Selected quad for the lemma: sin_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
sin_n	dead_a	death_n	quicken_v	3,267	5	10.4250	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A86695	A dry rod blooming and fruit-bearing. Or, A treatise of the pain, gain, and use of chastenings. Preached partly in severall sermons, but now compiled more orderly and fully for the direction and support of all Gods chastened that suffer either in Christ, or for Christ in these dayes. By G. Hughes, B.D. pastor of the church in Plymouth.	Hughes, George, 1603-1667.	1644 (1644)	Wing H3308; Thomason E48_9; ESTC R14529	125,445	138

of lesse and of greater guilt the lesse that riseth of infirmity is dangerous indeed but not deadly to be lamented and abhorred yet not desperate such the soule will be ashamed of and for it condemne it selfe and repent This I onely call for here as for other scruples concerning these soules I shall answer them among the cases The greater which is of strength and habituated obstinacie is fatall such is evident by mens content and delight in barrennesse I have but little to say to these yet a message heavie enough As love and rod and labour and fruit righteousnesse and peace are inseparably linkt in Gods course of chastening so wrath and smart and curse are individed from idlenesse and barrennesse in midst of afflictions The sentence is gone out against all barren ones under Word and Rod cut them downe why should they cumber the ground they are curst already and now fit for nothing but to be suell for everlasting flames to feed upon Consider the terrors of the Lord that they may not be to destruction but correction Repent or die SECT IX Counsell for duty bence concerning us IN all this Concatenation of Rod Fruit Exercise and Time there is but one thing that concerns us as duty wherein if we fail all the rest are scattered and become vain True it is Gods hand must temper rod and love to make a chastening and he must blesse this chastening to produce kindly fruit righteousnesse and Peace and time or season in his power but his ordinance calls in our exercise as an indispensable duty wherein we are to expect this blessed gain and without which we shall be but as the barren field and dry heath neerer to a curse then a blessing fit for nothing but the fire To this noble Christian Exercise then under the Rod is the work now to perswade men necessity lyeth on us to be doing either to escape otherwise inevitable destruction or to gain that sweet and desired fruit intailed on Gods chastening As for the matter of the duty not needlesly to repeat learn it in the premised draught of the work There is hearing bearing doing-work about the Rod there is considering judging breaking bowing-work about the heart and that great businesse of all giving glory unto God And in all these if we exercise aright our labour must be hard even in our shirts and frequent every day must we be at it and constant no giving over untill the fruit come But alas Quest what flesh and blood can indure thus to labour in the fires Who can set about that Rod-work heart-work God-work when he is under the lash and no rest in the bones nor ease in the flesh I shall easily grant flesh and blood cannot do it Answ nothing but judgement is determined upon reprobate flesh nor any thing expected from it but murmurings and sinking under the rod yet from gracious hearts who only can be the chastened of the Lord better things are not only hoped but must be returned True because there is flesh in them lusting against the spirit they cannot do what they would in this matter It will be needfull therefore to suggest some helps to cool the fire or to steel their flesh against smart or scorchings that without distractions they may attend on their appointed exercise these three directions only I shall move 1 Have a watchfull eye over the stings of the Rod to pluck that out it cannot torment and vex when the sting is gone thou maist play with the Aspe and make sport with the Adder when their sting and poyson are taken from them no hurt can they do nor by torture indispose to work It is the right method that Samson took he first kils the Lyon Judg. 14.6.9.14 and then the Eater gives meat and the strong gives forth sweetnesse Honey and meat not bitternesse roaring and death are the fruits of a slain Lyon so ease and quickning not torture and astonishment are the issues of the Rod without a sting the affliction is as good as dead for hurting when the sting is out But what is then this sting of the Rod Quest and how to be taken out Surely it is no other Answ but that which is the sting of death that makes every evill of punishment an evill indeed and that is Sinne could a man lie in the fires without sin the scorching flames should not disease him as to put him beside his work in glorifying God sing and rejoyce may Gods servants in the stocks when sin doth not make the stocks to pinch nor the iron to strike anguish into the soule Now the main strength this sting hath to strike and hurt and torment 1 Cor. 15.56 is from the Law it is expresly so averred the strength of sin is the Law The Law doth that strengthen sin yea but not sinfully not by adding any thing of the same kinde to make it more sin but by aggravating the sinfulnesse of it to make it more pain and terror Thus the Law strengthens sin to vex the soule in these severall wayes 1. By making it sin for without the Law wherof it is a breach sin were not where there is no Law there can be no transgression at least none to be imputed but now the Law being given Rom. 5.13 and that in absolute holinesse rectitude and goodnesse it makes every transgression absolutely vile corrupt and sinfull yea sinfulnesse in the abstract the spirit the heart the hell of sin it can be no lesse being extremely opposite to the very heart and spirit and heaven of holinesse in the Law and this must make the scourge strike like a Scorpion to torturing and astonishment how terrible is it meerly to suffer as evill doers with sin upon us 2. Rom. 7.7 8 9 10. The Law strengthens sin to vex by making known the sinfulnesse of it to the conscience I had not known sin saith the Apostle but by the Law and again by the Law is the knowledge of sin and such a glance it was the Law gave him that he was dead with the sight of it Rom. 3.20 Sin revived and I died It is torment for a man to suffer with his guilt cast in his face written upon his fore-head and strucken to his heart no marvell if that soule faint 3. Gal. 3.10 And yet further the Law strengthens sin to torment a soule in affliction by discovering the wrath from whence it comes the curse of God that hath whet and sharpened it to wound deadly and that it is but the earnest of seventie times seven plagues more to come upon it for sin Now dreadfull is this condition Alas what soul can labour for good under the frownes and wrath of God or give him glory when the effects of his furic drive them like a whirle-winde Surely none care then must be that this sting and strength of the Rod be destroyed if ever a soule be fitted for that great exercise under

incurable by self-conceit and confidence My digression shall be no longer The reason of mentioning the first Adam here was for the sake of the second that as it may appeare not only possible but reasonable the way of conveyance of sin and death from him upon his seed so no lesse the probability of receiving sins death and deaths plague from the second Adam may be apparent For suppose this man also as wee must to be a Root-man a fountain of Nature ●um●ne spirituall heavenl● to give out to his seed no more difficulty can there be of conceiving the way of communicating what is communicable from him to his seed than of the first to his nay more easie to be convine do● influence coming from the second if we take up but these additions This is the quickning-spirit man that by spirit can mightily work upon his members to conforme them to himself and every piece of himself death resurrection c. This is the Lord-man that hath all dominion and soveraignty committed to him by God to work what hee will to work upon his own for the perfecting of his Kingdome yea this is the heavenly-man set against and above the sin and corruption of creatures to destroy them in his seed Sermon Embalming of dead Saints of which I more largely dealt elsewhere All which considered facilitates the way of our conceiving ver●ue flowing from Christ to his 2. This truth is next to be suggested As Christ in whole and intirely considered carryeth in himself the compleat work of our salvation to give out unto his seed so the severall states and conditions of Christ have some speciall and proper pieces of that salvation depending on them Rom. 6.5 Col. 3.1 Joh 14.19 as death of sin upon his death resurrection to grace upon his resurrection and life of God on us upon his life these necessary dependances of our graces on his severall works the Scriptures fully declare which revelation may help on to conceive the speciall vertue of the death of Christ in the present case 3. More neerly to the point in hand this is a main truth The death of Christ as it was intended of God so indeed it carryeth in it a direct contrariety to all that withstands his seed in the way of their salvation and not only that it weakens but a soveraign contrariety able to quell and over-power every thing that opposeth the salvation of his people These opposites are sin in the first place by the guilt and poyson of it then the Law with it's dreadfull curse wherunto are joyned the Devill that hath the power of death the bitternes of death it self and the terrors of hel with all the powers of darknesse all these conspire to destroy poore soules and against all these hath the death of Christ a ver●ue opposite and predominant as hot medicines to overcome cold diseases and cold to quel the hot therefore very reasonable that it should eate out the very heart of sin the sting of our afflictions Rom. 6.2 3. Ephes 2.16 The frequent oppositions of the death blood and crosse of Christ against sin curse enmity in flesh toward God c. and the victory of that averred over all these adversaries are evidence without exception sufficient to conclude this truth 4. Adde wee this The death of Christ is not only contrary unto sin but in the mysterie hath actually killed and destroyed the enmity which is in the flesh of his members against him as well as all other adversaries of our life without us Col. 2.14 15. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Hebr. 2.14 The Act past is plainly recorded He blotted out the hand-writing which was contrary to us not only that of Ordinances which peculiarly concerned the Jews but that of his Law that was against every man and tooke it out of the way nayling it to his Crosse and spoyled Principalities and Powers c. that is those of hell that constantly opposed the salvation of Christs seed which elsewhere is thus expressed By death heed'd destroy him that had the power of death which is the Devill The world also a grand enemy is crucified to believers by Christs Crosse Gal. 6.14 Here are blotting out taking quite out of sight and nayling to the Crosse for dead law and curse that were against Christs people to note their utter abolition so is there a destroying or making void and uselesse all the power of the Devill to kill so againe crucifying the world making it as a thing hang'd out of the way which every one abhorreth and no lesse by the same death or crosse a killing of all enmity in the creatures against God not only by pardoning but by abolishing it in the flesh insomuch Rom. 6.2 that the Apostle concludes for himselfe and fellow-believers an impossibility of their abiding under the life of sin being actually dead to sin by the death of Christ Now all this as is said was done by Christ in the mysterie and that expression teacheth us that what-Christ so doth is done by him as head of his body and therefore in reference to it and with influence of all those secret mysticall acts on it the plain effect of this Mysterie is most fitly and pithily expressed in those termes of conjunction which couple the soules with Christ as being together within all his works and travells for their salvation So we reade that his members are crucified together with him Gal. 2 20. and their old man crucified with him and they again buried with him and risen with him So the mysterie is discovered to the Gentiles Rom. 6.4 Col. 2.12 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that they should be fellow-heirs and of the same body and partakers of his promise all which are expressed by wit hs cons and together and knitting particles which can import no lesse but the sharing of these joyned soules with Christ in all the vertue of those works sufferings or priviledges wherein by God himselfe they are joyned with him so that if they be planted together with him in his dying Ephes 3.6 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 though they cannot die for sin as he did yet a likenesse to that death they must have in effect even a death to sin in themselves therefore they are joyned with him in that suffering of his Rom. 6.5 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 because they do hold out a sutable effect to that his death issuing from it in their own flesh and the same reason is of their conjunction with him in his other works tending to their salvation sutable effects are wrought in them from all This is actually done by Christ as for the time of the actuall manifestation of this sin in his united members more wil be declared in the application of this vertue of Christ hereafter but for present some help is given from hence to conceive of the efficacie and necessity of sins fall by the death of Christ 5. Yet the difficulty is

not cleared How should crosse or blood or death these dead things work the fall or death of sin in my flesh and spirit The last position will come home to this There is a living spirit purchased given and annexed unto all these saving works of Christ which applies the vertue of his death sufferings and resurrection to produce sutable and due effects upon mans soule This this is that active principle that sets Christ death on work to kill sin that brings men to a fellowship of his sufferings and makes them conformable to his death The vast difference between blood and blood death and death together with the ground of it is fully declared by the Apostle in comparing the legall sacrifices with Christs one perfect offering Heb. 9.9.13 14. Alas the blood of Buls and Goats could but at best sanctifie to the purifying of the flesh it could never perfect concerning the conscience but the blood of Christ purgeth consciences from dead works to serve the living God which is the same with killing sin within us and freeing our hearts from the bendage of corruption to that glorious liberty in serving God But what makes the difference that so worthlesse this to excell for purging sin The same Text will satisfie It was the blood of him who through the eternall Spirit offered himselfe without spot or fault to God wherein these excellencies are observable 1. It was a pure blood without any poysonous tincture of sin by participation therefore a remedy fitted against it such is no blood of creatures besides but all either by inheritance or participation defiled 2. It was a powerfull spirited blood for that eternall Spirit by which he offered himselfe works in it and by it to purge consciences from Spirituall death of sin but the other to a weak spiritlesse blood therefore altogether uselesse for these high effects No sope nor nitre no fire nor blood materiall can work out sin no spirit in these only that Fullers sope Mal. 3.2 and that Refiners fire and that Sacrificers blood can purge from sins powerfull pollutions into which the eternall Spirit gives influence and whereby it works sins perpetuall destruction It is not obscure that our Lord upon leaving the world designes his Spirit in his own place to put his Church in remembrance of what he hath told them to shew them the things of Christ in the power of them and to bring home the spirituall energie and force of all his satisfaction death and resurrection to their soules however therefore the death of Christ be the plague of sin when wee come to feel the vertue of this death we must by the Spirit mortifie the deeds of our flesh Rom. 8.13 by yeelding to that Spirits effectuall application of this killing power to our indwelling corruptions It is observable in those former conjunctions mention'd We are buried with him and risen with him i. e. we have in our selves the inseparable effects of his death and resurrection a death to sin and life above it Something els is added for perfecting the effects in us Col. 2.12 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Even through the faith of the Operation of God Faith draws on our parts but Gods powerfull Spirit works upon the other killing sin by his death and quickning by his resurrection hereby onely becomes his bloud so victorious over sin So that now from all these considerations put together Christ acknowledged the Adam or principle of propagation his death the special remedy intended against sin having a soveraigne contrariety to quell it having actually given the deaths-blow to it upon the Crosse which the Spirit at this day puts in force upon every united member we may clearly conceive the powerfull vertue of this means against the life of sin in the flesh and withall not onely a reasonable possibilitie but an ordained necessitie upon Christs part of giving out its force for the thorough subduing and utter abolishing sinne in his seed yet a question is behind But how should we draw this mortifying virtue from Christ upon our own flesh so as to feele the effect in the dying of our corruptions The second part must answer this 2. It is now needfull having seen the waters at the gate of Bethlem and known that soveraigne sin-killing vertue in the death of Christ to consider the way of getting of it through all difficulties and of having the actuall experience of it upon our own hearts and in short the way that we must take is but one even that singular way of faith wherein this saving issue may be expected Nothing can be clearer than this in the revelation of God that every vertue is drawne out of Christ by beleeving It is true Christs death and buriall kills and burieth us to sin in the mystery as conjoyned with him but yet this is not done Col. 2.12 but by the Faith of the operation of God this actually instates us into all the priviledges of Christ It is the Apostles profession of himselfe in communion with the head Gal. 2.20 I am c●ucified with Christ Neverthelesse I live yet not I but Christ liveth in me and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God Death and life he confesseth he hath issuing from Christ and sutable to him death to the law and sin as well as life to God but how are these drawne out Onely by beleeving for he dyed as we 'l as lived by the faith of the Son of God So that it is questionlesse That by faith the vertues of Christ are brought into the soule all the difficulty is of the way and manner how faith should obtaine them from him whereunto I shall labour to give satisfaction in these following determinations In generall I shall premise that all the operative force of Faith in this as in other parts of salvation is onely instrumentall serving a superior Agent and effectuall onely in his hand The mighty Spirit of God hath created and fitted this in our hearts to sute with his gracious dispensation that by it the whole good-pleasure and free purpose of God to life might be accomplished in us he onely working himselfe all acts of grace upon us and this serving his hand working nothing els being meet to joyne with grace untill he finish the whole mind of God in us This instrumentall vertue is frequently averred in subordination to that power that useth it As by grace ye are saved through faith Ephes 2.8 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and againe Ye are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation Gods power and grace is the Saviour Faith but the instrument whereby he brings salvation to us and that too is properly its instrumentall consideration 1 Pet. 1.5 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as it is in his hand and not ours for it is our grace given and worke acted but his instrument onely in us Now this faith serveth that

Spirit to bring in the severall vertues of Christ for perfecting our salvation in these speciall wayes 1. In answering the Spirit to his worke of union for as that from Christ takes hold of us so faith in us moved by the Spirit takes hold of him whereby the soule is actually united to him and by this union made partaker of all saving vertue in him therfore of the power of his death Rom. 11.20 Hence it is said that we are ingrafted into Christ by faith and no lesse that Christ dwels in our be arts by faith Ephes 3.17 Now the work whereunto faith moves us in this matter is to yeeld to the Spirits offer and to close with Christ as members whom he reveales as sent of God to be our head and so with him to become one Christ mysticall thus our minds by faith are moved to close with him by apprehending knowing and acknowledging him to be our head our wills by choosing him and yeelding to him as head and our hearts by faith also cleaving to him as head in loving fearing and delighting in him thus by consent of faith are we brought to union with Christ and thereby to communion in all his fulnesse whence we draw from his death that fruit which his death doth yeeld and from his resurrection that good which it carrieth for us and in a word from him thus we have grace for grace as the graft sucks out the juice and fatnesse of the good Olive 2. In answering to the Spirits worke of revelation faith is serviceable which faith doth and indeed onely can doe by making evident and reall to the soule what the Spirit by the word reveals Now indeed the greatest works of the Gospel on mens hearts are effected by revelation the Gospels light hath a mighty influence upon all saving effects Nothing of grace is wrought in a soule but by light this works life and all to men To the present case the Spirit reveales Jesus Christ the compleat salvation to his people his death the plague of their sin his resurrection the cause of their life to God and therefore a necessity of dying and living with him this revelation being made evident reall by faith unto a soule becomes not a Platonicall Idea or vaine speculation but an over-powering truth working it selfe into the heart and moulding it into its owne likenesse of death or life The power of such revelation is eminently averred by a mighty Apostle that was once a bitter enemy to the Gospel yet thus he speaketh Gal. 1.15 When it pleased God to reveale his Sonue in me immediately I conferred not with flesh and bloud It was so powerfull being evidenced by faith that it presently takes him from all carnall considerations knits him so fast to Christ that flesh bloud can never take him off somewhat like that fiery charret that separated Elijah from Elisha and took him unto God indeed such fire there is as well as light in these revelations realized by faith And that this is faiths serviceable worke to the Spirit so to evidence is cleare enough when it is styled the Evidence of things not seen Heb. 11.1 faith will convince when no light els can move The Spirit of revelation therefore meeting with faith Eph. 1.17.19 leaves great and mighty works upon that soule no lesse than the might of the power of God revealed to them can effect Such is that in the present instance when the Spirit revealing and faith evidencing the death of Christ to be sinnes destruction the soule is hereby lest dead unto sin Let faith therefore worke upon this revelation to evidence it that the minde may discerne it and heart rest upon it the life of sin will surely fall as the hearts of Israel at the sight of Goliah or as the man dyes at the piercing of the Cockatrices eye 3. Faith serves the Spirit to bring in the vertnes of Christ upon the soule in answering its application and direction concerning this matter by receiving one and obeying the other which being fitted for this instrument none but faith can answer It hath been declared before that the maine worke of bringing christ and his excellencies into the soule is upon the hand of Gods mighty Spirit This unites to him and reveales the force of him and by its spirituall energie gives or applies him intirely for life and every piece of him for the severall effects of grace with command so to receive him and expect the revealed force or vertue from him Now nothing but faith can sute the answer this onely receives what the Spirit gives and obeyes what the Spirit commands and so doing makes the soule have actuall experience of all that good of Christ ministred by his Spirit So that the obedientiall act of faith in receiving Christ as he is given in eying of him and depending on him as the onely salvation of his people is the onely way of faith to draw salvation from him So the like work of faith upon his death to evidence it the onely baine of sin in our flesh so to receive it in mind and will and heart and rest on it onely for this effect is the way to find the desired issue even the death of sin in our flesh To them therfore who are puzzeld with that question How faith should draw vertue out of Christ or his death I should onely reply premising that union with him and evidence of him forespoken it is by an obedientiall receiving the truth of him and resting on it to be made good by the Spirit of promise upon which reception all the benefits of person death and life are conferred by the arme of God upon that soule If God send this word to Naaman 2 Kings 5.10 Goe wash in Jordan seven times and be cleane though the water in it selfe had no more vertue to heale his leprosi● than anothers yet upon his obedience He that commanded did effect it Or a little more neer the case God commands Moses when the people were bitten with the fiery Serpents Num. 21.8 9. to make a brazen Serpent and set it upon a Pole with expresse word that if any bitten should look up unto it he should be healed and live If any now shall aske how did their looking to the brasse draw vertue for their recovery No satisfaction can be given but this their obedience being therein testified God fell not short of his word he healed while they were looking Our Lord himselfe applieth this to our present case Joh 3 14 15. As Moses lift up the Serpent in the Wildernesse so must the Son of Man be lifted up that whosoever beleeveth in him should not perish but have everlasting life As eying the brazen Serpent healed the fiery bite so looking upon Christ lifted up crucified and dying heales the poysonous bite of that old Serpent and the sting of sin that the soule shall not perish by it but live Some difference there is

here in the objects for power indeed is in Christ to kill up fin no vertue in the brasse it selfe to heale the Serpents bite but the acts are of the sa●e force for looking there and beleeving here were both Gods ordinance to the obedience whereof the effect is made sure by God himselfe so is all the glory of Christ made over to the obedience of faith the very receiving of him given and the looking on him and resting in him for the effecting of all grace in us The prerogative and nature of Sons is assured upon this beleeving Ioh. 1.12 As many as received him to them he gave power or priviledge to become the Sons of God Onely in this obedientiall receiving of him by faith wee must consider these Rules 1. To look unto him with a single eye of faith as he is revealed the onely salvation of his Church and his death the onely plague of sin so must faith onely eye him for salvation and his death to kill sin by it No other looking but the brazen Serpent onely could prevent death Consideration of wayes humbling soule with fasting circumspection and watchfulnesse are a good way of diet for removing sins strength and recovering the health of God but diet may not be used for medicine that which onely can kill sin in us is the death of Christ unto this onely must we look for our cure and no other way And this one eye hath like force with that of the Spouse Ca●t 4.9 to ravish the heart of Christ and pull any vertue that is in him for the helpe of the poore soule sin dies while it looks to the death of Christ onely expecting the likenesse of it or the sutable effect thereof to be produced in the soule 2. It must be a full eye of Faith also that receiveth this vertue from Christ that is Faith gathering it's full force turning all the thoughts of the minde all the purposes and resolutions of the will and all the affections of the heart to close with Christ in his dying and to draw vertue thence conformable thereunto even death to sin such an ey when all the spirits in the soul give their joynt influence unto it must needs have a piercing sight such as Christ must and will yeeld unto with such a full Spirit of Faith came that woman to touch the hem of Christs garment and sutably drew vertue out of him for stopping the issue of blood Neither was it properly her drawing against the knowledge and will of Christ Mat. 9.21 that did this but his free giving out vertue from himself unto that full Faith which made her say If I may but touch his garment I shall be whole 3. It must be a fast ned waiting eye of Faith unto which this grace is vouch safed unset led wandring eyes now off now on draw little knowledge or any good else from their objects the fixed look is that which turneth Christ unto it believing to the end will certainly make the effect to come Such a fixed eare and eye of Faith had that poore Criple that attended on Paul so int●ntively and firmly that he drew back the Apostles eyes stedfastly upon him Act. 14.9 10. who perceiving he had Faith to be healed that is Faith every way proportioned to receive an healing said with a loud voyce Stand upright on thy feet and he leaped and walked single full and constant believing cannot go off from Christ empty but while men are so beholding him in death or life they shall be changed into the same Image from glory to glory from one step of excellency to another in sinnes ruine and graces reviving by the Lord the Spirit Faith only looks and the Lord-spirit works all effects of grace upon poore soules whilest they are so earnestly looking for good from Christ According to their Faith so the Lord dealt graci●usly with the blind and deaf and lame and sick they believed for all and hee performed all for them and gave eyes and eares and limbs and health to Faith while it eyed and received him Thus far is that way that only way declared of taking out the sting of afflictions by faith's working upon the death of Christ which done the torment of the scourge is allayed and then may the soule sit close to it's exercise even give glory to God in the fires and thereby bring home the full desired fruit of peace and righteousnesse to themselves SECT X. A second direction to inable Christians for exercise under the Rod. 2. TO those poore soules that in the vallies of trouble hemm'd in with unpassable hills upon every side would sit close to work without distraction my counsell is that they earnestly and singly eye the Spirit of the Rod to draw that out and not so much pore upon the grosser part of it which is nothing but smart upon the flesh This Spirit of the Rod is lenitive for the pain active for the work which concernes a chastened soule The grosser parts of unsavory herbs may be bitter and invalid or dull to give out their vertue yet the spirit of these may be sweet and operative for speciall ends being rightly extracted It is very true in the present the more sensible and carnall part of the Rod is irksome and ineffectuall of it self for good but the more invisible and spirituall part of it is most pleasant full of energy and vertue to make the soule live above affliction and according to God to labour in it This is a mysterie but a great truth as there is a spirit in the word Covenant so there is in the Rod of the Covenant one and the same is the very soule of the Rod as is also of the Word without which the Word is but a dead letter and the Rod but a dry stick but with it Word and Rod are not only God● power to awaken Vna cademque manus vulnus opemq● tul●t wound afflict and kill towards sin but to quicken heal comfort and strengthen in all duties toward Christ Two things at least will be inquired concerning this which I shall resolve and then leave this direction to Christian practice 1. What is this spirit of the Rod Quest 1. 2. Where is this especially to be eyed and whence procured Quest 2. To the first Answ 1. In short this Spirit is that divine power or spirituall energy and vertue secretly put forth in the Rod by the Lord himself to bring his purpose to passe by it what ever he intends for the good of his children As for the Rod take it by it self of what kind soever it be it is of a smarting vexing angring quality when it meets with flesh and stirs up corruption against it self as it falls out but subdues it not It is this Spirit the very soule of chastening that overpowers sin by it and quickens and rectifies and strengthens the chastened ones for their present work This in short is no other