creature yea not to the Son of man Mark 13.32 This knowledge in the Humane Nature of Christ was intrinsecal communicat from the personal union for it is said He knew in himself to wit from the God-head dwelling in him personally Luk. 8.46 Joh. 6.61 but the knowledge of the Prophets and Apostles was extrinsecal by inspiration and extraordinary revelation By the spirit of the fear of the Lord we understand that heavenly grace of unspotted holiness and purity in his Humane Nature for such an High Priest became us who is holy harmless undefiled c. Heb. 7.26 therefore is he called by way of singularity and excellency 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that Holy Thing Luk. 1.35 The words being thus explained two things may be observed 1. The variety of the graces and gifts powred forth upon our Lord Jesus Christ for the good of his Church 2. The permanency and continuance of these graces and gifts in vigor and exercise it is said The Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him Observ 1. Variety of graces and gifts were poured forth upon Jesus Christ our Head for the good of all the members of his mystical body the Church this is evident from this place as also from Joh. 1.14 16. He was full of grace and truth and of his fulness have we all received and grace for grace As the ointment poured forth upon the head of Aaron the High Priest did flow down to the skirts of his garment Psal 133.1 in like manner the vertue of the graces of the Spirit poured forth on Jesus Christ our great High Priest doth descend to the meanest member of his mystical body for sanctifying them throughout and for gladning their hearts with that oyl of gladness spoken of Psal 45.7 8. It is said Eph. 4.10 He asscended up far above all Heavens that he might fill all things It is true believers were filled in some measure with grace through him before his ascending into Heaven yet a greater measure of the Spirit was poured forth upon them after his ascension Acts 2.33 as the Sun after its rising fills the earth with light but the higher it ascends in its course the earth is filled with more of light so there is a greater measure of spiritual knowledge and grace in believers after the ascension of Christ then was before his birth or during the time of his abode upon the earth in the time of his humiliation Vse 1. Seing the Lord Jesus Christ received all these graces and gifts of the Spirit as Mediator for the good of his Church we should in all our wants and spiritual indigencies have our recourse by prayer to him that out of his fulness we might receive grace for grace It is a sure ground of our confidence and comfort that he received all these graces and gifts for our benefit therefore we should go to him as Children of the Family to the Stewart sealed and appointed by the Father who to their certain knowledge hath got provision both of grace and glory for all of the houshold of Faith and we may be assured he is faithful in all the House of God to give unto the children their Fathers allowance Joh. 6.27 Labour not for the meat which perisheth but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life which the son of man shall give unto you for him hath God the Father sealed Art thou dull in understanding and hath little or no sharpness of wit to understand and discern spiritual and supernatural truths no more then a blind man has sight to discern colours Go to the Lord Jesus Christ in whom was and is the spirit of understanding be thou humble under the sense of thy spiritual blindness and by prayer seek that eye-salve which is called the Vnction from the holy One 1 Joh. 2.20 and is called the Spirit of revelation Eph. 1.17 Seek it with a sincere purpose of heart to improve thy understanding of the truth revealed unto practice and doing what thou shalt understand to be Gods will and thy duty Go with confidence to the Lord Jesus Christ who is both able and willing to open thy understanding and to give a heavenly faculty to perceive and understand divine truths He not only taught the Disciples going to Emmaus by word of mouth but also opened their understandings Luke 24.44 And if thou have an honest purpose of heart to do revealed duties thy Lord will mak thee to understand and discern the truths that are necessary for the saving of thy soul Joh. 7.17 If any man will do his will he shall know of the doctrine whether it be of God or whether I speak of my self Wouldst thou have spiritual wisdom and prudence for ordering thy conversation and doing of revealed duties Go to him upon whom was poured the spirit of wisdom by prayer seek it of him who gives liberally Jam. 1.4 Make conscience of frequent hearing and reading the Word of God which is the book of heavenly wisdom making men wise to salvation 2 Tim. 3.15 16. In difficulties and perplexities wherein thou knows no more what to do then Jehoshaphat did in a great strait 2 Chron. 20.12 go to him for counsel Prov. 8.14 Counsel is mine And here it is said The spirit of counsel was upon him He is called by way of excellency The Counseller Isai 9.6 He hath promised to give counsel to our hearts in times of greatest difficulties Luk. 21.15 and accordingly he did so to his faithful servants as to Stephen Act. 6.10 and to Paul Act. 23.6 In an hour of temptation from the power of thine own corruption from Satan and from the world go to the Lord Jesus Christ for obtaining might and power to resist and in end to overcome thy spiritual enemies thus did Paul in an hour of darkness and temptation 2 Cor. 12.9 remember the spirit of might was poured on him he is able to save to the uttermost all that come unto God by him Go to him for strength and protection in times of great trials and persecutions keep fast the word of his patience that is his direction for carrying thy self in such a time humbly patiently and peaceably Rev 3.10 Go to him in a time of fainting that from him thou may get quickening and might to run the ways of his Commandments Because the spirit of might was poured forth upon the Captain of our Salvation to help forward poor willing souls now and then fainting in the way of their Christian race it is not enough in your regeneration at first to be quickened unto a new life but in respect of your faintings in the race and course of Sanctification ye have need of daily quickening and up-stirring to the duties of the new life Therefore it is that David a man according to Gods heart being already in the state of grace and partaker of the new life prayeth frequently for quickening unto duty Psal 119.25 37 88 107 159. and Psal 143.3 Wouldst thou have the knowledge and
in our blessed Lord his time did contract dust and fuilÈie and their feet had need of daily washing so our affections are not so closly united to God but many times they are open and enlarged toward the world which defiles the heart and puts even men converted unto a daily necessity of repentance and cleansing from all uncleanness of the flesh and the spirit 2 Cor. 7.1 But in Heaven there will be perfect purity of heart like Angels not a wandering motion there we will be far above the world which defiles the heart and far above the vain shadows of this present world which now and then interveening draws our eye and heart off God but at our change into glory nothing can or will interveen between God and us our minds and our hearts then will be wholly and unchangeably set upon him 4. Though now after conversion there may be some calmness in the conscience yet it continues not alwayes alike some of the godly do say as Job 7.4 I am full of tossing to and fro as David Ps 42.7 All thy waves and thy billows have gone over me and as Hezekiah Is 38.13 As a lyon so will he break all my bones c. But at our last change to glory in heaven there will be a perfect and an everlasting calm like that of men tossed at Sea when they come within a safe Harbour for the salvation of God will be a perpetual bullwark unto them 5. The body of the godly in this life is subject many times as a drudge unto a corrupt and imperious will but at our last change as the will of the godly will be wholly and sweetly subordinat unto the will of God so in the day of resurrection the body with all its members shall be a Temple filled with the Holy Ghost then there shall not be a wrong look in the eye nor an impertinent word in the tongue nor a wrong step in all the course of our bodily motion and conversation the body now is weak and sickly but then it will be ever healthful and strong now it is weary and subject to fainting but then it will be agile as Augustine speaketh it will be in an instant of time wheresoever the spirit shall desire to be then shall our bodies and tabernacles of clay be conform to the pattern shown in the mount when our blessed Lord was transfigured Philip 3.20 Vse 1. For conviction of many who think they are in a state of grace when in the mean time they are carryed away with sense and masterful passions like brute-beasts toward the fulfilling of their sinful lusts some are like Lyons in fierceness some like Bears in their inconsiderat wrath some like evening Wolves in their cruel covetousness some like the Asps in the venom of their tongues and others like the Crocodiles in dissembling their cruelty with false shews of pity that the more easily they may destroy the simple ones but such men would consider in time how far they are from being of the meek Spirit of Jesus Christ now if any man have not the spirit of Christ he is none of his Rom. 8.9 Vse 2. For exhortation to all such who are yet the old men like Moab not changed from their Lees consider 1. in Gods accompt ye are compared to Beasts before this happy change spoken of here be wrought in you and as it is truly said it is better to be a beast than truly compared to a beast 2. Ye can have no evidence that ye are in Christ but from this change If any man be in Christ he is a new creature 2 Cor. 5.17 and if any man be not a new creature he is not yet actually in Christ and it is not possible to be with him in glory after this life except ye be in him first as new creatures in this life for as there is no condemnation to them that are in him so there is no salvation to them that are not in him who is the Saviour only of his mystical body Eph. 5.23 3. If there be no change from thy state of corrupt nature death in its approach will be terrible like a Serjeant at Armes to apprehend a rebel in his act of rebellion and straightwayes to hale him before the Kings Bench Psal 7.12 13. 4. There is no coming to heaven without this change as lepers under the Law were not admitted into the assemblies of the people of God before they were cleansed from their leprosie So there will not be admission into the assembly of the first-born in heaven untill you be cleansed from your sins and all your presumptuous thoughts of salvation without cleansing the heart and conversation are but vain imaginations and groundless phantasies Jer. 4.14 O Jerusalem wash thine heart from wickedness that thou mayest be saved how long shall thy vain thoughts lodge within thee Vse 3. For confort to all such in whom God by his Word and Spirit has wrought a real change from their former vain and sinful conversation be of good comfort he who has begun the good work of grace in thy soul will finish it untill the day of Jesus Christ Phil. 1.6 he is the wise builder and will perfect his work of free grace begun in thee in this life though thy knowledge of God and of thy happiness in him be but in part yet in the other life it will be full like the light of the Sun at noon-day 1 Cor. 13.12 Now thy knowledge is mediat as through a lattesse then shall it be immediat and intuitive 1 Joh. 3.2 we shall see him as he is In this state of grace our will is not only mutable by nature but also of a mutable condition even after we are in a state of grace and has a proneness and liberty unto evil but in heaven our will shall be of an immutable condition fixed alwayes upon God and subordinat unto his will necessarily yet most freely without all force and co-action for then it will be our meat and drink to do the will of our heavenly Father then there will be perfect purity in the affections we shall be presented to the Father altogether faultless Jude Epist 24. then shall there be full joy and everlasting delight in God himself the supreme good There will be an everlasting calm in the conscience not so much as an air of temptation or whisper of any inordinat motion and all the members of the body will be weapons of righteousness like vessels in the temple above wholly consecrat to God Therefore let the children of God in all the outward changes they see in this unconstant world and in some inward changes they feel now and then in themselves in respect of their spiritual condition yet hold fast their confidence in God and rejoyce in the hope of that unchangeable condition that abides them in heaven Quest Some will say I have a purpose to change and have some wishes for it as a thing necessar in this life before
heart is ready to every good work and commanded duty with the Apostle Paul Acts 9.6 saying Lord what wilt thou have me to do For the Doctrine of Justification by Faith obligeth believers the more strictly to the duties of Sanctification for knowing they are justified in the blood of Christ which is the price of our redemption therefore should they glorify God in their body and in their spirit which are God's not only by the right of creation and temporal preservation but also by the right of redemption and everlasting salvation 1 Cor. 6.20 Seing they have the promises of free grace ratified in the blood of Christ they should cleanse themselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit perfecting holiness in the fear of God 2 Cor. 7.1 See more 2 Cor. 5.15 Tit. 2.11 12 14. So that the Doctrine of Justification by faith in Jesus Christ doth not make void the Law but establisheth the Law Rom. 3.31 Though it make the Law void as to Justification by it Rom 8.3 yet it doth not make it void or cancell it from being a fixt rule for our direction Now to the Lord Jesus Christ the Author and Finisher of our faith with the Father and Holy Ghost be all praise c. Amen Spiritual Life and Spiritual Walking SERMON V. GAL. 5.25 If we live in the Spirit let us also walk in the Spirit THe Apostle having spoken in vers 22 23 24. of the seveâ—al fruits of the Spirit in the soul wherein he hath planted the life of grace he inferreth this conclusion If we live in the Spirit c. that is if we be quickened by the Spirit of God and raised to a new life of grace let it be seen in the course and actions of our life Let us walk by the Spirit that is by the guidance and direction of the Spirit according to the Word of God which was inspired into the Prophets and Apostles by the Holy Spirit In the words we have 1. A benefit supposed If we live in the Spirit 2. A duty proposed Let us walk in the Spirit For clearing the benefit supposed we would know 1. The nature and condition of this life which we are said here to have by the Spirit what it is 2. We would know the necessity of this life 3. The excellent quality of it in excelling all other kinds of life 1. As for the nature of this life it hath three effects or operations 1. Our Justification whereby our sins are forgiven and we are absolved from the sentence of damnation through the perfect obedience and satisfaction of our Mediator the Lord Jesus Christ as a man sentenced to death for some hainous crime is called a dead man even before the execution of the sentence and when he is absolved he is said to be a living man so by nature through sin and guiltiness we are children of wrath and dead in sins and trespasses obnoxious to eternal death and damnation but being justified by faith in Jesus Christ we are said to live in Christ and have the hope to live with him for ever This life is purchased to us by the merit of the death of Christ and is applyed by the Holy Spirit working faith in us whereby we are united to Christ and receive in and through him remission of sins offered to us in the preaching of the Gospel and sâ—aled in the holy Sacraments 1 Cor. 6.11 But ye are washed but ye are sanctified but ye are justified in the Name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God 2. The act also and operation of the life of grace is our Sanctification wrought in us by the Holy Spirit mortifying in us the deeds of the body Rom. 8.13 If ye through the Spirit do mortifie the deeds of the body ye shall live to wit the life of glory in Heaven and it is a quickening of us to live here unto righteousness as a man pincing away in sickness is said to be a dead man in respect of his fast approaching unto death and when he is in the way of recovery he is said to be a living man because there are pregnant hopes of his better health and life This life of Sanctification purchased also by Christ is applyed and wrought in us by the Holy Spirit through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost Tit. 3.5 3. There is the life of comfort and spiritual chearfulness it 's said of old Jacob Gen. 44.30 His life is bound up in the lad's life because he was much comforted in his son Joseph When sin and judgement is set before us our heart is dead and comfortless like the heart of Nabal whose heart at the report of David's wrath against him died within him through fear 1 Sam. 25.37 But when the Spirit of the Lord in our fears and faintings doth revive us by the sweet and piercing smell of the cross of Christ received by faith into the soul then we live a comfortable life and our soul rejoyceth in God our Saviour 2 Cor. 4.11 For we which live are alwayes delivered unto death for Jesus sake that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh that is that the life of comfort and inward strength from Christ might be manifested in our sufferings 1 Pet. 1.8 Whom having not seen ye love in whom though now ye see him not yet believing ye rejoyce with joy unspeakable and full of glory This life of inward comfort and strength purchased also by the merit of the death of Christ is applyed and wrought in us by the Holy Spirit Eph. 3.14 15 16. I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ c. that he would grant you according to the riches of his glory to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner-man This life is called our life in Christ Col. 3.3 4. For ye are dead and your life is hid with Christ in God It is purchased by him hid and preserved in him and with him as the life of the branches is preserved in the root Joh. 14.19 Because I live ye shall live also It is called the life of the Spirit or by the Spirit in this place because by the Holy Spirit we are united and joyned unto the Lord our Head and Saviour 1 Cor 6.17 He that is joyned unto the Lord is one spirit and because we are renewed to a new life by the Holy Spirit Joh. 3.5 Except a man be born of Water and of the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God It is called the life of faith Gal. 2.20 because by faith we receive the life of Justification Sanctification and of inward comfort from Jesus Christ 2. This life of grace is absolutely necessar as a midst and necessar antecedent unto eternal life 1. As the natural life is a necessar foundation of natural actings and operations dead Trees grow not dead Animals walk not dead men discourse not so the life
to have apprehended but this one thing I do forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forth unto those things which are before I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus This duty of walking in the wayes of Gods commandments is required of all who have the spiritual life of grace If we live in the spirit let us walk in the spirit Although the estate of grace doth free us from the Law as it was a covenant of works to man in the estate of innocency Rom. 6.14 Ye are not under the law but under grace yet we are not fred from it as the fixed and perpetual rule of the duty of thankfulness to God both upon the accompt of our creation and redemption Rom. 3.31 Do we then make void the law through faith yea we establish it The Gospel addeth a new obligation from the glade tidings of our redemption through the blood of Christ 1 Cor. 6.20 For ye are bought with a price therefore glorifie God in your body and in your spirit which are Gods To this we are called by the Gospel of grace Tit. 2.11 12. 1 Pet. 2.24 Christ bare our sins in his own body on the tree that we being dead to sin should live unto righteousness To this walking in newness of life we are engaged by solemn profession in Baptism wherein we are said to put on Christ Gal. 3.27 and these who put on Christ should walk in newness of life Rom. 13.14 Put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ and make not provision for the flesh to fulfill the lusts thereof And Christ giveth salvation only to them who labour to obey him by walking in newness of life Heb. 5.9 And being made perfect he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him There be three evident symptoms of natural life to wit 1. Appetite toward the means of life 2. Growth and increase of stature And 3. Motion and walking In like-manner there are three signs of spiritual life 1. Appetite and desire after the word and means of Salvation 1 Pet. 2.2 As new born babes desire the sincere milk of the Word Although the renewed children of God do not know sometimes by the reflex act of knowledge and faith that they live by the Spirit yet others experienced Christians do know they live by perceiving their spiritual appetite after the means of the life of grace 2. Growth in Grace and Sanctification is a sign of the life spiritual infused into them by the Spirit for the Ministry of the Word is given for the perfecting of the Saints for the edifying of the body of Christ till we all come in the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God unto a perfect man unto the meâ—sure of the stature of the fulness of Christ Eph. 4.11 12 13. 3. Moving and walking in newness of life with all respect to all the holy Commandments is a sign undoubted that we live in the Spirit because these two are joyned together Ezek. 36.27 I will put my spirit within you and cause you to walk in my statutes As Lazarus raised from death to life did come forth from the sepulchre wherein he was laid and walked in the sight of others so a soul quickened by the Spirit doth rise from his sins wherein he was dead and buried and walketh before God and men in newness of life There is a walking after the flesh directly opposit to walking in the Spirit Rom. 8.1 There is now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus who walk not after the flesh but after the spirit We must beware of such walking because the end of it is eternal destruction for he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption but he that soweth to the spirit or walketh after the spirit shall of the spirit reap life everlasting Gal. 6.8 Such walkers after the flesh are profane men walking presumptuously in the imaginations of their own evil hearts and yet thinking to get Heaven in end as if a man walking toward the west should think in end to come to the east Of this profane and presumptuous walking and the severe punishment of it we read Deut. 29.19 This is not to walk in the power of the Spirit of God but in the strong delusion of their own deceived spirit such walkers are these spoken of 2 Pet. 3.3 There shall come in the last dayes scoffers walking after their own lusts And all such also who walk in a course of life fulfilling the sinful desires and lusts of their own hearts It is true the godly though renewed by the Spirit of God have flesh and corruption in them but they walk not aftr the flesh as their ordinary guide and counsellour The holy Scripture holds forth the manner of our walking in the Spirit in these following qualifications 1. In walking humbly with God Micah 6.8 What doth the Lord require of thee but to do justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with thy God By keeping upon thy spirit the impressions of his greatness and holiness this will make thee to walk humbly this made Isaiah humble after he had seen a visible representation of the Majesty and Holiness of God Isai 6.5 Then said I Wo is me for I am undone because I am a man of unclean lips c. This impression will make the soul obedient to the will of the Lord as Isaiah also was Isa 6.8 Also I heard the voice of the Lord saying Whom shall I send and who will go for us then said I Here am I send me This impâ—ession of the greatness and holiness of God will make the renewed man to shine in his conversation before the world as Moses his face did shine before the people after he had conversed with God in the mount 2. It is a spiritual and heavenly-minded walking having the way and haunt of the heart far above the things of the world Prov. 15.24 The way of life is above to the wise that he may depart from hell beneath Such walking keepeth the heart free from the bondage of many temptations and snares wherein the earthly-minded man is taken and detained as the Eagles who soar in a high way are not so easily shot and fell'd by the Fowler as the greedy Cormorants that flutter upon the surface of the earth or the vain Stanchel that hovers in the air and embraceth the wind In like manner heavenly-minded men are not so easily taken with the baits of the world as greedy and ambitious men who mind earthly things 3. It is a circumspect walking Eph. 5.15 Whereof hereafter in Serm. on that place 4. It is a sincere and upright walking Psal 84 11. No good thing will the Lord God withhold from them that walk uprightly It is a walking with a respect unto all the Commandments of God as David walked Psal 119.6 with active endeavours to keep a good conscience toward
same time he was attended by an heavenly host of Angels and was worshipped both by the wise men that came from the east and by the shepherds after he was tempted as a man in the wilderness yet the Angels ministered unto him as the Son of God after his sleeping as a man in the ship he rebuked the Sea and the Winds as the Son of God yea in his lowest condition upon the Cross he by the power of his God-head did shake the earth and raise the dead Vse 2. Meditate oft-times for thy comfort upon his lowing and humbling himself in his birth life and death look upon it as the greatest token of his love Jacobs service in so low a condition was a great token of his love to Rachel but the Prince of Glory even Jacobs Lord was in the form of a servant near-by thirty four years to espouse us who were by nature enemies to God Look upon his low condition and humiliation as a special mean to engage thy heart and affection to himself who took upon him thy nature to make thee partaker of the Divine Nature by a conformity to God in holiness in this life and in glory and happiness for ever in the other life Look upon his humiliation as thy pattern in thy behaviour to thy inferiours he condescended to us in our low estate therefore be not high-minded neither in a supercilious arrogancy stand upon your punctilio's but let the like mind be in you which was in Christ Jesus who humbled himself to do us good So should we after his example condescend to do good one to another Phil. 2.3 4 5. VERSE II. And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him the spirit of wisdom and understanding the spirit of counsel and might the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord. FOr the better clearing these words we would answer three questions 1. Seing God gave him the Spirit not in measure Joh. 3.34 How is it that the graces of the Spirit bestowed upon him are here stinted and limited to the number of six 2. Seing he had these graces from all eternity being equal in understanding wisdom counsel might and knowledge with the Father how is the Spirit said to rest upon him in his Incarnation as if he had not been endowed with those graces before that time 3. What is meant by these several graces and gifts mentioned here I answer to the first The graces reckoned up here are such as were bestowed upon him as Man and Mediator in our nature at his Incarnation and were requisit for him in the Government of his Church and people although all other graces were habitually and eminently in him as humility meekness patience c. yet such graces are mentioned here as in a special manner qualified him for the actual discharge of the Mediatory-office as for that spoken of our blessed Lord Joh. 3.34 He received not the spirit by measure it is not to be understood simply as if the Humane Nature of Christ by way of transfusion had received an infinit measure of grace for a finit creature cannot receive such a measure seing every thing is received according to the measure and capacity of the receiver but it is spoken by way of comparison with all the intelligent creatures Angels or Men who received not such a measure of the graces of the Spirit as Christ did in his Humane Nature wherein he was anointed above his fellows Psal 45.7 Eph. 4.7 To the second Question I answer Our blessed Lord in respect of his Divine Nature was of infinit understanding wisdom counsel might and knowledge but these graces in a finit measure were communicat to the Humane Nature in the personal union thereof with the Divine Nature in his Incarnation but in a measure far above the capacity of Angels or Men because the nearer the creature is united to God the perfection of it is the greater therefore it is even so among believers in the Church here on earth some of them are more perfect then others because united to God by more of faith and love then others and in Heaven the Saints glorified are more perfect then the Saints militant on earth because they are united and near to God in the facial vision of God by full knowledge and perfect love Now of all creatures the Humane Nature of Christ was and is most perfect because united and nearest to the Divine Nature in a personal union To the third I answer We understand by the Spirit of understanding his large capacity in perceiving and up-taking what was incumbent for himself to do and suffer as our Mediator and also what the elect should do for attaining eternal life through him By the Spirit of wisdom we understand the gift of active prudence whereby he was enabled for doing and performing the duty which he understood was incumbent to him as our Mediator Psal 40.8 9 10. I have not hid thy righteousness within my heart I have declared thy faithfulness and thy salvation I have not concealed thy loving kindness and thy truth from the great congregation By the Spirit of counsel we understand his ability to reveal the eternal counsel and purpose of the Father concerning the way of mans salvation Joh. 6.40 And this it the will of him that sent me that every one which seeth the Son and believeth on him may have everlasting life By the Spirit of might we understand that power and dominion over all creatures given to him as Mediator and Head of his Church Mat. 28.18 All power is given unto me in Heaven and in Earth An exceeding power of invincible grace toward the Elect in their effectual calling and conversion Eph. 1.19 and also a power and mighty force to subdue his obstinat and incorrigible enemies 1 Cor. 15.25 For he must reign till he hath put all enemies under his feet By the Spirit of knowledge we understand not only his certain and infallible knowledge of all things to be done and suffered by him for the salvation of lost man but also his knowledge and dexterity for instructing his Church in the truth and way of salvation As in the Breast-plate of the High Priest was Vrim and Thummim rendered by the 70. Interpreters 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Manifestation and Truth So our Lord knew the truth and had a transcendent gift of a convincing gravity and authority as also a perswasive clearness upon the spirits and hearts of his hearers Psal 45.2 Grace is poured into thy lips Mat. 7.28 29. And it came to pass when Jesus had ended these sayings the people were astonished at his doctrine For he taught them as one having authority and not as the Scribes Luk. 24.32 And they said one to another Did not our heart burn within us while he talked with us by the way and while he opened to us the Scriptures This knowledge infused into the Humane Nature of Christ was not an absolute Omniscience which is incommunicable to any
perswasion of divine and supernatural truths Go to him for light and knowledge the spirit of knowledge rested on him Prov. 1.23 Prov. 2.3 4 5. Rev. 3.18 He is by Office the great Doctor of Israel and will give his Spirit to perswade the heart to receive and imbrace the precious truths revealed in the Word even unto all who seek to him for instruction and humbly submit to his discipline and correction Hast thou a prophane loose and godless heart void of the fear of God go to him on whom was poured the spirit of the fear of the Lord that he may put the fear of God in thy heart that thou mayest be sanctified throughout in spirit soul and body in a conformity to him on whom the spirit of the fear of the Lord did rest To this end he died that he might ratifie and confirm that promise of the new Covenant I will put my fear in their hearts that they shall not depart from me Jer. 32.40 Vse 2. Seing these graces and gifts of the Spirit were given to Jesus Christ the Mediator for the benefit of his Church it is our duty to search our selves and try if we have received of the spirit of Christ because if any man have not the spirit of Christ he is none of his Rom. 8.9 And hereby know we that we dwell in him and he in us because he hath given us of his spirit 1 Joh. 4.13 As a member of the body not animated by the soul is not formally and properly a member thereof so a man not quickened by the Spirit of Christ is not an actual member of his Mystical Body the Church His Spirit is a Spirit of understanding If thou understand the fundamental and necessary saving truths and followest Christ by saith as a Schollar following and maintaining the opinion of his Teacher and if thou set thy heart to follow him by obedience in the way of his holy Commandments as a Servant following the direction of his Lord For a good understanding have all they that do his Commandments Psal 111.10 If thy understanding be seconded with an hatred of every false way Psal 119.104 then mayest thou be assured the Spirit of Christ is in thee even the spirit of sound judgement and understanding The Spirit of Christ is a Spirit of spiritual and heavenly wisdom which is pure without guile and peaceable without faction and sedition Jam. 3.17 It is true there is a wisdom that passeth under that name in this present world but it is foolishness with God 1 Cor. 3.19 there are many wise in their own generation but are fools in the great business of Regeneration such as put forth all their wit and pains for attaining the deceitful pleasures of sin which is called a plowing of iniquity Job 4.8 a sowing to the flesh Gal. 6.8 a drawing of iniquity with cart-ropes Is 5.18 a travelling with iniquity Ps 7.14 and making provision for the flesh Rom. 13.14 Such as lay forth all their wit and pains for attaining uncertain riches or unconstant honour of a present world these men are like unto stupid Idiots preferring base mettal to the Pearl of price and the others are like to mad men running with all their speed into a precipice or gulph for their own destruction Such men are worldly wise who lay all the stress of their trust upon the uncertain insufficient and perishing things of this world as that miserable worldling Luk. 12.20 Such also who are nimble wits to meddle in all business except the business of their own salvation of such fools we read Prov. 20.3 And there be also too many hypocritical fools that have a frame and set form of some good holy words without any foundation of new obedience in their heart and without good works in their life and conversation such a man was that foolish builder Mat. 7. and the foolish Virgins Mat. 25. But has thou that wisdom which is from above which appears in the choice of the best thing Mat. 13.46 in active intentions for attaining the chief end even Gods glory and thine own salvation which appears also in strong desires following after the means of salvation Ps 27.4 One thing have I desired and that I will desire c. It appears in an heavenly conversation and minding things that are above Prov. 15.24 The way of life is above to the wise that he may depart from hell beneath and in providing wisely for the time to come by doing works of piety and charity 1 Tim. 6.19 If thou be wise in this manner then thou mayest be assured thou hast received of the Spirit of wisdom that rested on Christ thy Head The Spirit of Christ was a Spirit of sound counsel if thou has received of that Spirit thou wilt not give pernicious counsel to others as Jonadab did to Ammon to further them in any sinful course nor wilt thou give counsel against others to their hurt or ruine as Achitophel did against David But thou wilt give good counsel as Daniel did to Nebuchadnezar Dan. 4.27 If thy counsels be according to the Word of God as the testimonies of God were Davids faithful counsellers Ps 119.24 then mayest thou be assured thou art of the Spirit of Christ who according to the Word of God did delight to do the will of the Father Ps 48. If thou rejectest with an holy indignation evil counsel and suggestion though given by a friend when he would disswade thee from duty to God or to men in God this is an evidence thou art of the Spirit of Christ who rejected such evil counsel Matth. 16.24 Hast thou power and might to resist the onsets and bickerings of inward corruption It is an evidence thou art partaker of the vertue of the Spirit of Christ Rom. 8.37 We are more then conquerors through him that loved us Gal. 5.24 They that are Christs have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts Hast thou power and ability to walk equally and evenly both in prosperity and in adversity humble and moderat in that and patient in this thou art partaker of the Spirit of Christ who was of a moderat and sober mind when they would have made him a King he withdrew himself Joh. 6.15 he was patient in adversity as a sheep before the shearer Is 53. Art thou able through his grace to do Christian-duties with some measure of sincerity fervency and cheerfulness then art thou of the Spirit of Christ for it was his meat and drink to do the will of the Father Joh. 4.34 If the Spirit of sound and heavenly knowledge be in thee not only wilt thou have the knowledge of simple apprehension in thine uptaking the literal sense of Scripture truths but also thou wilt have a knowledge of discerning the sublime majesty the admirable simplicity and infallibility of Divine Truths both in promises and threatnings far above all humane Writings that thou wilt say from perswasion never man spoke as he spoke and thy knowledge will be
for their spiritual advantage By this shall the iniquity of Jacob be purged and this is all the fruit to take away his sin Isa 27.9 Dan. 12.10 They shall be made white c. And many times he orders their afflictions to the good of others who are confirmed in the way of truth and righteousness from the example of their patience in suffering for the truth Phil. 1.12 The dispersing of some Christians in that persecution against Stephen was in the wisdom and power of God ordered for the in gathering of many people in Samaria unto the Christian faith Acts 8. Observ 2. As the gifts and graces of the Spirit were poured forth upon Christ in great variety so they were permanent and abiding in him without any change and without remitting of their vigour and exercise upon all occasions the Spirit of the Lord shall rest on him The Spirit which descended from Heaven like a Dove did abide upon him Joh. 1.32 The extraordinary gift of revealing things secret by the light of Prophesie was not at all times permanent in the Prophets 2 King 4.27 As light within the house occasioned by lightning in the air is transient and not permanent so neither was the gift of miracles or healing the sick alwayes permanent in our Lords Disciples Mark 9.18 Yea Paul left his beloved Trophimus sick at Miletum 2 Tim. 4.20 But our blessed Lord healed all whom and when he pleased It is true the sanctifying graces in the Elect are alwayes permanent Joh. 4.14 1 Joh. 3.9 Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin for his seed remaineth in him and he cannot sin because he is born of God They are permanent in respect of the root of the seed and of the habit but not in respect of the fruit and exercise but the graces of Christ were ever flourishing and fruitful Graces in the godly have decays and changes even Abraham the father of the faithful had a fit of diffidence when in his fear he dissembled twice to wit in Gerar and in Egypt but our blessed Lord his confidence was permanent in the hour of temptation for he witnessed a good confession even to the last before Pontius Pilat Moses was a meek man yet was surprised with a fit of bitterness at Meribah but our blessed Lord was meek at all times for his scourging out the profaners of the Temple Joh. 2. was not a fit of passion and perturbation but an heroick act of holy zeal proceeding from judgement and deliberation because it was written His Fathers house should be the house of prayer The habits of grace in Christ were full and perfect whereas it is said Luke 2.52 He increased in wisdom We grant he increast in wisdom and in knowledge experimental he learned obedience by the things which he suffered Heb. 5.8 as a Physician who hath an habitual gift of healing such and such a disease may grow in his experience although his knowledge of healing groweth not in the habit It is a growth extensive in respect of divers objects toward which it is extended but it is not intensive in respect of the habit it self The graces of Christ were permanent in their fulness and not more remiss at one time and more intense at another because the absolute fulness of grace in his Humane Nature so far as it could be capable being a sequel of the personal union did exclude all intensive growth It is true there were different degrees in the manifestations and expressions of his graces at one time more than at another Christ his dying for us was an higher expression of his love to lost man than was his suffering of poverty hunger c. yet all the expressions of his love to the elect did proceed from love in his heart equally intense at all times More of his patience was manifested in his agony and bloody sweat than in his suffering of reproaches and buffettings His love and devotion toward God was full at all times and did not admit of degrees whereas it is said Luke 22.44 he prayed 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 more earnestly and therefore it might appear he was more servent in his devotion and religious affection at one time than at another I answer 1. Some render it prolixius he prayed longer which did proceed from a deeper impression of his sufferings upon his spirit but his love and devotion toward God was still equally intense in his soul For even in godly men short ejaculations at one time and prayers longer at another time may proceed from devotion in the heart equal at both times 2. Though he prayed more earnestly yet this earnestness was not in respect of his devotion toward God unto whom he prayed whom Christ as man loved fully and perfectly at all times but this greater earnestness was in respect of the great and inexpressible sufferings against which he prayed being in an agony and under the sense of greater inward pains than any he had felt formerly This manner of expression will not infer any intenseness of his devotion and love to God but only that there was an intenseness of pain and agony in his spirit from what he suffered and against which he prayed yet alwayes with submission to the will of the Father Vse In all our intermittings of the exercise of grace or in the remittings of degrees in gracious actings we should go to Christ on whom the Spirit rested as in time of drought when waters fail we go to the fountain because the dearest children of God are subject to decay of grace in respect of degrees and to intermission in the exercise of grace through their own sluggishness in prayer they have sometime a great freedom and out-flowing of the Spirit Job 32.13 At another time they are so bound up and overwhelmed with griefs and fears that they cannot speak to God Ps 77.4 At one time their faith and confidence is very strong Ps 27.10 but at another time very weak Ps 31.22 At one time they have a soft heart and abundance of tears Ps 6.7 but at another time their heart like Nabal is dead and stupid and their eyes are dry as was in David for some time till the Prophet Nathan did awake him At one time they have great joy and comfort Ps 23.4 but at another time especially after relapses into sins against the light of their own conscience they have much heaviness and suppression of spirit Ps 51.8 At one time they have great zeal as David dancing before the Ark and at another time they are much damped and disheartned in the course of Godliness by reason of some cross dispensation in their course as David was in bringing up the Ark when he saw the breach made upon Vzza 2 Sam. 6.8 9. Quest What is the cause of such intermiting and remitting of the exercise and degrees of grace in the godly Ans The causes are especially 1. Pride and conceit of our own ability to improve the habit and stock of grace
after we have once received it this provokes God to leave us to our own managing of grace received and we being left to our selves do soon and easily miscarry in the exercise of grace Peter failed in the exercise and confession of faith after he had been very confident of his own strength Matth. 26.33 he denyed the Lord at the voice of a damsel 2. Excessive worldly fears make our saith greatly to abate in respect of the degrees of it at one time and another Mark 4.40 3. Ingratitude when we neglect or forget to praise God for his assistance and help in our former gracious actings and when we begin to sacrifice to our own dragg then it faireth with us in any new occasion of acting as with Samson after his strength had departed from him We imagine from former experience of Gods help notwithstanding our unthankfulness that we shall be able to act and exercise grace as in former times but we find in our sad experience that God to punish our ingratitude doth leave us to our own counsels and miscarryings in duties as he did leave Samson Judg. 16.20 4. Our inadvertance unto the first beginnings of a decay in grace makes us insensible untill the decay become visible to others and in end sensible to our selves as it was with Ephraim Hos 7.9 Gray hairs are here and there upon him yet he knoweth not till there was a visible change upon all the hairs of his head Quest 2. What shall be done for preveening a decay in the degrees of grace Ans 1. The exercise of the graces and gifts of the Spirit is a blessed mean to preveen such a decay this mean Paul did use Act 24.16 and all that are strong in the faith should do the same Heb. 5.14 Who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil because sluggishness and carelesness to do spiritual duties when God gives occasion and opportunity doth make us more and more remiss till in end we are overcome with a spirit of slumber 2. Be not discouraged from setting about commanded duties because possibly at first thou finds not such vigor or quickness of spirit as is requisit it was strange and strong delusion in some in these latter times that they would not pray to God till first they should find an impulse of the Spirit for prayer but should not the precept of God commanding the duty be sufficient for moving us to endeavour after it Were it not a folly in a weak sick person that had little or no appetite to meat to resolve he would forbear to eat untill he should get sharpness of appetite such forbearing were the ready way to make him lose all appetite and in end his life but as eating little and little brings forward appetite so thy doing duty from conscience to Gods Commandments brings forward and increases thy desire to spiritual duties and in end procures thy delight in them Have not the children of God many times at the beginning of prayer been sad and heartless and yet before they have ended as the countenance of our blessed Lord was changed in prayer so their hearts and countenances have been changed to joy and cheerfulness as we see Ps 6. and Ps 13. by comparing the end of the Psalm with the beginning thereof Therefore though thou find not such an impulse and strong motion for the duty as thou would yet make conscience of obedience to the holy Commandment and go about duty trusting to him who hath promised to bless the diligent and when God besides the Commandment calls thee forth to duty by strong motions upon thy spirit neglect not the call of such invitations but let thine heart come forward to the duty lest otherwise thou provoke the Spirit of God both to withdraw those good motions and also his assistance which thou mightest have had for doing the duty if thou hadst embraced the opportunity Cant. 5.1 2 3. 3 Observe well the beginnings of a decay and fainting in duty and at first run by prayer to Christ for quickening thee to duty and for preventing a farther decay as Peter did when he began to sink notwithstanding he was in the way of duty he cryed to Christ and was helped Mat. 14.32 4. Whenever thou enters upon commanded duty pray for the assistance of the Spirit for without him we can do nothing Joh. 15.5 because an habit or stock of grace is not sufficient without the assistance of his Spirit impowering and enabling us to mannage the stock of received grace 1 Cor. 15.10 His grace which was bestowed on me was not in vain but I laboured more abundantly then they all yet not I but the grace of God which was with me As it is not enough that the Ship be furnished with Tacklings and Sails unless there be a prosperous gale of wind upon the Sails there is no progress VERSE III. And shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the Lord. SOme read it God shall make the Messias to be of a sweet smell to all who believe among whom he shall be preached in the Gospel according to that 2 Cor. 2.16 We are a savour of life unto life to those that are saved And so they take the words in a passive signification that Believers and the fearers of the Lord shall receive from him a sweet and pleasant sent of his excellencies and bounty through the Preaching of the Gospel Others whom we follow rather understand the words in an active signification to wit that God shall make him of a quick sentiment and sagacity of judgement to discern who fear God and serve him uprightly Thus our blessed Lord did discern Hypocrites and Pharisees notwithstanding all their fair outward pretences of gravity in their smooth speeches He did also discern a true Nathanael before he had seen him with his bodily eyes Joh. 1.48 Likewise he discerned the hypocrisie of many fair professors Mat. 22.18 John 2.24 By the fear of the Lord we understand all things that concern the service and worship of God as ordinarily in holy Scripture the fear of the Lord is taken if we compare Deut. 6.13 with Matth. 4.10 Observ 1. Spiritual discretion in the matters of God is from the Spirit of God for it is said he shall make him c. As the Lord Christ the King of Saints had that gift in a special and superexcellent manner from the Spirit of God so all his subjects in the Church have in some measure the gift of discerning truth and error good and evil from the same Spirit 1 Cor. 2.14 15. The natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God for they are foolishness unto him neither can he know them because they are spiritually discerned but he that is spiritual judgeth all things This is evident by induction 1. It is the Spirit of the Lord which openeth the understanding to perceive and discern heavenly truths Mat. 13.11 Mat. 16.17 Luk. 24.44 As it
his own good time can easily recompense all our temporal losses even in this world if it seem good in his eyes Is 61.7 For your shame you shall have double and for confusion they shall rejoice in their portion therefore in their land they shall possess the double But certainly in that day of restoring all things all losses shall be recompenced though not in specie yet in value exceeding them very far therefore reckon with thy self that all the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us Rom. 8.18 Object 4. The faithful Lord hath promised to deliver out of temptation 1 Cor. 10.13 yet I am daily infested with sinful thoughts and sometime brought into bondage with my own consent Ans Yet it is the better that such thoughts are a grief to thy spirit as Hagar was to Sarah be of good courage the Lord in his own good time will cast out the bond-woman and her child even thy in-dwelling corruption and all the off-spring of it reverence the wisdom of God in suffering thy soul to be molested with these incursions and bickerings of that impure spirit he permits it that the grace of humility and prayer mâ—y be the more exercised by thee all the Canaanites were not driven out of the land of Canaan by the wise providence of God permitting and ordering it for good that the wilde beasts should not multiply in the land So the Lord in his wisdom permits the in-dwelling and stirrings of corruption within thy soul to preveen the encrease of pride and to keep thee humble and watchful and to stir thee up unto daily prayer for encrease of strength in the inner man Therefore give it not over but resist daily trusting to that promise Rom. 16.20 The God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly Thou art engaged into a good cause to fight against thy lusts although through the wiles of Satan at a time thou mayest be brought into bondage yet despair not of victory in end mourn as Peter did after his denyal in the high Priests Hall and if thou mournest bitterly for thy bondage it is not altogether voluntary when thou mourns for it there is some resistance to it from grace in thy will and he that gives grace to resist shall give victory in end Rom. 7.24 25. O wretched man that I am who shall deliver me from the body of this death I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. The father of the possessed child brought his son who had been infested and molested from his childhood and when the child was a-coming to Christ the unclean spirit did vex him and rent him but he went forward to our blessed Lord who charged that soul spirit to come out of him and enter no more into him Mark 9.17 c. So it may be thou art never more infested than when thou hast a resolution to go to Christ and walk after his Commandments yet rise up by repentance and resolution of new obedience who knows but thy mighty Lord will rebuke that unclean motion and say as he did to that unclean spirit I charge thee to come out of him and enter no more into him Object 5. But in the mean time my soul faints within me under great afflictions and desertions because there is neither appearance of comfort nor out-gate Answ As faithfulness cleaveth to his loins as a girdle so let faith in thine heart cleave to him and his promises for as the lungs like bellows do cool and refresh the heart that it faint not through much heat and labour so faith breathing the faithful and gracious promises of God into the fainting soul doth revive the same Psal 27.14 Psal 42.5 Psal 119.81 When the Mariners in the Ship with Paul Acts 27. saw no light outward for directing their course they did cast out their Anchors and waited for the day so when thou who fears the Lord walkest in darkness and hath no light trust in the Name of thy faithful Lord and stay thy self upon thy God Isai 50.10 Remember for thy encouragement thy blessed Lord is faithful and compassionat Mat. 15.32 he had pity on the multitude who had continued with him three days without any bodily refreshment and would not send them away fasting lest they should faint in the way much more thy Lord full of compassion will not suffer a poor humble soul that hath been waiting on him by sincere obedience and for him by a lively hope purifying the heart and thirsting more and more for righteousness to depart out of this life without some refreshment in the inner man but as he did to that old expectant Simeon Luk. 2. he will give him Christ his Saviour into the arms of his faith that he may depart in peace in the hope of salvation VERSE VI. The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb and the leopard shall lie down with the kid and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together and a little child shall lead them FRom this vers to the 10. is set down the great and admirable effects of Christs powerful government by his Spirit and Word to wit a strange change and metamorphosis of persons who before the light of the glorious Gospel did shine in their hearts were of a sensual and brutish disposition and of a wild and savage conversation who were rebellious against God and had an antipathy one against another who were like Wolves in oppression like Leopards and young Lions in fierceness like the Asp and Cockatrice in bitterness of spirit and venomousness in conversation but these after their conversion by the light of the Gospel shall live in obedience and peace with God and in concord with others who before them were in a state of grace The wolf shall dwell with the Lamb and the leopard shall lie down with the kid and the calf and the young lion c. that is they shall be so daunted by the power of grace with the Gospel that they shall live in a sweet communion and fellowship with these who were in Christ before them and also with these who sometimes were also bitter and malicious enemies to the godly even such as had been like Asps and Cockatrices shall be converted and made partakers of the meek and lowly Spirit of Christ The cause of all this change will be the light of the glorious Gospel as it is said in the end of vers 9. For the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea As at the Sun-rising the wild beasts do return to their dens and caves so the light of the Gospel in such as are effectually called according to the eternal purpose of God will make their wild and beastly affections to hide themselves for shame and they shall have no pleasure in the unfruitful works of darkness and they shall cast away all their idol-lusts Isai 31.6 7. Hos 14.8 Observ
mis-shapen bodies in a mirrour set before them do run upon it and tear it they despise and contemn both Word and Preacher when their own deformities are discovered unto them as the Jews did against holy Stephen when he discovered their gross errours both in judgement and practice Act. 7. against Paul Act. 21.30 and ran upon him when he spake that which crossed their opinion Act. 22.22 Vse 2. The other use we should make of the natural History of the irrational creatures is for our instruction as to stir us up to diligence we should go to the Pismire or Ant and learn in the summer of our youth to provide for the winter of old age Prov. 6.6 The quarrel-some men should learn meekness from the Doves and the rash uncircumspect man prudence and caution from the Serpents Mat. 10.16 the careless unbeliever who is negligent to use the outward means of salvation as the hearing of the holy Gospel the receiving the blessed Sacrament of the holy Communion should learn diligence and make conscience of resorting to these gracious Ordinances wherein Christ is offered this he may learn some way from the Eagles resorting to the place where the dead carcase is Mat. 24.28 The unthankful man should learn thankfulness to God and to men his benefactors from the Ox and the Ass Is 1.3 And the secure and careless sinner should learn forefight and circumspection in flying from the wrath to come even from the Stork and Crane Jer. 8.7 Observ 2. By the preaching of the Gospel accompanied with the power of the Spirit of God a great change is made upon the spirits of natural and unregenerat men Many that had been like Lyons Wolves Bears and Serpents shall be changed saith the Prophet here from their wild and malicious inclination and shall be made partakers of the meek and humble Spirit of the Lord Jesus Christ in the dayes of the full manifestation of the Gospel as it came to pass in the Corinthians 1 Cor. 6.10 11. and in the Ephesians Ephes 5.8 It was clearly manifested in Paul who sometimes like a Wolf did persecute and scatter the flock of Jesus Christ yet afterward became not only a sheep of the flock but also a Preacher and Pastor Zacheus who sometime was like a ranging Bear in his oppression is converted by the Gospel restores what was not his own and of his own giveth to the poor Luk. 19.8 And many of the Priests who had been like Asps and Cockatrices of bitter spirits venemous tongues and cruel hands against the primitive Christians became themselves obedient to the Faith through the power of the Spirit of God accompanying the Gospel preached unto them Act. 6.7 For the better understanding of this change wrought in the hearts and conversation of the Elect by the Gospel we would Consider there be three principal changes in the spiritual estate of man 1. A change from the estate of primitive innocency and happiness unto an estate of sin and misery brought upon man by his own fall Eccl. 7.29 Lâ—â— this only have I found that God hath made man upright but they have sought out many inventions This was a voluntar and a sinful change from the better to the worse 2. There is a gracious change wrought by God himself in our conversion from an estate of rebellion and of prevailing corruption unto an estate of grace and favour with God and unto an estate of sanctification this is from the worse to the better 2 Cor. 3.18 We all with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord are changed into the same image from glory to glory even as by the Spirit of the Lord. 3. A change from the better to best of all from an estate of grace here unto an estate of immortal glory at our death Job 14.14 All the dayes of my appointed time will I wait till my change come 1 Cor. 15.51 We shall not all sleep but we shall all be changed Consid 2. What man lost by his first change and what he lost not he lost not through his fall any thing which was essential to him for then after his fall he should have been no more a man although after his fall he is sometimes called in holy Scripture a beast yet not that he became such in nature but because he was carried for the most part like a brute beast by sense toward that which was pleasant to flesh and bloud he retained still after the fall his natural faculties of understanding and will he had an inbred capacity to understand some speculative truths as that there is a God and that the whole is more than any several part of the same and also to understand practical truths Rom. 2.15 as that he is to be worshipped and that we should do to others as we would have them do to us He lost not his liberty of will in willing freely from previous deliberation without coaction or force in the proper and elicit acts of the will in willing or refusing though in the outward man he may be forced yet can he not be forced in his will when a man is forced to go into prison yet his will is not forced for still he freely willeth it not He lost not the affections of grief at what was noisome nor of fear at what might harm him he had them in the state of innocency in the first act and proneness as they speak but not in the act of exercise till after his fall into misery these affections were lost in respect of their straightness and rectitude but not in respect of their substance and being Man by his fall lost not the faculty of conscience for after his fall conscience made him ashamed of his nakedness and the natural conscience in Heathen men is said to accuse or excuse Rom. 2.15 He lost not the shape or posture of his body whereby he is in some sort distinguished from all other creatures I grant accidental deformities in the body are the consequents of sin but yet the frame of it in respect of the scituation of the members was not lost He lost not dominion altogether over the creatures although wicked and unregenerat men have not a right to the creatures as they are pledges of a better portion in Heaven yet they have still a right to the bare creature but without that relation to that better portion in the other life For as wicked men have their natural life from God so they have a right and allowance from God to preserve that life by the use and help of his good creatures otherwise it were not lawful for them to use means for preserving their life but they should rather abstain from them By his fall he lost clearness and quickness of understanding to take up and discern heavenly and spiritual truths in order to the salvation of his own soul Mat. 16.17 1 Cor. 2.14 Although he lost not the faculty of willing nor liberty from coaction and from a
natural determination to this or that yet he lost the liberty of rectitude and uprightness by being now after his fall perversly inclined to that which is displeasing in the eyes of God Rom. 5.10 We are called enemies to God by nature and enmity is properly in the will He lost purity in his affections our affections at first were like clean and pure water running in a clean channel but now they are muddy and earthly there being much perturbation in them like water running through a muddy channel Joh. 3.31 He that is of the earth is earthly Our affections at first were straight set upon God and things above but now they are bowed down and through the strength of corrupt nature set on things below Rom. 8.5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh Although fallen man hath not lost the faculty of conscience yet he hath lost that clearness quietness and calmness that was in it at the first for so long as man lived in a communion and harmony with God there was also inward peace and a pleasant harmony in his conscience like an instrument well tuned but when by sin he brake harmony and communion with God then his conscience became like a troubled sea roaring out into his ears a dreadful sound from fear of wrath to come as a mighty tempest to drive them into hell then as Out-laws they were afraid at every thing So Adam and Eva after the fall had a mighty tempest in their consciences which did drive them away to hide themselves from the presence of the Lord. Consider 3. In conversion to an estate of grace there is a happy change 1. In the mind by illumination and light as at first God created light in the first creation so in the second creation and regeneration he first creats the light of faith whereby we see God reconciled to man in Christ the Mediator 2 Cor. 4.6 God who commanded the light to shine out of darkness hath shined in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ When a man is converted he gets a new light in respect of his mind which is the subject of it but it is not a new light in respect of the object he hath not new spiritual and saving truths revealed to him beside or far less contrary to the Word as a blind man when his eyes are opened doth not see another Sun then what was before in the firmament though not seen by him until his eyes were opened 2. God makes a change in the will by taking away the stony heart Ezek. 36.26 Acts 16.14 He removes impenitence and unbelief which are as two strong barrs to resist his call by the outward means until he remove them by the power of his invincible grace whereby he worketh mightily in those that believe Eph. 1.19 For not only doth he preach deliverance by his Word but also he sets at liberty such as are bruised with sorrow in their hearts for their sins Luk. 4.18 2 Cor. 3.17 Where the Spirit of the Lord is there is liberty August Lib. 1. against the 2 Epist of Pelag. Cap. 19. citing that place Joh. 6.44 No man can come to me except the Father draw him observes it is not said no man can come to me except the Father lead him that so we might think the will of man did preceed and thereafter the Father did lead and promove his will but it is said except the Father draw him and who can be said to be drawn if he himself first be willing therefore saith he they are made in a wonderful manner even to be willing by him who knoweth how to work inwardly upon the hearts of men not that any man for that is impossible should believe against his will but because of not-willing he is made willing 3. There is a change in their affections which in some measure are purified and rectified the sense of Gods love in Christ worketh godly sorrow in their hearts Zech. 12.10 It works a filial fear in them to do any thing that may offend God Jer. 32.40 I will put my fear in their hearts that they shall not depart from me 4. There is a change in the conscience after conversion it is quiet and calm the righteousness of Christ apprehended by a lively saith doth quiet the conscience both with the peace of Justification Rom. 5.1 Being justified by faith we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ And with the peace of Sanctification Rom. 14.17 The kingdom of God is not meat and drink but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Ghost The conscience after conversion becomes more tender of duty and sensible even of smaller offences like the flesh of Naaman cleansed from his leprosie such tenderness we see in David Psal 119.113 I hate vain thoughts but thy Law do I love 5. There is a change in the body and conversation the body it becomes a temple to the Holy Ghost and all its members like several Vessels in the Temple are consecrat to the service of God 1 Cor. 6.19 Rom. 6.19 Consider 4. This change is not perfect in degrees 1. Our knowledge in the state of grace here is but in part 2 Cor. 13.9 For we know in part In many mysteries of Religion we know that such a thing is an undoubted truth from divine revelation but the cause and manner how such and such things are we know not as the eternal generation of the Son the manner of the eternal procession of the Holy Ghost from the Father and the Son the individual unity of the three blessed Persons in the Divine Essence these mysteries we know in a confused and general manner like the sight of the blind man of Bethsaida Mark 8.24 But in Heaven our knowledge of these great mysteries will be more clear like the sight of that same blind man by a second touch and by the light of glory when we shall see light in his light Psal 36.9 and when we shall see him as he is 1 Joh. 2.2 2. Although there be a change of our will at our conversion yet there remains in it corruption which is the seed of disobedience to the will of God Gal. 5.17 The flesh lusteth against the spirit This tumult and insurrection of corruption against grace in the will doth pain and vex the godly like the twains which strove in the womb of Rebekah but after our change at death to immortal glory our petition put up to God in this life shall be fully answered Thy will be done on earth as it is done in heaven then shall we be like unto Angels and our will shall cleave unto God and his will indeclinably for ever 3. Our affections after our change and conversion in this life are not wholly pure who can say he hath made his heart clean Prov. 20.9 As shoes open above as was the manner of the Jewish Nation
be brought to light and they shall know there is no name under heaven whereby they can be saved but the Name of Jesus Act. 4.12 Quest It may be asked at what time was this prophesie fulfilled For answer Consider the Gospel or Doctrine of the glad tidings of salvation in Christ was a mystery hid from the Gentiles and other heavenly Truths and Ordinances were communicat only to the Jews Ps 147.19 20. Rom. 3.2 There was not a Church among the Gentiles before the time our blessed Lord gave commission to preach unto them Mat. 28.19 It is true there were some proselytes at diverse times before the birth of our Lord in time of the Patriarchs was Melchizedeck though some think he was Shem and Job in Moses his time was Jethro in Joshua his time Rachab in the time of the Judges Ruth in the time of David Ittai the Gittit in Solomons time Hiram and in Jeremiahs time Ebedmelech these were but the first fruits of the Gentiles and drops in comparison of that great flood of Converts foretold Is 2.2 It shall come to pass in the last dayes that the mountain of the Lords house shall be established in the top of the mountains and shall be exalted above the hills and all nations shall flow unto it After the birth of our blessed Lord and his sending forth the Apostles to teach all Nations the knowledge of the Gospel did abound in many parts of the world as the sea abounds with waters it was foretold by our blessed Lord that this prophesie should be fulfilled in a great part even before the destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans Mat. 24.14 and it was fulfilled Rom. 10.18 Their sound went unto all the earth and their words unto the ends of the world Col. 1.23 which was preached to every creature which is under heaven for the Gospel was preached by the Apostles even to the greater part of the habitable world so far as it was known at that time according to that ample Commission given by our Lord to his Disciples Mat. 28 19 20. Therefore faith Augustine de Civit. Dei lib. 22.8 Whosoever he be that requires miracles at this time he himself is a great wonder and prodigy who believeth not when all the world believeth the Gospel But before the end of the world these Nations which sometimes were Christian and are now overspread with Turcism and Mahometism as at this day Assyria and Egypt and many Nations living at this day in Paganism shall be converted to the Christian Faith and the Gospel shall be preached unto many Nations which were not known in the dayes of the Apostles as it is at this day both in the Eastern and Western India Observ The preaching hearing and knowledge of the Gospel is the ordinary mean of conversion and of a Gospel-like conversation 2 Cor. 4.6 God hath shined in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ 2 Thess 2.14 God hath called you by our Gospel to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ This is evident from instances of divers persons converted to the Faith of Jesus Christ and to the way of Sanctification by the preaching of the Gospel Act. 2.37.47 Act. 16.14.33.31 It is also evident from the denominations the Gospel getteth as 1. The word of grace Act. 20.33 Not only because it is sent to a Nation or People out of Gods free-grace Matth. 13.11 It is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of Heaven but to them it is not given But also by it as the ordinar instrument the holy Spirit worketh the sanctifying and saving grace of believing and turning to the Lord in all come to years of discerning and appointed for Salvation Act. 11.21 The hand of the Lord was with them and a great number believed and turned unto the Lord. 2 Cor. 10.4 The weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds c. Gal. 2.8 He that wrought effectually in Peter to the Apostleship of the circumcision the same was mighty in me towards the Gentils Therefore now in these dayes after that this sacred instrument and testimony is sealed and reposited by God in his Church the pillar and ground of the truth 1 Tim. 3 15 as the only authentical Record and invariable Rule of the Christian Faith if any man shall pretend to the inward revelation of the Spirit without or contrair to the written Word it is Enthusiasm and a delusion of his own private spirit neither let any man think it is enough to have the outward revelation of the written Word without the inward operation of the holy Spirit enlightning the understanding by Faith to perceive and assent unto the truth revealed in the Word and enclining the will by love to receive and retain it in the heart for the Lord openeth both the understanding and the heart Luk. 24.45 Act. 16.14 The Gospel is called the word of life Act. 5.20 Because the Gospel is the seed of the new life 1 Pet. 1.23 Faith and belief to the threatnings of the Law is as the Plough to rent the fallow-ground of our heart but Faith conceiving and embracing Christ in the promises of the Gospel is the seed of our regeration Jam. 1.18 Of his own will beg at he us by the word of truth It is called the word of reconciliation 2 Cor. 5.19 Because in the Gospel remission and reconciliation in the blood of Christ is offered unto all who repent and believe in him Act. 10.43 To him give all the Prophets witness that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins And it is called The word of Salvation Act. 13.26 Because it is the ordinar mean of Salvation Rom 1.16 2 Thess 2 13. God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth That the Gospel is the ordinar mean of Conversion to the Faith of Christ is evident from Reason and clear consequences from Scriptural truths 1. Hope of life and immortality is a strong motive to turn men from the broad way that leadeth unto death and to everlasting destruction Now the Gospel sheweth unto us life and immortality in Christ Jesus Rom. 6.6 Knowing this that our old man is crucified with him that the body of sin might be destroyed that henceforth we should not serve sin 2 Tim. 1.10 The grace of God is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ who hath abolished death and hath brought life and immortality to light through the Gospel 2. By the knowledge we have of Christ and by believing in him as he is offered in the Gospel we are turned from an estate of condemned rebels unto an estate of persons justified and reconciled in the blood of Jesus Christ Isa 53.11 By his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many for he shall
of it by their claim of faith on Christ as if they were already in present possession of it yea it is said in the preterit tense Rom. 8.30 Whom he justified them he also glorified Quest May not one have true justifying and saving faith in his heart and yet not know that he is justified Ans Yea he may have the direct act of faith whereby he is justified and yet not have the reflex act of faith whereby he knows and is assured of the gift of Faith freely given to him of God by which act he is Assured of his justification as an Infant has the truth of life natural in him though for want of ripeness in judgement he doth not by a reflex act of understanding know the same Yea a true and justified person may be so overwhelmed in spirit with the fears of his former great and many sins though he embrace Christ and rely on him wholly and only for salvation that yet he may so faint in his fears that at the time he doth not discern the truth of the life of grace and faith in his Soul as a person in the time of his bodily swouning and fainting doth not discern the truth of a natural life in his body Notwithstanding the true Believer in such times and cases cannot discern the truth of the life of faith in himself yet other godly discerning Christians perceiving his sincere desire after the means of Salvation and his appetite toward the Gospel which is the immortal seed of the new life do very rationally conclude that he has the truth though not the vigor of the life of grace and faith in his soul as these who look on and see an Infant greedily sucking the breast though the Infant it self has no knowledge to discern its own life yet they truely conclude from its natural appetit to the means of life that it has life because as new born babes they desire the sincere milk of the Word 1 Pet. 2.2 Quest What are the effects and signs whereby I may discern the truth of faith when we have not the vigor of it Ans We discern it by the effects 1. The true Believer has an high estimation of Christ and a low estimation of himself He is precious to Believers 1 Pet. 2.7 Paul had an high estimation of Christ that he came into the world to save sinners and a low estimation of himself as being the least of Saints and chief of sinners The true believer esteems highly of the Gospel whereby life and immortality is brought to light through Christ He accounteth all things but loss yea but dung and unsavory in camparison of the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus his Lord Phil. 3.8 2. The true believer as he rejoices most in the cross of Christ so he mourns for his sins whereby he crucified the Lord of glory he looks upon him whom he pierced with his grievous sins and he mourneth as one mourneth for his only Son Zach. 12.10 3. True faith is a Magisterial grace and labours to quiet our unruly affections and passions as an awful Master by his presence quiets the unruly Scholars for faith receiving Christ in the heart to dwell there commandeth all the affections to be still and to do nothing that may disturb and grieve the Spirit of Christ the Spouse after shee has found her Beloved saith to her heart and affections I charge you O yee daughters of Jerusalem c. that ye stir not up nor awake my love till he please That ye neither interrupt his delight in me nor my delights in him Cant. 3.5 4. True faith purifieth the heart and labours daily to keep it clean by the bessom of repentance Act. 15.9 God put no difference between us and them purifying their hearts by faith The Lord is said to dwell in the heart by faith Ephes 3.17 And after the believer has received him he endeavours daily to keep the house clean where he dwells by faith the heart is espoused unto Christ as a chast virgin 2 Cor. 11.2 And when the believer is tempted to any vile lust he saith with Joseph how can I do this and sin against my Lord to whom I am espoused for ever in holiness and righteousness 5 True faith on Jesus Christ worketh by love Gal. 5.6 It commands us and in an holy violence constraineth us to love the Father who has forgiven us much to love the Son who shed his blood for the remission of sins anâ— to love the Holy Ghost who is the sealer and confirmer of our justification and remission Faith on Christ commands us and by a commanded act requires us to love one another 1 Joh. 3.23 This is his commandment that we should believe on the Name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another As lines drawn from the circumference the nearer they come to the Centre they are the nearer one unto another so believers the nearer they come by faith to Jesus Christ the Centre of our souls rest and happiness they are the more united one to another in love yea when by faith we look upon Christ as our great example faith doth command us to love even our enemies with the love of benevolence and beneficence when we perceive our blessed Lord both prayed for his enemies and also healed Malchus ear and in a special manner to love all saints with a love of complacency and delight as fellow-members of the mystical body of the Lord Jesus Christ and to walk in love as Christ also hath loved us and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling savour It is therefore the wisdom duty and comfort of believers to examine themselves that they be not only sound in the doctrine of faith but also sincere in the grace and work of faith that they may have rejoycing in themselves from the testimony of a good conscience Gal. 6.4 True and sincere justifying and saving faith receiveth Christ entirely to dwell in their hearts the sincere believer receiveth him in all his Offices as a Priest to bless the soul where he dwells with all spiritual blessings as a Prophet to teach him by the Word and as a King to rule him by his Law and holy Commandments As he receiveth him by faith so he intertains him by love as he receiveth Christ by faith so he gives up himself by love unto him as Christ dwells in him by faith so he dwells in Christ by love and delight he intertains him by obedience in the course of Sanctification as an honest Subject who sometime was a rebel to his Prince the more he rests upon the word of the Prince for his remission he is the more ready and active to obey him in all time coming for though faith rest on Christ alone and on no other for Justification and Salvation yet it rests not from the duties of obedience in the course of Sanctification the true believer in the preparation of his
of the Spirit in us is the foundation of all our spiritual and supernatural actings without this life men are dead in sin and cannot grow in grace without it men are dead and cannot walk in the wayes of Gods commandments without it men are dead and cannot understand nor perceive the things of God in a saving way for the salvation of their souls 1 Cor. 2.14 2. The necessity of the life of grace wrought in us by the Spirit appeareth in this because without it there is no coming to the life of glory Joh 3.5 This life of grace is the infancy of the life of glory and as one cannot grow up to the perfect stature of a man unless he hath been first an infant so a man cannot be a perfect man in glory except first he be an infant in the state of grace as one cannot be put into actual possession of an inheritance till he first be born into the world so no man can be put into the possession of the heavenly inheritance until first he be born over-again by the holy Spirit the author of the life of grace and the preparer and preserver of us for the life of glory This life in or through the Spirit is absolute necessar even for all men who would come to the life of glory for it is said indefinitly Joh. 3.5 Except a man be born of water and of the spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God Though he were never so nobly descended of earthly progenitors yet if he live not in the Spirit it may be said of him as of Judas It had been good for him he had never been born 3. It is necessar for our comfort to assure us we are united to Christ and that neither life nor death shall separat us from him as life in the branch is an evidence of its ingrafture and union with the Tree So our partaking of the life of the Spirit is a comfortable evidence that Christ is in us by the indwelling of his Spirit and we are in him by faith and love 1 Joh. 4.13 Hereby know we that we dwell in him and he in us because he hath given us of his Spirit 3. This life in the Spirit is an excellent life if simply considered in it self 1. In respect of that true and pure pleasure that attends it the deceitful pleasures of a sinful life are like the sting of an asp casting a man into a deep sleep but when the conscience is awaked the heart through fear is as Pashur Magor-missabib fear round about the conscience of a sinful liver is like a chiding wife in the bosome casting up to the man all the former evil wayes he has walked in in the dayes of his former life But the godly and spiritual liver has much inward pleasure and soul-satisfaction Pro. 14.14 The back-slider in heart shall be filled with his own wayes and a good man shall be satisfied from himself His good conscience from the sense of the life of the Spirit within him is like Abishag to David in his old age it doth cherish the inner-man and warm it with a sense of Gods love shed abroad in the heart by the holy Spirit it sweetens common mercies to the man who lives in the Spirit The primitive believers from the sense and comfort of the life in the Spirit did eat their meat with gladeness and singlness of heart Acts 2.46 Oh that profane and worldly-minded men who speak of a holy and spiritual life as a condition sad and comfortless would become spiritual livers in the Spirit and take a proof of that estate of life I say to these men as Philip said to Nathanael Come and see and after sight and proof ye will say as the Queen of Sheba did it was true that was told me but not the half of that contentment and joy I find by experience to be in a godly and spiritual life was told me The life in the Spirit has great and certain gain accompanying it together with much unspeakabl contentment 1 Tim. 6.6 Godliness with contentment that is which has contentment alwayes attending it is great gain 1 Tim. 4.8 Godliness is profitable unto all things having the promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come It has the promise of temporal blessings Psal 34.6 7. Rom. 8.28 and of eternal blessings 1 Cor. 2.9 Eye hath not seen nor ear heard neither hath it entered into the heart of man to conceive the things which God hath prepared for them that love him These who live in the Spirit do live in great honour and reputation with God and the greater and wiser the person is who doth bestow the honour it is the greater but so it is that the great and wise God doth esteem much of men of an holy and spiritual life he calleth them his Treasure Psal 135.4 his inheritance and portion Psal 35.12 his jewels Mal. 3.17 The friends of God 2 Chron. 20.7 The sons of God 1 Joh. 3.1 This life in the Spirit is excellent if compared with the natural life the life of the sense is common to us with the brute beasts whereof some do excel men in some outward senses the life of reason is common to us with Pagans and Infidels and many of them in their philosophy hath excelled us yea our living under the outward means of Word and Sacraments is common to us with many hypocrits and castawayes but this life in the Spirit is far more excellent than that of sense and reason as a man by reason doth far excel the most sagacious beast so doth a man living in the spirit excel the greatest Moralists who were or are void of the life of grace by the Spirit natural men partake of the divine gifts but spiritual and godly men are made partakers of the divine nature by way of assimilation 2· Pet. 1 4. And as for men living or rather dieing and stinking above the earth in their vile lusts a godly and spiritual life doth excel that vile and miserable life as far as light doth darkness and Heaven doth Hell Seing we live the life of grace by the Spirit we should be very watchful that we grieve not the Spirit 1. It is the worst sort of unthankfulness to render evil for good and it is also unnatural for children to grieve their parents that under God are the author of their natural life How great a sin then is it to grieve the holy Spirit the author of thy spiritual life 2. Thou art sealed by the Spirit who sealeth thy eternal redemption to thy faith by the promises of the Gospel and more clearly by the administration of the holy Sacraments as the outward common seal and effectually by the graces of the holy Spirit of sanctification as the inward and privy seal of thine heavenly inheritance Ephes 1.13 In whom also after that ye believed ye were sealed with that holy spirit of promise And how loath are men and
in reason should be so to grieve the Kings Secretary that has past their gift gratis through the Seals 3. The Spirit of God is the comforter And shouldest thou grieve him who many a time has comforted and supported thee in the day of thy trouble and grief If thou grieve the Comforter to whom wilt thou go in the day of new troubles on thy spirit for comfort and strength Vse 1. Therefore grieve not the holy Spirit in whom ye live 1. By your unruly passions he is the Spirit of love and peace grieve him not by your envy and malice one against another it was a grief to Moses his spirit who was a man living in the Spirit to see the Hebrews at strife one with another the holy Spirit is a Spirit of purity and vile thoughts and motions in the heart entertained with delight grieveth him as the daughters of Heth did grieve Rebekah he is a liberal Spirit as he is called Psal 51.12 and our base nigardness and unmercifulness toward the poor doth much grieve him 2. Grieve not the Spirit by speaking or doing against the light of your conscience which being inspired by the Word of God is the counsel of the Spirit thus did Ananias grieve the Spirit Act. 5.3 4. and the Rulers Act 7.51 3. We grieve him by our unbelief in new exigents of trouble notwithstanding our former experiences of his power and bounty as the Disciples grieved our Lord Mat. 16.8 9. It is no small grief to thy friend if thou distrust him in a small matter when thou hast had experience of his kindness in great matters 4. We would by all means beware of mocking the work of the Spirit in others it was a great grief to Sarah that Ishmael mocked her son Isaac so this mocking of the work of mortification and holiness doth greatly grieve the Spirit of God any Artificer is grieved to hear the work of his hands to be undervalued and despised by others so the Spirit of God is greatly grieved and displeased to see holiness which is his own proper work in all who live in the Spirit to be undervalued and despised by the men of this present world who mind not the things of the Spirit but of the flesh Labour to be spiritual and like to the Spirit by whom we live we are said to be sealed by the Spirit Ephes 1.13 and there is an impression of the seal upon the wax so if we live by the Spirit and be sealed by him there will be an impression of holineâ—s and purity in some measure answering to the Spirit by which we are sealed Let us be spiritual in our intentions toward the honour of God with any gift of the Spirit bestowed upon us for our Lord saith of the Spirit Joh. 16.14 He shall glorifie me for he shall receive of mine and shew it unto you Let us labour to be spiritual and heavenly-minded often conversing in our hearts with God Phil. 3.20 Our conversation is in Heaven like Pilgrims who being abroad do often mind their own native country let us be spiritual in our delights for they that are after the Spirit mind the things of the Spirit Rom. 8.5 Let our delight be most in God and things heavenly as in spiritual benefits spiritual ordinances and spiritual duties let us labour to be spiritual and sincere in the worship of God for the Father seeketh such to worship him Joh. 4.23 Vse 2. The duty propoâ—ed walk in the Spirit that is walk by the power and grace of the Spirit according to the light of the Word inspired and dictated by the Spirit this Word in the original signifieth to walk foot for foot after the leading and teaching of the Spirit by the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as young children walk after the footsteps of their father in the same path though not with steps equal to the father or as School-boyes learn the A B C and first elements which are called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 one letter after another In like manner we learn precept upon precept and thereafter do construct and set the actions of our life and conversation together aright according to the rule of the Word of God so that by walking in the Spirit is meant the course of sanctification and of new obedience required by God of us in the covenant of grace as it was said by God to Abraham the father of the faithful Gen. 17.1 Walk before me and be thou upright God promiseth in the new covenant of rich and free grace that he will both give unto his people power to walk in his commandments and also actual assistance in walking Ezek. 36.26 27. A new heart also will I give you and a new spirit will I put within you c. And I will put my spirit within you and cause you to walk in my statutes To this duty we engage our selves in the Sacraments of Baptism and the Lords Supper to walk in newness of life Rom. 6.4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father even so we also should walk in newness of life And in the Sacrament of the Lords Supper we renew our engagement made in Baptism The duty of new obedience is called a walking 1. Because in waâ—king there is a place from which we walk and turn fâ—om so in the course of new obedience we must forsake our former evil wayes Isa 55.7 Let the wicked forsake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts 2. There is the way wherein men do walk so the man renewed by the Spirit doth walk in the way of Gods commandments Ezek. 20.19 I am the Lord your God walk in my statutes 3. A light according to the which men walk so in ouâ— Christian walking the light is the Word of God Psal 119.105 Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path 4. In walking through a wilderness and dangerous places men have need of a skilful guide as Hobab was to the people of Israel in the wilderness So men renewed hath need of the holy Spirit to guide and lead them by his strength from one duty to another Therefore David prayeth so often for quickning in the wayes of Gods commandments for it is not enough that once we be quickned to a new life but we have need also to be quickned thereafter and stirred up to the duties of a new life Psal 119.37 Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity and quicken thou me in thy way 5. As in bodily walking there is an end and place toward which we walk so in our spiritual walking we walk from strength to strength aiming at perfection and the seeing and enjoying of God in mount Sion that is above 2 Cor. 7.1 Having therefore these promises let us cleanse our selves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit perfecting holiness in the fear of God Phil. 3.13.14 I count not my self