to receive more when they are most enlarged in Thanksgivings for what they have received Have they not matter and ground for high Praises 1. Doth not the Holy Spirit dwell in ' em And doth not that imply 1. That he is very inwardly present with and near to 'em Intimior intimo nostro He is nearer to their Souls than they are to their Bodies 2. That he abides with ' em There is a fixedness and continuance in his Presence He that knocks at the Doors of others Hearts See Reverend Burgess on 1 Cor. 3. Pulsat aliorum corda Dr. Sibbs makes theirs his House and Temple He that moves others at times will not remove from them but stay with 'em for ever 3. That he exerciseth towards 'em much of Familiarity and Condescendence He useth 'em as his special Friends as those of his Family they know such Visitations of his as others are strangers to 2. Will not the Holy Spirit work where he dwells and so fitly furnish his Habitation Will he not be to 'em 1. Rom. 8.14 The most faithful Conductor Shall they not be led by him 2. John 14.26 The most seasonable Remembrancer Will he not write Truths in ' em 3. Rom. 8.2 16. The most powerful quickner Shall they not have Life abundantly 4. The most satisfying Witness Will he not speak to their Hearts Yet in all these workings he is a most free worker taking his own way and time 4. Be they by no means driven out of the good beaten way of earnest believing Prayer On their knees and through their Saviour cry they for the effusion of the Spirit I add That they may more feel the real effects of the Spirit beware they of the Rock on which too many are split to wit making vain and groundless Pretensions to him and his Operations And so in the close of this short Discourse I will offer at the Resolution of some Questions or Cases The First is Are Persons at this day to look for new Revelations from the Spirit Answ 1. They are to look that the Spirit would reveal in 'em what he hath in the Scripture revealed to 'em Eph. 1.17 Vide Arrowsmith Tact. Sac. but that he should add to the Canon and Rule of Scripture and make new Articles of Faith is not to be expected 2. Fish Usher Dr. Winter c. To some choice Favourites that have cleaved to the Scriptures as to matters of Faith he hath strongly suggested what his Providence would do as to matters of Fact This he may do to others The second Case is Is Duty never to be done save when Persons are under extraordinary impulses of the spirit to do it Answ 1. It is brave sailing before full Gales of this Wind and sweet moving when he is sensibly the first mover Yet 2. 1 Thes 5.17 The Spirit speaking in the Scripture calls us to Pray and perform other Duties when there is an Opportunity for it and this Call is to be Answered The Third Case is Is every impulse and strong motion to Prayer or other Duties to be Father'd on the Holy Spirit Answ See Mr. Hollingsworth The late worthy Mr. Oldfield c. This is utterly denyed by the best Divines Though Satan being evil cannot be the Author of Motions that are purely good yet he may excite to a work that is for the matter of it good And if we be moved unseasonably and unreasonably we may fear his hand is in it The Fourth Case is What Use are we to make of those extraordinary motions which some have had to Actions in an ordinary way less defensible as that of Phinehas and that of Sampson Answ We are to think they had full assurance those motives came from the Spirit but our selves should tremble lest we touch with what we have not a clear word for Now the good Spirit concerning whom these Pages are breath in 'em and in those that will give 'em a reading The Lord grant that Writer and Readers may more than ever be filled with the Spirit Amen and Amen A Fourth Instance OF THE RICHES OF GRACE TO WIT Effectual Calling 2 Tim. 1.9 And called us SUch are the difficulties and dangers that attend the Profession of Christianity especially as to those Professors that are Preachers thereof that all encouragements that are given prove few and small enough Blessed Paul who found that his Ministry drew down and deriv'd * Totius mundi furorem So Luther used to say the fury of the World upon him being at the time of his writing a Prisoner calls on his Son Timothy to fet his face on the Wind and Storms and hold on in his Holy Warfare being not onely a Souldier but a Commission-Officer he should quit himself like a good man And to that end he sets before him how highly he with others was Priviledged by and thereby engaged to the Lord In particular he instanceth in his and their effectual Calling and so gives us fair footing for This Doctrine God the Father out of his Free Grace gives Persons a Powerful Call 1. That God the Father is spoken of in the Text is well argued from his being distinguished from Jesus Christ And 2. His Calling of Persons is denyed to have its rise from their Works and expresly affirmed to arise from his purpose and grace Concerning the Calling of Persons sundry distinctions are found at some of which I shall point 1. Ad munus foedus Acts 17.30 It 's either to Office or Grace 2. It is either general so God calls all by the Gospel to Repent Or particular and so he calls his own Sheep and Elect by Name 3. It is either outward onely John 10.3 to the Ear or inward also to the Heart 4. It is either extraordinary Mat. 20.16 Acts 9.4 as Paul was called by a voice from Heaven as was that Ancient that was bidden * Tolle Lege Take and Read and directed to the Verse that turned him Or ordinary by the Ministry of the Word 5. It is either ineffectual or effectual Ex effectu vocationis Hoornbeck Instit p. 342. Some are barely invited others answer the invitation Some so far answer the Lord's Call as to come to the Profession of Christ and external Communion with his Members and so are of the Church considered as visible Idem 343. Others so answer it as to come to the possession of Christ having inward Communion with him as their Head and so are of the Church considered as invisible My short Treatise is to run concerning those that are so called Rom. 9.6 that they are chosen being Israel or Israelites indeed and not onely of Israel And now we will enquire what is implyed in the Notion or Phrase of Effectual Calling For Resolution whereof I shall lay down some Positions The First is Men in their meer Naturals are afar off from God O that they considered this Eph. 2.12 13
our Lord Jesus Christ and Love of God the Father is with Gracious Persons He himself is the Author Upholder and Perfecter of Grace By him persons are quickned strengthned sealed and comforted They who had no touch of Enthusiasm or Phanaticism have made this Observation that the Spirits inhabitation is spoken of as joyned to the love of God as shed abroad in the Heart as distinguished from the New Man Rom. 5.5 8 9. See Pool against Biddle from being in the Spirit A late Famous * Doctor Tuckney Professor professeth his full belief that the Holy Ghost himself is given to and dwelleth in Believers and from their being styled the Temples of the Holy Ghost it is genuinely inferred Vide Baxteri methodum part 2. pag. 216. ut foederatus operator that they stand nearly related to his Person as on other accounts it is concluded that he is nearer than we can think to his own Grace and works in a Covenant-way on and in the Gracious Some Proofs that the pouring out of the Spirit argues the Free Rich Grace of the Father are now next us The First whereof is drawn from the consideration of the Dignity and Office of the Spirit As it is said of the Son Phil. 2. that he thought it no Robbery to be equal with God that is the Father the same is applicable to the Spirit And as he is a Person in the Godhead he is that Person that applyes the love of both the other Persons to us Dr. Sibbs Conc. ad lerum From the sweet dropper see words that bear this sense All things proceed from the Divine Essence by the Mediation of the Persons therein and amongst the Persons in the following Order from the Father through the Son by the Spirit Is he not the Spirit of Grace The Second Proof is fetch'd from our considering the meanness yea vileness of the persons on whom the Spirit is poured before he is so Are they not such on whom the Father might justly pour out his wrath Are they not Naturally in their Blood under guilt and filth Was it not thus with those Inhabitants of Jerusalem Zech. 12.10 who were Crucifiers of Christ The Spirit finds though he leaves not persons in a woful yea wilful state at frame The Third Proof is founded on a due viewing and weighing in what manner and measure the Spirit is communicated Is he not poured out most largely and plenteously Is not he in those that are spiritual as a Well and Spring of Living Water Is there not respect had to him John 4.14 7.38 39 when it is said Out of their Bellies flow Rivers of living water Is not every drop from the Spirit most sweet and gracious What Grace is there then in Floods from him The Fourth Proof ariseth from the Blessed Consequents and Effects that follow the pouring out of the Spirit some of which are pointed at in the Context 1. Is he not in those that are his a spirit of Prayer And are not Grace and Supplication joyn'd together Zech. 12.10 I know the Spirit of Prayer is far and far before the gift of Prayer but what gracious Christian should not value both Hath not he hath hath the Spirit of Prayer a Key to Heaven and its Treasure See Mr. Dod. Was ever Man quite undone that was in a Praying frame 2. Is he not also the Spirit of Faith Doth he not open the Souls Eye as well as unbare that Object its Saviour Is he not the Spirit of Revelation 2 Cor. 4.13 Doth he not help such as are stung with and for sin to look on Christ as satisfying Divine Justice Eph. 4.17 that he may satisfie Humane desire And is not the look Healing 3. Is he not withall a Spirit of Repentance Causing that mourning for sin that is of a Godly sort or according to God and savouring sweetly of his Grace being Spiritual 1. As to the rise of it being from him as working Conviction which implyes a clear abiding applicatory discovery of sin and compunction which carries in it griefs and fears 2. As to the grounds of it being 1. For sin as crossing the Divine Law and not onely as procuring Divine wrath and so is for the evil of sin and for all sorts of sins 2. For sin as piercing Christ and so hath love to him at the bottom of it and will be as a Spring still flowing 3. In the Fruits of it which are such as these 1. Weaning the Heart in some good measure from the World and moderating 1. It s Joy in the enjoyment of it 2. It s sorrow for losses in it 3. Tending to break the Heart from sin And 3. Rendring it more soft and flexible to God and Goodness Now who that gives what I have written the weight that belongs to it that takes a true measure Who the Holy Spirit is and how and on whom he is poured being as Floods on dry and bad ground and producing such an alteration thereof and Fruits therein can refrain from saying Here 's Grace to a Wonder May this Holy Spirit concerning whom I am writing and others are to read teach us to make a right Application which shall be first by way of Information Sincere Christians are under the greatest Bonds and Obligations possible to God particularly to God the Father Who can by searching find out how vastly they are indebted to his Grace Have they not all of 'em received a measure of the same Spirit 1 Cor. 2.12 though all of 'em have not received the same measure of the Spirit Of his great Love in giving his Son we have touched In that he who gave his Son to obtain should also give his Spirit to apply Salvation to ' em They whom this Spirit animateth and acteth are the Subjects and should be the Trumpets of exceeding Rich Grace Lest some that I have in mine Eye and on mine Heart should to and in their own wrong put away this word and the comfort of it from 'em and conclude that they have not received the Spirit I will take on me to pose ' em If you had no measure or work of the Sanctifying Spirit 1. How is it that you daily groan being burdened under the weight of sin even the body of sin which you bear about and that with respect to the dishonour that thereby redounds to God Rom. 7.24 Dare you deny that it is thus with you Gravia haud gravitant suo loco Or however your great desire is that it may be so and can you affirm that sin is so heavy in its own Element an unsanctified Soul 2. Whence is it that you see such a surpassing ravishing Excellency in Christ Jesus That when you are not able to say Your Beloved is yours and you are his yet you can say You had rather have an Interest in him than a thousand Worlds Is he not a Pearl in your Eyes A very None-such
Isa 62.1 2 3. Breathing much after the flourishing of Zion For her sake not being silent but praying that she may have Peace Peace freedom from Divisions within Psal 122.6 and not onely Persecutions from without that her Children may resemble their Heavenly Father and be full of Soul-prosperity The Ninth is Keeping up a Watch against all sin Mark 13. last and temptations thereunto Carrying in mind that the World is their great Adversary 1 John 2.16 Haec tria pro trino numine mundus habet and its Profits Pleasures and Honours are the great Baits it lays to ensnare ' em The last is Prizing Heaven as it is a place and seat of perfect Holiness and accordingly making preparations for it in exercising true and endeavouring for more through Purity I much fear many will trust and not try and too many will be slighty in their trying and not beg that God would search and try ' em Psal 26.2 If upon Tryal weaker Christians do find any one sure mark with a desire that the rest may be found on 'em it is a good sign More good Divines than one have said Dr. Sibbs Mr. Hollingsworth One right Grape cannot grow on a Thorn But let the unsound know their going about to divide between Graces and Duties is of ill signification The Fifth Inference is They who have not heard the voice of God nor known what his Calling is should not rest in their present condition but call on him whose Calls have Power in 'em to give 'em the Call they have heard and read of Know they 1. As far as any of 'em are off he can easily make 'em hear 2. As vile as any of 'em are John 5.25 1 Tim. 1.15 his Grace can fully forgive 'em and move him to call 'em Of this Paul had full Proof And in order to their being so Priviledged 1. May they be for seating themselves under a Ministry in which there is plainness 1 Cor. 1.21 clearness and seriousness thereby God usually calls 2. May they use all earnestness as those that would not be denyed Prov. 2.2 3 4. 3. Job 42.8 John 14.16 May they engage the Prayerful to engage in Prayer for ' em 4. May they when they dare not say they have an Interest in Christ Pray that he would take 'em into and bear 'em on his Heart and prevail with his Father to speak so to 'em by his Spirit that they cannot but hear O that there were such hearts and workings in sinners The Sixth and last Inference is They that are indeed and in truth the Lord 's Called ones 1 Pet. 2.9 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 should shew forth the Vertues and thereby the Praises of him that hath called'em 1. Psal 103.1 Should not their Hearts lead in their Praisings Should not all their Powers and Forces be called into this Service Are they not above others engaged and enabled thereunto 2. Psal 149.6 Should not the High Praises of God be in their mouths Should not the Calves of their Lips be offered to God 3. Eph. 4.1 Should not their Lives be referred to his Honour That they may be so May the Twenty Rules following be attended to O that they were more Answer'd by em 1. Psal 139.1 2 7. He is totius oculas Live they in and under a full and powerful apprehension of God's Omniscience Is he shut up or shut out any where And doth he not see their ways and Hearts with whom he is 2. Omne honum in summo bono Maintain they a constant dependence on God's All-sufficiency Is not all good bound up in the chief good Cannot he easily supply all wants Gen. 17.1 support under all pressures and fit for all Services 3. May there be on and in 'em abiding and influencing thoughts of the extream evil of sin See Dr. Goodwin c. Rom. 7.13 Is it not as truly as usually said A worse name than its own cannot be given it O that it more appear'd in its own ugly colours 4. Do they frequently review and reflect on the dishonour done to God by their sins past Psal 40.12 especially their heightened ones Can they fully number or weigh ' em And should not the sight of their black feet be very humbling to ' em 5. Take they into serious Consideration the shortness and insufficiency of their own Righteousness As to appeasing the wrath satisfying the Justice and procuring the favour of God Phil. 3.7 8. can Raggs cover ' em Can defiled Raggs cleanse ' em 6. Be they much in admiring the Riches of Grace which hath fully provided for 'em and the design thereof carried on by Christ for ' em Micah 7.19 Is not Gods Grace as the depths of the Sea which they cannot fathom And as the heights of Heaven which they cannot reach And doth not Grace that brought Christ down from Heaven to Earth intend to bring them up from Earth to Heaven 7. Keep they as near as near may be to the Blessed Jesus Gal. 2.20 Close they with his Person apply they his Righteousness and imitate they his Example May he lye Day and Night between their Breasts May they live on him as All and in All 8. Prize they the special Presence and wait they for the special Assistance of the Holy Spirit Gal. 5.16 May he more and more inspire their Souls and Services May he subdue their Corruptions and draw out their Graces 9. Keep they their Hearts under a deep and endearing sense of God's many great and choice Mercies to ' em How precious have his thoughts been to them-wards Rom. 12.1 Can they know the sum of ' em And hath not his hand of Grace in sundry Instances been lifted up high 10. Be they for out-shooting the Heathens in their own Bow and out-stripping 'em in the Vertues wherein they excell'd * See Reverend Mr. Porter This hath been styled borrowing the Jewels of the Egyptians and gathering the Flowers in Natures Garden to deck themselves with It 's a shame that they in and of the Church should be less sober chaste 1 Cor. 5.1 or just than some our of it 11. Study they to be extraordinary adorning the Doctrine of their Saviour in all things Tit. 2.10 May their Beds and Boards may their Shops and Fields may their employments and refreshments carry a mark of Holiness on ' em Zech. 14. last 12. Husband they their time and the seasons of Grace therein afforded to the best purpose and profit Eph. 5.15 May they not willingly trifle or squander away one Golden Hour but fill up every day with proper Duty 13. Be they for making a good use of the Word and Works of God Be they loath to be as leaking or broken Vessels Heb. 2.1 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 See the late Reverend Dr. Owen thereon lest they take in Errors or let slip
Moralists or Formalists And as to the former sort With what face or colour can they say they have received Jesus into their Hearts and have the Fathers Love shed abroad in them who are overmuch wicked Eccles 7.17 I remember with what seriousness a worthy Brother Mr. H. Newcome Preached thereon as the Preachers Phrase is 1. Wallow in the mire of Uncleanness or run into excess in Drink or over reach those they Trade with or inure their tongues to vain Swearing Cursing or Reviling 2. Add one of those Enormities to another having on them sundry black and broad spots at once And 3. Add Rebellion to sin hating to be Reformed rising up against the Reproofs under which they should fall down Is Christ an Head Tit. 2.11 12. to which such Corrupt Members are joyned Is such ungodliness consistent with Graces Teaching And so I fall on posing those who go no further than the form of Godliness Who 1. In abstaining from Evil are onely sollicitous about abstaining from more open Evils The filthiness that is in the Spirit to wit Contrary to 2 Cor. 7.1 Pride Malice Luke-warmness and Worldliness they indulge 2. Their abstinence from evil is separated from diligence in good they think it enough not to bear bad Fruit though they be Barren as to what is good as if not flying out into Rebellion was enough to make a good Subject Mat. 3.10 3. In doing Duties they are partial picking and choosing and onely taking the cheaper serving the Lord with what costs them least not communing with their own Hearts in self-examination not labouring to work truths upon and into their Hearts by Meditation not keeping up a Watch and Guard over their Senses and Souls 4. They are not for exercising their Spirits in the exercises they are engag'd in James 5.17 they are not for Praying earnestly or in Prayer nor for Praising God with their whole Hearts nor for hearing Psal 9.1 that they may Live 5. They when exercising some of the strength of their Spirits are not for exercising the Graces of Gods Spirit They cannot call forth Faith Love and Zeal who are void of them 6. Phil. 3.3 They are not for exalting Christ above and in the close of Duties nor glorying in him as the Lord their Righteousness covering their sins and presenting their Souls acceptable to God Let these know that as yet the Free grace of God in Christ hath not a special influence on them nor are they peculiarly interested therein The second Advice is Be they persuaded to weigh well that their present state is not a state to be rested in Be it known that the slighting of Christ argues 1. An Understanding dangerously dark that hath not discover'd 1. The indispensible want of him that he is more needed than daily Bread John 4.10 God can preserve mens Bodies without that but will not save their Souls without him Nor yet 2. The incomparable worth of him Did Men kow the gift of God and how this Sun out-shines all lesser Stars so that they disappear at and on his appearance they could not but fall in Love with him and follow hard after him 2. It is also an Argument of an Heart desperately hard hardened through divers Lusts particularly through 1. Pride The Heart thinks too highly of it self to go unto Christ Rom. 10.3 4. John 1.11 to be its Righteousness and too meanly of his Service to submit to him as its Ruler 2. Sensuality It prefers filthy Puddles before the River of God and had rather have its Residence in Styes than in his pure presence And it is a great Truth but no great Wonder that this sin doth immediately shut Persons out of Heaven and under Wrath what Remedy is there for those with whom the great Gospel-remedy is at an undervalue Will not all the Curses of the Law and with them an Anathema 1 Cor. 16.22 Maranatha fall on such as Love not the Lord Jesus Christ nor have recourse to him and to his Fathers Love in him that they may do so Whither will they Appeal that are cast at the Mercy-seat I will next apply my self to the notoriously Vicious and oh that God would say to them Micah 2.10 Get ye from these Tents Haste out of this Sodom Know they their Crimes are exceedingly aggravated from the tenders of the great Propitiation out of the Fathers Rich Grace made to ' em 1. Are they not against clear Light In this Glass may be seen 1. How deep the stain and pollution of sin is which onely his Blood who is God can fetch out so that it shall not be seen with an avenging Eye 2. How greatly the Nature as well as the Will of God is against sin yea how all his Attributes oppose sin Rom. 8.32 He spared not his own Son but gave him up to a Cursed Death when he undertook to answer for it 3. How willing as well as able both the Father and the Son are to receive Penitents into favour Doth not Christ's death set out this to the Life and with their Love is that of the Spirit presented in the Gospel witness the moving Lamentations over sinners Isa 55.1 2 3. John 5.40 the pressing Exhortations on 'em and winning Invitations to 'em And so 2. Are not their ill courses against dear Love yea against expressions of the highest Love as to the spring Evidences and Effects of it Do they not strike at the Heart of every Person in the Godhead And will not these blows redound and fall on their Heads that give ' em Mat. 1.21 Will not this be the Condemnation of thousands they with the resistance of Light and Love expected that God should save 'em in their sins who would have have sav'd 'em from ' em The Application is now to fall on those that rest on this side Christ the true Rest though in those cleaner ways to Hell as some speak Civility and Formality This is not their Rest nor should be made so one hour Till such Persons have Union to and Communion with Jesus Christ and his Father 1. Eph. 2.12 They are in the World without God in the World They have a better Air than Heathens but have not better Hearts at least not a better inward state than they They have more Light but not more Spiritual sight They have more Church-Priviledges but no more saving Grace 2. Their Services how specious soever and taking with Men are unacceptable to God if we speak of full and absolute and not of comparative acceptance their Fruit is not to Perfection 1 Pet. 2.5 and will not be to Salvation not growing on or from the Tree of Life 3. They have no Title to Heaven John 3. last but are Children and Heirs of Wrath. Their Righteousness doth not exceed probably it doth not equallize the Righteousness of the Scribes and Pharisees 1 Thes 1. last It is Christ alone that delivers from