life the true Exercise of Reason upon more noble Objects with others of the like nature should satisfie men that the things which they endured were not evil or grievous But what doth all this amount unto in comparison of this Priviledge of Believers of this Provision made for them in all their Disconsolations by him in whom they do believe This is a Relief that never entred into the Heart of man to think of or conceive Nor can it be understood by any but those by whom it is enjoyed For the World as our Saviour testifies neither knoweth this Spirit nor can receive him And therefore what is spoken of him and this Work of his is looked on as a Fancy or the Shadow of a Dream And although the Sun of Righteousness be risen in this matter and shine on all that dwell in the Land of Goshen yet those that abide still in Egypt make use only of their Lanthorns But those who are really Partakers of this Priviledge do know in some measure what they do enjoy although they are not able to comprehend it in its Excellency nor value it in a due manner For how can the Heart of Man or our poor weak Understandings fully conceive this glorious Mystery of sending the Holy Ghost to be our Comforter Only they receive it by Faith and have Experience of it in its Effects There is in my Judgment an unspeakable Priviledge of those who are Believers antecedent unto their believing as they are Elect namely that Christ dyed in their stead alone But this is like the Wells which Isaac's Servant digged that the Philistines strove about as those which belonged unto them which though fresh usefull Springs in themselves caused them to be called Esek and Sitna Mighty strivings there are to break down the Inclosure of this Priviledge and lay it common unto all the World that is indeed Waste and useless For it is contended that the Lord Christ dyed equally for all and every one of Mankind for Believers and Unbelievers for those that are saved and those that are damned And to this purpose many pretences are pleaded to shew how the most of them for whom Christ dyed have no real Benefit by his Death nor is any thing required in them to evidence that they have an Interest therein But this Priviledge we now treat of is like the Well Rehoboth Isaac kept it unto himself and the Philistines strove not about it None contend that the Spirit is a Comforter unto any but Believers Therefore is it by the World despised and reproached because they have no Interest in it nor have the least Pretence to strive about it Did Believers therefore duely consider how they are advanced hereby through the Love and Care of Jesus Christ into an inexpressible Dignity above the residue of Mankind they would more rejoyce in it than in all that this World can supply them withall But we must proceed It appears from what hath been discoursed that this is not the first saving Work of the Holy Spirit on the Souls of Men. Regeneration and habitual Sanctification do always precede it He comforteth none but those whom he hath before sanctified Nor are any other but such capable of his Consolations There is nothing in them that can discern his acting or value what he doth of this kind And this is the true Reason why the whole Work of the Holy Spirit as a Comforter wherein consists the Accomplishment of the most glorious Promise that ever Christ made to his Church and the greatest Evidence of his continued Care thereof is so neglected yea despised amongst the generality of professed Christians A great Evidence of the apostatized State of Christianity They can have no concern in any Work of his but
ever The Moment of this Promise lyeth in his unchangeable Continuance with the Church There was indeed a present occasion rendring necessary this Declaration of the unchangeableness of his Abode For in all this Discourse our Saviour was preparing the Hearts of his Disciples for his Departure from them which was now at hand And whereas he lays the whole of the Relief which in that Case He would afford unto them upon his sending of the Holy Ghost he takes care not only to prevent an Objection which might arise in their Minds about this Dispensation of the Spirit but also in so doing to secure the Faith and Consolation of the Church in all Ages For as he himself who had been their immediate visible Comforter during the whole Time of his Ministry among them was now departing from them and that so as that the Heavens were to receive him until the time of the Restitution of all things they might be apt to fear that this Comforter who was now promised unto them might continue also only for a Season whereby they should be reduced unto a new Loss and Sorrow To assure their Minds herein our Lord Jesus Christ lets them know that this other Comforter should not only always continue with them unto the ends of their Lives Work and Ministry but abide with the Church absolutely unto the Consummation of all things He is now given in an Eternal and Unchangeable Covenant Isa. 59. 21. and he can no more depart from the Church than the everlasting sure Covenant of God can be abolished BUT it may be objected by such as really enquire into the Promises of Christ and after their Accomplishment for the Establishment of their Faith whence it is that if the Comforter abide always with the Church that so great a number of Believers do in all Ages spend it may be the greatest part of their Lives in Troubles and Disconsolation having no experience of the Presence of the Holy Ghost with them as a Comforter But this Objection is not of Force to weaken our Faith as unto the Accomplishment of this Promise For 1. There is in the Promise it self a Supposition of Troubles and Disconsolations thereon to befall the Church in all Ages For with respect unto them it is that the Comforter is promised to be sent And they do but dream who fancy such a State of the Church in this World as wherein it should be accompanied with such an Assurance of all inward and outward Satisfaction as scarce to stand in need of this Office or Work of the Holy Ghost Yea the Promise of this abiding with us for ever as a Comforter is an infallible Prediction that Believers in all Ages shall meet with Troubles Sorrows and Disconsolation 2. THE Accomplishment of Christ's Promises doth not depend as to its Truth upon our Experience at least not on what Men sensibly feel in themselves under their Distresses much less on what they express with some mixture of Unbelief So we observed before from that place of the Prophet concerning the Church Isa. 41. 27. that her way was hidden from the Lord and her Judgment passed over from her God As she complained also The Lord hath forsaken me and my Lord hath forgotten me Chap. 49. 14. But yet in both places God convinceth her of her Mistake and that indeed her Complaint was but a Fruit of Unbelief And so it is usual in great Distresses when Persons are so swallowed up with Sorrow or overwhelmed with Anguish that they are not sensible of the Work of the Holy Ghost in their Consolation 3. HE is a Comforter unto all Believers at all Times and on all Occasions wherein they really stand in need of Spiritual Consolation But yet if we intend to have Experience of his Work herein to have the Advantage of it or Benefit by it there are sundry things required of our selves in a way of Duty If we are negligent herein it is no wonder if we are at a loss for those Comforts which he is willing to administer Unless we understand aright the Nature of Spiritual Consolations and value them both as sufficient and satisfactory we are not like to enjoy them at least not to be made sensible of them Many under their Troubles suppose there is no Comfort but in their removal and know not of any Relief in their Sorrow but in the taking away of their Cause At best they value any outward Relief before Internal Supports and Refreshments Such Persons can never receive the Consolation of the Holy Spirit unto any refreshing Experience To look for all our Comforts from him to value those things wherein his Consolations do consist above all earthly Enjoyments to wait upon him in the use of all Means for the receiving of his Instances of Love and Grace to be fervent in Prayer for his Presence with us and the manifestation of his Grace are required in all those towards whom he dischargeth this Office And whilst we are found in these ways of Holy Obedience and Dependence we shall find him a Comforter and that for ever THESE things are observable in the Office of the Holy Ghost in general as he is the Comforter of the Church and the manner of his Discharge thereof What is further considerable unto the Guidance of our Faith and the Participation of Consolation with respect hereunto will be evident in the Declaration of the Particulars that belong thereunto CHAP. III. Unto whom the Holy Spirit is promised and given as a Comforter or the Object of his Acting in this Office WE have considered the Promise of Christ to send the Holy Spirit to be the Comforter of the Church and unto that end to abide with them for ever The Nature also of that Office and Work in general which hereon he undertakes and dischargeth with the Properties of them have been declared Our next Enquiry is unto whom this Promise is made and towards whom it is infallibly fulfilled How and unto what Ends in what Order as unto his Effects and Operations the Holy Spirit is promised unto any Persons and received by them hath been already declared in our former Discourses Lib. 4. Chap. 3. We shall therefore here only declare in particular who he is promised unto and received by as a Comforter And this is to all and only unto Believers those who are actually so All his Operations required unto the making of them so to be are antecedent hereunto For the Promise of him unto this End where-ever it is recorded is made directly unto them and unto them it is confined Immediately it was given unto the Apostles but it was not given unto them as Apostles but as Believers and Disciples of Christ with a particular respect unto the Difficulties and Causes of Disconsolation which they were under or should meet withall upon the Account of their being so See the Promises unto this purpose expresly John 14. 16 17 26. Chap. 15. 26. Chap. 16. 7 8. And it is declared
with undeniable Efficacy but his Assumption into Heaven testified unto his Person with an astonishing Glory 2. IT was necessary with respect unto the Humane Nature it self that after all its Labours and Sufferings it might be crowned with Honour and Glory He was to suffer and enter into his Glory Luk. 24 26. Some dispute whether Christ in his Humane Nature merited any thing for himself or no but not to immix our selves in the Niceties of that Enquiry it is unquestionable that the highest Glory was due to him upon his accomplishment of the Work committed unto him in this World which he therefore lays claim to accordingly Joh. 17. 4 5. It was so 3. WITH respect unto the Glorious Administration of his Kingdom For as his Kingdom is not of this World so it is not only over this World or the whole Creation here below The Angels of Glory those Principalities and Powers above are subject unto him and belong unto his Dominion Eph. 1. 21. Phil. 2. 9 10. Among them attended with their ready Service and Obedience unto all his Commands doth he exercise the Powers of his glorious Kingdom And they would but degrade Him from his Glory without the least Advantage unto themselves who would have him forsake his high and glorious Throne in Heaven to come and reign among them on the Earth unless they suppose themselves more meet Attendants on his Regal Dignity than the Angels themselves who are mighty in Strength and Glory SECONDLY The Presence of the Humane Nature of Christ in Heaven was necessary with respect unto Us. The Remainder of his Work with God on our behalf was to be carried on by Intercession Heb. 7. 26 27. And whereas this Intercession consisteth in the Vertual Representation of his Oblation or of himself as a Lamb slain in Sacrifice it could not be done without his continual Appearing in the Presence of God Heb. 9. 24. The other Part of the Work of Christ respects the Church or Believers as its immediate Object So in particular doth his comforting and supporting of them This is that Work which in a peculiar manner is committed and entrusted unto the Holy Spirit after the Departure of the Humane Nature of Christ into Heaven But two things are to be observed concerning it 1. That whereas this whole Work consisteth in the Communication of Spiritual Light Grace and Joy to the Souls of Believers it was no less the immediate Work of the Holy Ghost whilst the Lord Christ was upon the Earth than it is now he is absent in Heaven Only during the time of his Conversation here below in the days of his Flesh his holy Disciples looked on him as the only Spring and Foundation of all their Consolation their only Support Guide and Protector as they had just Cause to do They had yet no insight into the Mystery of the Dispensation of the Spirit nor was he yet so given or poured out as to evidence himself and his Operation unto their Souls Wherefore they looked on themselves as utterly undone when their Lord and Master began to acquaint them with his leaving of them No sooner did he tell them of it but Sorrow filled their Hearts Joh. 16. 6. Wherefore he immediately lets them know that this great Work of relieving them from all their Sorrows and Fears of dispelling their Disconsolations and supporting them under their Trouble was committed to the Holy Ghost and would by him be performed in so eminent a manner as that his Departure from them would be unto their Advantage Ver. 7. Wherefore the Holy Spirit did not then first begin really and effectually to be the Comforter of Believers upon the Departure of Christ from his Disciples but he is then first promised so to be upon a double Account 1. Of the Fall Declaration and Manifestation of it So things are often said in the Scripture then to be when they do appear and are made manifest An eminent lustance hereof we have in this Case John 7. 38 39. The Disciples had hitherto looked for all immediately from Christ in the Flesh the Dispensation of the Spirit being hid from them But now this also was to be manifested unto them Hence the Apostle affirms that though we have known Christ after the flesh yet henceforth we know him no more 2 Cor. 1. 16. That is so as to look for Grace and Consolation immediately from him in the Flesh as it is evident the Apostles did before they were instructed in this unknown Office of the Holy Ghost 2. Of the full Exhibition and eminent Communication of Him unto this End This in every kind was reserved for the Exaltation of Christ when he received the Promise of the Spirit from the Father and poured it out upon his Disciples 2. THE Lord Christ doth not hereby cease to be the Comforter of his Church For what he doth by his Spirit he doth by himself He is with us unto the end of the World by his Spirit being with us and he dwelleth in us by the Spirit dwelling in us and whatever else is done by the Spirit is done by him And it is so upon a Three-fold Account For 1 The Lord Christ as Mediator is God and Man in One Person and the Divine Nature is to be consider'd in all his Mediatory Operations For he who worketh them is God and he worketh them all as God-Man whence they are Theandrical And this is proposed unto us in the greatest Acts of his Humiliation which the Divine Nature in it self is not formally capable of So God redeemed his Church with his own Blood Acts 20. 28. Inasmuch as he who was in the form of God and thought it no Robbery to be equal with God humbled himself and became obedient unto Death the Death of the Cross Phil. 2. 6 7 8. Now in this respect the Lord Christ and the Holy Spirit are one in Nature Essence Will and Power As he said of the Father I and my Father are one John 10. 30. So it is with the Spirit he and the Spirit are One. Hence all the Works of the Holy Spirit are his also as his Works were the Works of the Father and the Works of the Father were his All the Operations of the Holy Trinity as to things external unto their Divine Subsistence being individed So is the Work of the Holy Spirit in the Consolation of the Church his Work also 2 BECAUSE the Holy Spirit in this Condescention unto Office acts for Christ and in his Name So the Son acted for and in the Name of the Father where he every where ascribed what he did unto the Father in a peculiar manner The Word saith he which you hear is not mine but the Fathers which sent me John 14. 24. It is his originally and eminently because as spoken by the Lord Christ he was said by him to speak it So are those Acts of the Spirit whereby he comforteth Believers the Acts of Christ because the Spirit speaketh and acteth for
Holy One is the Spirit himself and that his first peculiar especial Effect as an Unction is his teaching of us the Truths and Mysteries of the Gospel by saving Illumination in the manner before described HEREUNTO also is referred what is said of Believers being made Kings and Priests Rev. 1. 5. For there is an Allusion therein unto the Anointing of those sorts of Persons under the Old Testament Whatever was Typical therein was fully accomplished in the Unction of Christ unto his Office wherein he was the Soveraign King Priest and Prophet of the Church Wherefore by a Participation in his Unction they are said to be made Kings and Priests or a Royal Priesthood as it is 1 Pet. 2. 9. and this participation of his Unction consists in the Communication of the same Spirit unto them wherewith he was anointed Whereas therefore these Titles denote the Dignity of Believers in their especial Relation unto God by this Unction they are peculiarly dedicated and consecrated unto him IT is manifest therefore first that this Unction we receive from the Holy One is the Holy Spirit which he hath promised unto all that believe in him and then that we have these two things by Vertue thereof 1. Spiritual Instruction by Saving Illumination in the Mind of God and the Mysteries of the Gospel 2. An especial Dedication unto God in the way of a Spiritual Priviledge WHAT remains is to enquire 1. What Benefit or Advantage we have by this Unction 2. How this belongs unto our Consolation seeing the Holy Spirit is thus bestowed on us as he is promised to be the Comforter of the Church AS unto the first Head it is hereon that our stability in Believing doth depend For it is pleaded unto this purpose in a peculiar manner by the Apostle 1 John 2. 20 27. It was the Unction from the Holy One which then kept Believers from being carried from the Faith by the Craft of Seducers Hereby he makes Men according unto their measure of quick Understanding in the fear of the Lord. Nor will any thing else give Assurance in this Case Temptations may come as a Storm or Tempest which will quickly drive Men from their greatest fleshly Confidences Hence oftentimes those who are forwardest to say Though all Men should forsake the Truth yet would not they so do are the forwardest upon Trials so to do Neither will Mens Skill Cunning or Disputing Abilities secure them from being at one time or other inveigled with fair Pretences or intangled with the cunning sleights of them who lye in wait to deceive Nor will the best defences of Flesh and Blood stand firmly and unshaken against powerful Allurements on the one hand and fierce Persecutions on the other the present Artillery of the Patrons and Promoters of Apostacy None of these things doth the Apostle prescribe or recommend unto Believers as an effectual means of their Preservation when a Trial of their stability in the Truth shall befall them But this Unction he assures them will not fail neither shall they fail because of it AND to this End we may consider 1. The Nature of the Teaching which we have by this Anointing The Anointing teacheth you It is not meerly an External Doctrinal Instruction but an Internal Effectual Operation of the Holy Ghost Herein doth God give unto us the Spirit of Wisdom and Revelation in the knowledge of him that the Eyes of our Understanding being enlightned we may know what is the hope of his Calling Eph. 1. 17 18. He maketh use indeed of the Outward Means of Instruction by the Word and teacheth nothing but what is revealed therein But he gives us an Understanding that we may know him that is true and openeth our Eyes that we may clearly and spiritually see the wondrous things that are in his Law And there are no Teachings like unto his None so abiding none so effectual When Spiritual things through this anointing are discovered in a Spiritual manner then do they take up an immoveable Possession in the Minds of Men. As God will destroy every oppressing yoke because of the anointing of Christ Isa. 10. 27. so will he break every Snare of Seduction by the anointing of Christians So it is promised that under the Gospel Wisdom and Knowledge shall be the stability of the Times Isa. 33. 6. Nothing will give stability in all Seasons but the Wisdom and Knowledge which are the Effects of this Teaching when God gives us the Spirit of Wisdom and Revelation in the knowledge of him 2. WHAT it is that it teacheth and that is all things The same anointing teacheth you all things So was the Promise that he should teach us all things and bring all things to our Remembrance that Christ hath said unto us John 14. 26. and guide us into all Truth Chap. 16. 13. It is not all things absolutely that is intended for they are restrained unto those of one certain kind even the things which Christ had spoken that is such as belonged unto the Kingdom of God Neither are they all of them absolutely intended especially as to the Degrees of the Knowledge of them For in this Life we know but in part and see all things darkly as in a Glass But it is all things and all Truth with respect unto the End of this Promise and Teaching In the Promise the whole Life of Faith with Joy and Consolation thereon is the End designed All things necessary thereunto this Unction teacheth us And in the other place of the Apostle it respects the great Fundamental Truths of the Gospel which the Seducers opposed from whose Seduction this Unction doth secure Believers Wherefore it teacheth all that are made partakers of it all that Truth all those things all that Christ hath spoken that are necessary unto these Ends that they may live unto God in the Consolation of Faith and be delivered from all Attempts to draw them into Error THE Degrees of this Knowledge which are exceeding various both with respect unto the clearness and evidence of Conception and the extent of the things known depend on the various Measures whereby the Spirit acteth according unto his own Will and the different use of the external Means of Knowledge which we do enjoy But what is necessary unto the Ends mentioned none shall come short of who enjoy this anointing And where its Teachings are complyed withall in a way of Duty where we obstruct them not by Prejudices and Sloth where we give up our selves unto their directive Efficacy in a diligent impartial Attendance unto the Word whereby alone we are to be taught we shall not fail of that knowledge in the whole Counsel of God and all the Parts of it which he will accept and bless And this gives stability unto Believers when Trials and Temptations about the Truth do befall them and the want hereof in the uncured Darkness of their Minds and Ignorance of the Doctrine of the Gospel is that which betrays Multitudes into a
a summ of Money and bid him take it as a Pledge or Earnest of what he will yet do for him So doth God in a way of Soveraign Grace and Bounty give his Holy Spirit unto Believers and withall lets them know that it is with a design to give them yet much more in his appointed season And here is he said to be an Earnest Other things that are observed from the Nature and Use of an Earnest in Civil Contracts and Bargains between Men belong not hereunto tho' many things are occasionally spoken and discoursed from them of Good Use unto Edification THIRDLY In two of the Places wherein mention is made of this matter the Spirit is said to be an Earnest but wherein or unto what End is not expressed 2 Cor. 1. 22. Chap. 5. 5. The third place affirms him to be an Earnest of our Inheritance Eph. 1. 14. What that is and how he is so may be briefly declared And 1. WE have already manifested that all our Participation of the Holy Spirit in any kind is upon the Account of Jesus Christ and we do receive him immediately as the Spirit of Christ. For to as many as receive Christ the Father gives Power to become the Sons of God John 1. 12. And because we are Sons he sends forth the Spirit of his Son into our Hearts Gal. 4. 6. And as we receive the Spirit from him and as his Spirit so he is given unto us to make us conformable unto him and to give us a Participation of his Gifts Graces and Priviledges 2. CHRIST himself in his own Person is the Heir of all things So he was appointed of God Heb. 1. 2. and therefore the whole Inheritance is absolutely his What this Inheritance is what is the Glory and Power that is contained therein I have at large declared in the Exposition of that Place 3. MAN by his Sin had universally forfeited his whole Right unto all the Ends of his Creation both on the Earth below and in Heaven above Death and Hell were become all that the whole Race of Mankind had either Right or Title unto But yet all the glorious things that God had provided were not to be cast away an Heir was to be provided for them Abraham when he was old and rich had no Child complained that his Steward a Servant was to be his Heir Gen. 15. 3 4. but God lets him know that he would provide another Heir for him of his own Seed When Man had lost his right unto the whole Inheritance of Heaven and Earth God did not so take the Forfeiture as to seize it all into the Hands of Justice and destroy it But he invested the whole Inheritance in his Son making him the Heir of all This he was meet for as being God's Eternal Son by Nature and hereof the Donation was free gratuitous and absolute And this Grant was confirmed unto him by his Unction with the Fulness of the Spirit But 4. THIS Inheritance as to our Interest therein lay under a Forfeiture and as unto us it must be redeemed and purchased or we can never be made Partakers of it Wherefore the Lord Christ who had a Right in his own Person unto the whole Inheritance by the Free Grant and Donation of the Father yet was to redeem it from under the Forfeiture and purchase the Possession of it for us Thence is it called the Purchased Possession How this Purchase was made what made it necessary by what means it was effected are declared in the Doctrine of our Redemption by Christ the Price which he paid and the Purchase that he made thereby And hereon the whole Inheritance is vested in the Lord Christ not only as unto his own Person and his Right unto the whole but he became the great Trustee for the whole Church and had their Interest in this Inheritance committed unto him also No Man therefore can have a right unto this Inheritance or to any part of it not unto the least share of God's Creation here below as a part of the rescued or purchased Inheritance but by Vertue of an Interest in Christ and Union with him Wherefore FOURTHLY The way whereby we come to have an Interest in Christ and thereby a right unto the Inheritance is by the Participation of the Spirit of Christ as the Apostle fully declares Rom. 8. 14 15 16 17. For it is by the Spirit of Adoption the Spirit of the Son that we are made Children Now saith the Apostle If we are Children then Heirs Heirs of God and joynt Heirs with Christ. Children are Heirs unto their Father And those who are Children of God are Heirs of that Inheritance which God hath provided for his Children Heirs of God And all the good things of Grace and Glory which Believers are made Partakers of in this World or that which is to come are called their Inheritance because they are the Effects of free gratuitous Adoption They are not things that themselves have purchased bargained for earned or merited but an Inheritance depending on and following solely upon their free gratuitous Adoption But how can they become Heirs of God seeing God hath absolutely appointed the Son alone to be Heir of all things Heb. 1. 2. He was the Heir unto whom the whole Inheritance belonged Why saith the Apostle by the Participation of the Spirit of Christ we are made joynt Heirs with Christ. The whole Inheritance as unto his own Personal Right was entirely his by the free Donation of the Father all Power in Heaven and Earth being given unto him But if he will take others into a joynt Right with him he must purchase it for them which he did accordingly FIFTHLY Hence it is manifest how the Holy Spirit becomes the Earnest of our Inheritance For by him that is by the Communication of him unto us we are made joynt-Heirs with Christ which gives us our Right and Title whereby our Natures are as it were inserted into the assured Conveyance of the great and full Inheritance of Grace and Glory In the giving of his Spirit unto us God making of us Coheirs with Christ we have the greatest and most assured Earnest and Pledge of our future Inheritance And he is to be thus an Earnest untill or unto the Redemption of the Purchased Possession For after that a Man hath a good and firm Title unto an Inheritance settled in him it may be a longer time before he can be admitted into an actual Possession of it and many Difficulties he may have in the mean time to conflict withall And it is so in this Case The Earnest of the Spirit given unto us whereby we become Coheirs with Christ whose Spirit we are made Partakers of secures the Title of the Inheritance in and unto our whole Persons But before we can come unto the full Possession of it not only have we many Spiritual Trials and Temptations to conflict withall in our Souls but our Bodies also are liable unto Death
unto his Holy Ends in the propagation of the Gospel and Edification of the Church are inexpressibly Glorious and Excellent All this did he do according to the singular Gift of Wisdom that was bestowed on him Wherefore I take the Word of Wisdom here mentioned to be a peculiar Spiritual Skill and Ability wisely to manage the Gospel in it's Administration unto the Advantage and Furtherance of the Truth especially in the Defence of it when called unto the Trial with it's Adversaries This was an Eminent Gift of the Holy Ghost which considering the Persons employed by him in the Ministry for the most part being known to be unlearned and ignorant fill'd the World with Amazement and was an effectual Means for the subduing of Multitudes unto the Obedience of Faith And so eminent was the Apostle Paul in this Gift and so successful in the Management of it that his Adversaries had nothing to say but that he was subtle and took Men by Craft and Guile 2 Cor. 12. 16. The Sweetness Condescention Self-denial Holy Compliance with all which he made use of mixed with Truth Gravity and Authority they would have had to be all Craft and Guile And this Gift when it is in any measure continued unto any Minister of the Gospel is of singular Use unto the Church of God Yea I doubt not but the Apostle fixed it here in the first place as that which was eminent above all the rest And as where it is too much wanting we see what wosul Mistakes and Miscarriages Men otherwise good and holy will run themselves into unto the great Disadvantage of the Gospel so the real Enjoyment and Exercise of it in any competent measure is the Life and Grace of the Ministry As God filled Bezaliel and Aholiab with Wisdom for the building of the Tabernacle of old so unless he give this Spiritual Wisdom unto the Ministers of the Gospel no Tabernacle of his will be erected where it is fallen down nor kept up where it stands I intend not Secular Wisdom or Civil Wisdom much less Carnal Wisdom but a Spiritual Ability to discharge all our Duties aright in the Ministry committed unto us And as was said where this is wanting we shall quickly see woful and shameful Work made in Churches themselves § 5. I cannot pass by the Consideration of this Gift without offering something that may guide us either in the obtaining or the due Exercise of it And hereunto the things ensuing may be subservient As 1 A Sense of our own Insufficiency as of our selves as unto any End for which this Wisdom is requisite As it is declared that we have no Sufficiency in our selves for any thing that is good all our Sufficiency being of God So in particular it is denyed that we have any for the Work of the Ministry in that Interrogation containing a Negative Proposition And who is sufficient for these things 2 Cor. 2. 16. A Sense hereof is the first Step towards this Wisdom as our Apostle expresly declares Let no Man deceive himself if any among you seemeth to be wise in this world let him become a Fool that he may be wise 1 Cor. 3. 18. Untill we discover and are sensible of our own Folly we are fit neither to receive nor to use this Spiritual Wisdom And the want hereof proves the Ruine of many that pretend unto the Ministry And it were to be wished that it were only their own They come to the Work of it full of Pride Self-conceit and foolish Elation of Mind in an Apprehension of their own Abilities which yet for the most part are mean and contemptible This keeps them sufficiently estranged from a Sense of that Spiritual Wisdom we treat of Hence there is nothing of a Gospel Ministry nor it's Work found among them but an empty Name And as for those who have reduced all Ecclesiastical Administrations to Canons Laws Acts Courts and Legal Processes in them they seem to do it with a Design to cast off all Use of Spiritual Gifts yea to exclude both them and their Author Name and Thing out of the Church of God Is this the Wisdom given by the Holy Ghost for the due Management of Gospel Administrations namely that Men should get a little Skill in some of the worst of Humane Laws and uncomely Artifices of intreiguing Secular Courts which they pride themselves in and terrifie poor Creatures with Mulcts and Penalties that are any way obnoxious unto them What use these things may be of in the World I know not unto the Church of God they do not belong § 6. 2. Being sensible of our own Insufficiency Earnest Prayers for a Supply of this Wisdom are required in us If any of you lack Wisdom let him ask of God who giveth to all Men liberally and upbraideth not and it shall be given him James 1. 5. There is both a Precept and a Promise to enforce this Duty That we all want Wisdom in our selves is unquestionable I mean as to our Concerns in the Gospel either to bear Testimony unto it in Difficulties or to manage the Truths of it unto Edification The way for our Supply lies plain and open before us neither is there any other that we can take one step in towards it Let us ask it of God who giveth liberally and we shall receive it This was that which rendred Solomon so great and glorious when he had his Choice given him of all desireable things he made his Request for Wisdom to the Discharge of the Office and Duties of it that God had called him unto Tho' it were an whole Kingdom that he was to Rule yet was his Work carnal and of this World compared with the Spiritual Administrations of the Gospel And hereunto a worldly Ministry is no less averse than unto a Sence of their own Insufficiency The Fruits do sufficiently manifest how much this Duty is contemned by them But the Neglect of it I say the Neglect of Praying for Wisdom to be enabled unto the Discharge of the Work of the Ministry and the due Management of the Truths of the Gospel according as occasion do require in them who pretend thereunto is a Fruit of Unbelief yea of Atheism and Contempt of God § 7. 3. DUE Meditation on our great Pattern the Lord Jesus Christ and the Apostles being Followers of them as they were of him is also required hereunto As in all other things so in especial in his Ministry for the Revelation of the Truth and giving Testimony thereunto the Lord Jesus was the great Pattern and Example God in him representing unto us that Perfection in Wisdom which we ought to aim at I shall not here in particular look into this Heavenly Treasury but only say that he who would be really and truly wise in Spiritual things who would either rightly receive or duly improve this Gift of the Holy Ghost he ought continually to bear in his Heart his Mind and Affections this great Exemplar and