and in some of these if not in all of these thou wilt find thy Objections answered removed routed 3. It is sure God is not fast and loose in his Covenant heaven and earth shall pass away before one jot or title of his Word shall fail consider O my Soul he both can and will perform his Word his Power his Love his Faithfulness his Constancy all stand engaged What sweet matter is here for a Soul to dwell upon what needs it go out to other objects whilst it may find enough here but especially what needs it to bestow it self upon vain things O that so much pretious sand of our thoughts should run out after Sin and so little after grace or after this Covenant of grace 5. Jer. 31.33 34 Consider Jesus in that new Covenant or Promise which God made with Israel and Judah I will put my Law in their inward parts and write it in their hearts and I will be their God and they shall be my People and they shall teach no more every man his neighbour and every man his brother saying know the Lord for they shall all know me from the least of them to the greatest of them saith the Lord for I will forgive their Iniquity and I will remember their Sins no more Oh what an errour is it that there is no inherent righteousness in the Saints there is no grace in the soul of a believer but only in Christ is not this the ordinary Scripture phrase Ezek. 36.27 John 4.14 1 John 2 27. Col. 1.27 Ezek. 1.20 I will put my Spirit within you and the water that I shall give you shall be in you a Well of water springing up into everlasting Life and the anointing which you have received of him abideth in you and Christ in you the hope of glory Observe how the spirit of the Living Creatures was in the Wheels so that when the Spirit went they went and when the Spirit was lifted up they were lifted up even so is the Spirit of Christ acting and guiding and framing and disposing them to move and walk according to his Laws Luk. 17.21 Psal 40.8 The Kingdom of heaven is within you saith Christ and I delight to do thy Will O God saith David yea thy Law is within my heart O my Soul if thou art in Covenant whith God besides the in-dwelling of the Spirit there is a certain spiritual Power or Principle of Grace which Christ by his Spirit hath put into thy heart enabling thee in some measure to move thy self towards God And this Principle is sometimes called a new Life Rom. 6.4 Sometimes a Living with Christ Rom. 6 8. Sometimes a being alive to God Rom. 6.11 Sometimes a revealing of his son in man Gal. 1.15 And somtimes a putting of the Law into our inward parts and a writing of the Law within the heart Jer. 31.33 O consider of this inward Principle it is an excellent subject worthy of thy consideration 2. I will be their God and they shall be my people Consider God essentially and personally God the Father God the Son and God the Holy Ghost God in himself and God in his Creatures this very promise turns over heaven and earth and sea and land and bread and cloths and sleep and the world and life and death into free grace No wonder if God set this promise in the midst of the Covenant as the heart in the midst of the Body to communicate life to all the rest this promise hath an influence into all other promises it is the great promise of the new Covenant it is as great as God is though the heavens and heaven of heavens be not able to contain him yet this Promise contains him God shuts up himself as it were in it I will be their God 2. They shall be my People i.e. They shall be to me a peculiar People Tit. 2.14 The word hath this Emphasis in it that God looks upon all other things as accidents in comparison and his substance is his People they are his very Portion for the Lords Portion is his People Jacob is the Lot of his Inheritance They are his treasure his peculiar treasure Deut. 32.9 Exod 19.5 his peculiar treasure above all People If ye will obey my voice indeed and keep my Covenant then shall ye be a peculiar treasure unto me and above all people for all the earth is mine Observe O my soul all the earth is mine q. d. All people is my people but I have a special interest in my covenanted people they are only my portion my peculiar treasure Blessed be Egypt my People Assyria the work of my hands and Israel mine Inheritance I have made all People Egypt and Assyria and all the world is mine but only Israel is my inheritance the Saints are those that God satisfies himself in the Saints are those that God hath set his heart upon they are children of the high God they are the Spouse that are Married to the Lamb they are nearer God in some respects than the very Angels themselves for the Angels are not in a mystical union so Married to Christ as Gods People are Isa 19.28 O the happyness of Saints I will be their God and they shall be my People 3. They shall teach no more every man his Neighbour and every man his Brother saying know the Lord for they shall all know me from the least of them to the greatest of them saith the Lord. Consider of this O poor Soul thou complainest many a time of thy weakness thou knowest little or nothing why see here a Glorious promise if thou art but in Covenant with God thou shalt be taught of God and then thou shalt know God far more clearly than the Jews of old he will open to thee all his treasures of wisdom and knowledg he will bestow on thee a greater measure of his Spirit so that out of thy belly shall flow Rivers of Living waters John 7.38 We say a good Tutor may teach more in a day than another in a week in a month now the promise runs thus that all thy Children shall be taught of God Isa 54.13 not that private instruction or publick Ministry must be excluded we know these are appointed under the New Testament and are subordinate to the Spirits teaching but that the teachings of God do far surpass the teachings of men and therefore the knowledg of God under the New Testament shall far surpass that under the old herein appears the excellency of Christ's prophetical Office He is such a Prophet as enlightens every man within John 1.9.33 that comes into the World He is such a Prophet as baptiseth with the Holy Ghost and with Fire He is such a Prophet as makes men's hearts to burn within them when he speaks unto them He is such a Prophet as bids his Ministers Luk. 24.32 Mat. 28.19.20 Go teach all Nations and I will be with you and I will
say was a saving work of God some one that sate with me in the same seat found much stirings of God Oh what meltings chearings warmings of the spirit had such a one and such a one the Word was to them as hony and as the hony comb but to me iâ— was as dry bread I found no sweet I got no good at all Or you have been often tossing the Bible and you have observed this or that promise but O what in-come hath appeared Surely nothing at all I wonder at Saints that tell of so much sweetness and comfort and ravishing of heart that with joy they should draw water out of these Wells of salvation Whereas I find therein no joy no refreshing at all Ah poor soul thou art in a sad case thou art not yet vivified thou hast not the life of God in thee After vivification thou wilt in the use of Ordinances at least sometimes if not frequently feel the saving in-comes of God In prayer thou wilt feel the spirit breathing in and carrying up thy soul above it self plainly declaring there is another power than thy own which makes thee not only to exceed others but thy self also in hearing of the Word thou wilt see the Windows of heaven set wide open and all manner of spiritual comforts showred down upon thee thou wilt hear the rich treasury of everlasting glory and imortality unlocked and opened so that thou mayst tumble thy self amidst the mountains of heavenly pearls and golden pleasures joyes that no heart can comprehend but that which is weaned from all worldly pleasures As it is written Rom. 10.15 how beautiful are the feet of them that preach the Gospel of peace and bring glad tidings of good things In meditation of the promises or of Divine love thou wilt find meltings quickenings encouragings filling thy heart with gladness and glorying and thy mouth with praises and songs of rejoycings O What fountains of life are the promises to a living man to a soul that is vivified what food what strength what life is a thought of Christ of Heaven and of God's love to a spiritual man whereas all these glorious things of the Gospel are to the natural man but as a withered flower a sealed book a dry and empty cistern he hath no use of them 6. It is a life of another kind or manner Before vivification our life was but death because we our selves were but dead in sin even whilest alive 1 Tim. 5.6 Col 2.13 She that liveth in pleasure is dead while she liveth and you were dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh But after vivification we live how live a spiritual life Gal. 2.20 Phil. 3.20 I live by the faith of the Son of God an heavenly life for our conversation is in heaven from whence also we look for the Saviour the Lord Jesus Christ an immortal life Rom. 6.9 11. Christ being raised from the dead dyeth no more death hath no more dominion over him likewise reckon your selves to be dead indeed unto sin but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. John 11.26 You know the meaning of Christ Whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never dye he shall never dye a spiritual death never come under the dominion of sin never totally fall away from grace Rom. 8.10 that incorruptible seed by which he is regenerate shall abide in him for ever If Christ be in you the body is dead because of sin but the spirit is life because of righteousness the body indeed is subject to corporal death through the remainders of sin but the Spirit it life even that little spark of grace through the most perfect righteousness of Christ imputed is life here and shall be life hereafter even for ever And herein is our vivification answerable to Christ's resurrection like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father Rom. 6.4 raised up to a new life even so we also should walk in the newness of life For the second question how is this conformity or vivification wrought I shall answer only to the state and so our vivification is usually wrought in us in this manner As first in the understanding Secondly in the will First the understanding lets in the verity and truth of what the Gospel hath recorded John 1.4 John 6.35 John 11.25 In him was life and the life was the light of men I am the bread of life he that cometh to me shall never hunger and he that believeth on me shall never thirst I am the resurrection and the life he that believeth in me though he were dead yet shall he live I am the way John 14.6 1 John 5.11 12. the truth and the life And this is the record that God hath given to us eternal life and this life is in his Son he that hath the Son hath life and he that hath not the Son hath not life 2. This light let in the understanding thence inferreth as to a man 's own self that by the assistance of the Spirit of holiness who raised up Jesus from the dead it 's possible for him to attain this life Eph. 2.1 2 3 4 5 6 7. others have attained it and why not he You hath he quickened who were dead in traspasses and sins here 's a president for a sin-sick soul In time past ye walked according to the course of this world according to the Prince of the power of the air the Spirit that now worketh in the Children of disobedience this was the state of the Ephesians But were they all no no ye and we also among whom also we had all our conversation in times past But God who is rich in mercy for his great love wherewith he loved us even when we were dead in sins hath quickened us together with Christ that in ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness towards us through Christ Jesus Mat. 8.2 9 21. Ezek. 37.4 5. Christ's dealings with some are as flags and patterns of mâ—rcy hung forth to tell and to bring others in whence the understanding infers it 's possible for a dead soul yea for my dead soul to live others have lived and why may not I I discover in those Scriptures even in these presidents a door of hope to my self why Lord if thou wilt thou canst make me clean yea if I may but touch thy garment I shall be whole if thou wouldst but say O ye dry bones hear the word of the Lord then breath would enter into me and I should live surely if Christ be risen again from the dead there 's no impossibility but I may rise if others have been raised by the vertue of Christ's resurrection why may not I However this may seem to be little or nothing yet considering the soul in a mourning dark disconsolate frame under deep apprehensions of sin guilt and wrath full of
I need not doubt of my acceptance at the Throne of Grace when Jesus Christ is accepted for me and that I stand in such a relation to Jesus Christ Oh what joy is in this 2. How should it heighten my joyes and enlarge my comforts when I do but consider that Christ is set down at God's right hand Why now he hath the keys of Heaven delivered into his hands Mat. 28.18 All power is given unto him in heaven and in earth and now he can do what he will God the Father hath given away as it were all his Prerogatives unto Jesus Christ John 5.22 All judgment is committed to the Son for the Father judgeth no man Now he is in a Capacity of acting out all his love and the Father's desire to me in the most glorious way he is highly advanced and thereby he hath the advantage to advance me and to glorifie me God hath given into his hands all the treasures and riches of Heaven in bidding him sit down at his right hand he told him that he would have no more to do with the world but that Christ should have all and that Christ should bestow all he had amongst his Saints and that this should be the reward of his death and when once his Saints were come about him and sate with him in his glory 1 Cor. 15.24 why then Christ should resign up again his place And deliver up the Kingdom to God even the Father Oh what joy may enter into this poor dark dungeon disconsolate soul of mine whiles I but think over these glorious passages of my Christ in glory 3. How should it heighten my joyes and fill me with joy unspeakable and full of glory when I do consider that Christ hath sent down his holy Spirit into my heart when sorrow had filled the Apostles hearts John 16.7 because he had told them I must go away he comforts them with this If I go not away the Comforter will not come unto you but if I depart I will send him unto you The spirit is the Comforter and where he comes he fills souls with comforts O what comfort is this to know that the spirit of Christ is my Inmate that my soul is the Temple the Receptacle the House and dwelling of the spirit of God that Christ is in me of a truth and that not only by the infusion of his grace but by the in-dwelling of his spirit surely it is some comfort to a sickly man that he hath a Physitian alwayes in the house with him and to a woman that is near her travail that the Midwife is in the house with her but what comfort is it to a poor soul that the spirit of Christ is alwayes in him John 14.16 I will send you another Comforter said Christ that he may abide with you for ever Christ in his bodily presence went away Mat. 28.20 but Christ in his spirit continues still Lo I am with you alwayes even unto the end of the world he is with us and which is more he is in us for our comfort Col. 1.27 Christ in you the hope of glory Not Christ in Sermons which we hear nor Christ in Chapters which we read nor Christ in Sacraments which we receive nor Christ in our heads by high notions nor Christ in our mouths by frequent glorious expressions but Christ in our hearts by his spirit is unto us the hope of Glory The grounds of our comforts in this respect is 1. Christ's Presence it is said of Paul that after a sad shipwrack the sight of some Christian brethren so cheated him Act. 28.15 that upon the sight of them he thankâ—d God and took courage it is said of Caesar that he cheared the drooping Mariners in a storm by minding them of his presence You carry Caesar how much more should the in-being of Christ solace Saints Lo I am with you O my soul was it not a cordial to the Disciples in a storm that Christ was with them whom the winds and waves obeyed chear up now for if the Spirit be in thee Christ is with thee 2. Christ's Complacency if his Spirit dwell in us how should he but be well pleased with us a man cannot properly be said to dwell in a prison in which he taketh no delight Psal 132.14 the Spirits in-dwelling imports a delight of Christ in such a soul Here will I dwell for I have desired it or delighted in it saith God of Zion though many times drooping Christians viewing their own beggarliness and vileness judge themselves worthy to be detested and deserted and would relinquish themselves if they possibly could yet Christ looketh to the poor and contrite soul as a meet habitation for himself to dwell in Isa 57.15 I dwell in the high and holy place with him also that is of a contrite and humble Spirit 3. Christ's Communications union is the ground of our communion with Christ and the nearer our union the greater is our communion if Christ were only in a believer by the habit of grace the union would not be so great but if Christ be in us by his spirit the union is nearer and therefore the communion will be greater O my soul remember this in all thy straits there can be no creature-want or danger whatsoever wherein the improvement of this in-dwelling of the Spirit may not refresh thee art thou sick the Physitian both of soul and body is within thee art thou sad the Comforter himself that supplies the stead and room of Christ inhabits in thee art thou in exile in banishment imprisonment at greatest distance from thy dearest Friends see Paul's refreshment when they were ready to pull him in pieces and threw him into the Castle even the night following the Lord stood by him and said be of good chear Paul Acts 23.11 Christ will stand by thee nay Christ by his Spirit dwelleth in thee and will speak to thee comfortable words in thy greatest pressures 4. Christ's Witnessings if his Spirit dwell in us we may then be assured of future glory Christ in you the Hope of Glory 'T is a sweet note of a Divine upon it Col. 1 27. Mr. Ash in his Sermon of Christ the riches of the Gospel Acts 8.13 Mat. 27.3 Heb. 12.17 Heb. 6.5 6. Heb. 10.29 The existency of Christ's Spirit in Believers giveth existence to their hopes of Glory The Spirit in us is God's earnest of Glory the Spirit in us doth prepare us for participation in that Glory I look upon this in-dwelling of the Spirit as that which no Hypocrite in the World can lay any claim unto as for gifts or graces an Hypocrite may attain them or somthing like them it is said of Simon Magus that he believed it is said of Judas that he repented and of Esau that he sought his birth-right with tears it is said of some that they partook of the Heavenly Gift and of the Powers of the
Humane Nature incourageth us to come unto him even after his Resurrection he was pleased to send this comfortable message to the sons of men Iohn 20.17 Go to my Brethren and say unto them I ascend to my Father and your Father and to my God and your God now as long as he is not ashamed to call us Brethren Heb. 11.16 God is not ashamed to be called our God O the sweet fruit that we may gather of this Tree the real distinction of two Natures in Christ As long as Christ is man as well as God we have a motive strong enough to appease his Father and to turn his favourable countenance towards us here is our happiness that there is one Mediator between God and Man 1 Tim. 1.5 the Man Christ Jesus 5. consider the Union of the two natures of Christ in one and the same Person as he was the branch of the Lord and the fruit of the Earth so these two natures were tied with such a Gordian knot as sin hell and the grave were never able to untie yea though in the death of Christ there was a separation of the soul from the body yet in that separation the hypostatical Union remained firm unshaken and indissoluble in this Meditation thou hast great cause O my Soul to admire and adore wonderful things are spoken of thee O Christ he is God in a Person of a God-head so as neither the Father nor the Holy Ghost were made flesh and he is man in the nature of man not properly the Person the humane nature of Christ never having any Personal subsistence out of the God-head this is a mystery that no Angel much less man is able to comprehend we have not another example of such an Union as you have heard only the nearest similitude or resemblance we can find is that of the Branch and Tree into which it is ingraffed we see one Tree may be set into another and it groweth in the Stock thereof and becometh one and the same Tree though there be two natures or kinds of fruit still remaining therein so in the Son of God made man though there be two natures yet both being united into one Person there is but one Son of God and one Jesus Christ If thou wilt consider this great mystery of Godliness any further review what hath been said in the object propounded where this union is set forth more largely and particularly but especially consider the blessed effects of this union in reference to thy self as our nature in the person of Christ is united to the God-head so our persons in and by this Union of Christ are brought nigh to God Hence it is that God doth set his Sanctuary and Tabernacle among us and that he dwells with us and which is more that he makes us houses and habitations wherein he himself is pleased to dwell by his holy Spirit Ye are the Temple of the Living God as God hath said I will dewll in them and walk in them and I will be their God John 17 20 21 22 23. and they shall be my People 2. Cor. 6.16 Was not this Christs Prayer in our behalf I pray not for these alone but for them also which shall believe on me through their word that they all may be one as thou Father art in me and I in thee that they also may be one in us that the world may believe that thou hast sent me I in them and thou in me that they may be perfect in one and that the world may know that thou hast sent me and hast loved them as thou hast loved me By reason of this hypostatical union of Christ Gal. 4.6 the Spirit of Christ is given to us in the very moment of our regeneration And because ye are Sons God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts crying Abba Father and hereby we know that we dwell in him and he in us because he hath given us of his Spirit As the members of the Body howsoever distinct amongst themselves and all differing from the head yet by reason of one soul informing both the head and members they all make one compositum or man so all believers in Christ howsoever distinct Persons amongst themselves and all distinct from the Person of Christ and especially from the Godhead which is incommunicable yet by one and the same spirit abiding in Christ Eph. 4.4 1 Cor. 6.17 and all his Members they become one there is one body and one spirit he that is joyned to the Lord is one Spirit O my Soul consider of this and in considering believe thy part in this and the rather because the means of this union on thy part is a true and lively faith faith is the first effect and instrument of the Spirit of Christ disposing and enabling thy soul to cleave unto Christ and for this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ that Christ may dwell in your hearts by Faith Eph. 3.14 17. 6. Consider the birth of Christ this man-God God-man who in his divine generation was the Son of God in his humane generation was born in a stable for the saving of the Children of men who were as the oxe and mule having no understanding It were a fruitful meditation to consider over and over that sweet resemblance of Christ being a Vine me-thinks I hear the Voice of my beloved Cant. 2.10 13. rise up my love the fig-tree putteth forth her green figs and the vine with the tender grapes gives a good smell arise my love my fair one and come away if Christ knocks at the door who will not awake and arise if Christ comes in view who will not look unto Jesus if Christ the Vine calls us to come see the vine with the tender grape who will not taste the goodness smell the sweetness and after a little taste of that goodness and sweetness that is in him who would not long after more till we come from the first fruits to the last-fruits of the Spirit even to those visions and fruitions of Christ in Glory Consider O my soul of this Vine till thou hast brought Christ near and close unto thy self Suppose thy heart the Garden wherein this Vine was planted wherein it budded blossomed and bare fruit suppose the holy Ghost to come upon thee and to form and fashion in thee Jesus Christ thus Paul bespeaks the Galathians my little Children of whom I travel in Birth again untill Christ be formed in you would not this affect would not the whole soul be taken up with this come receive Christ into thy soul or if that work be done if Christ be formed in thee O Cherish him I speak of the Spiritual birth O keep him in thy heart let him there bud and blossome and bear fruit let him fill thy soul with his Divine Graces O that thou couldst say it feelingly I live yet not I but Christ
Christs Resurrection and the coming down of the holy Ghost What was the meaning of this but to hold harmony and to keep correspondency with those memorable things as on the day of Pentecost fifty days after the feast of the Passeover the Israelites came to mount Sinai there received they the Law a memorable day with them and therefore called the feast of the Law so the very same day is accomplished that prophesie Out of Zion shall go forth the Law and the Word of the Lord from Jerusalem Isa 2.3 now was the promulgation of the Gospel called by James the Royal Law Jam. 2.8 as given by Christ our King and written in the hearts of his servants by this holy Ghost it seems to shadow out the great difference betwixt the Law and the Gospel the Law was given with terrour in lightning and thunder it discovers sin declares God's Wrath frights the Conscience but the Gospel is given without terrour there was no lightning and thunder now no no the holy Ghost slides down from heaven with grace and gifts and with great joy sits on the heads and in the hearts of his Saints 2. On the Jubilee or fiftyeth year was a great feast whence some observe that the Latines made their word Jubilo to take up a Merry Song though the word be derived from the Hebrew Jobel which signifies a Rams horn for then they blew with Rams horns as when they gathered the people to the Congregation they blew their Silver Trumpets There were many uses of this feast 1. For the general release of Servants 2. For the restoring of Lands unto their first owners who had sold them 3. For the keeping of a right chronology and reckoning of times for as the Greeks did reckon by their Olimpiads and the Latine by their Lustra so did the Hebrews by their Jubilees this falls fit with the proclaiming of the Gospel which is an act or tender of Gods most gracious general free pardon of all sins and of all the sinners in the World now was the sound of the Gospel made known unto all Acts 2.5 out of every Nation under heaven now was that spiritual Jubilee which Christians enjoy under Christ now was the remission published which exceeded the remission of the Jubilee as for as the Jubilee exceeded the remission of the Seventh year i.e. not only seven times but seventy times seven times Mat. 18.22 Lev. 23.17 20 3. On the day of Pentecost they offered the two wave-loaves called the bread of the first fruits unto the Lord. In like sort this very day the Lord of the harvest so disposing it the Apostles by the assistance and effectual working of the Spirit offered the first-fruits of their harvest unto the Lord Act. 2.41 for the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls We see the circumstance of time hath its due weight and is very considerable when the day of Pentecost was fully come then came the holy Ghost SECT VIII Of the persons to whom the holy Ghost was sent 2. FOr the persons to whom the holy Ghost was sent it is said to all that were with one accord in one place Act. 2.1 who they were it is not here exprest yet from the former chapter we may conjecture Acts 1.13 14. they were the twelve Apostles together with Joseph called Barsabas and the Women and Mary the Mother of Jesus and his brethren these all continued with one accord in one place for so was Christs command that they should not depart from Jerusalem but wait for the promise of the Father which saith he ye have heard of me This promise we read of in the Evangelists Act. 1.4 when the Comforter is come whom I will send unto you from the Father John 15.26 even the Spirit of truth which proceedeth from the Father he will testifie of me Luke 21.49 And behold I send the promise of the Father upon you but tarry ye in the City of Jerusalem until you be indued with power from on high It was the great promise of the Old Testament that Christ should partake of our humane Nature and it was the great promise of the New Testament that we should partake of his divine Nature he was cloathed with our flesh according to the former and we are invested with his Spirit according to the latter promise For this promise the Apostles and others had long waited and for the accomplishment they were now fitted and disposed 1. They had waited for it from the Ascention day till the feast of Pentecost he told them at the very instant of his Ascention that he would send the holy Ghost and therefore bid them stay together till that hour upon which command they waited Isa 28.16 and continued waiting until the day of Pentecost was fully come He that believeth shall not make hast saith Isaiah surely waiting is a Christian duty for the Vision is yet for an appointed time Hab. 2.3 but at the end it shall speak and shall not lye though it tarry wait for it because it will surely come it will not tarry Well may we wait and wait for him if we consider how God and Christ have waited for us and our conversion and especially if we consider that the Comforter will come and when he comes that he will abide with us for ever But 2. John 14.16 As they waited for the Spirit so they were rightly disposed to receive the Spirit for they were all with one accord in one place Mark here the qualifications of these persons they were all with one accord c. To those that accord in the Spirit given where is nothing but discord jars divisions fractions there is no Spirit of God for the Spirit is the Author of concord peace unity and amity he is the very essential unity love and love-knot of the two persons the Father and the Son even of God with God and he was sent to be the union love and love-knot of the two natures united in Christ even of God with man and can we imagine that essential unity will enter but where there is unity can the Spirit of unity come or remain but where there is unity of Spirit verily there is not there cannot be a more proper and peculiar a more true and certain disposition to make us meet for the Spirit then that quality in us that is likest to his nature and essence and that is unity love concord do we marvel that the spirit doth scarcely pant in us Alas we are not all of one accord the very first point is wanting to make us meet for the coming of the holy Ghost upon us We see the persons to whom the holy Ghost was sent they were they that were together with one accord in one place SECT IX Of the manner how the holy Ghost was sent 3. FOr the manner how he was sent or how he came to these Apostles we may observe these
where they were sitting to signifie that all the other houses in Jerusalem felt none of this mighty rushing wind there was no assembly of Saints in any part of the City but only in this house or if any other assembly might be this Spirit blew upon none of them where these men were not that and only that house is filled where they were sitting And this point of blowing upon one certain place is a property very suitable to the Spirit of God the wind bloweth where it listeth and thou hearest the sound thereof John 3.8 but canst not tell whence it cometh nor whether it goeth so is every one that is born of the Spirit The Spirit blows where it will and upon whom it will and they shall plainly feel it and others about them not one jot have we not sometimes the experiences of this in our very congregations one sound is heard one breath doth blow and it may be one or two and no more hears the sound or feels the breath inwardly savingly it may be one here and another there shall feel the Spirit shall be affected and touched with it sensibly but twenty on this side them and forty on that side them sit all becalmed and go their way no more moved than when they came into Gods presence Oh that this Spirit of the Lord would come daily and constantly into our congregations Oh that it would blow through them and through them O that it would fill every soul in the assembly with the breath of heaven come holy Spirit awake O North-Wind Cant 4.16 and come thou South-Wind and blow upon our Gardens that the spices thereof may flow out 6. He came down in the form of Tongues As one saith well This Wind brought Tongues even a whole showre of Tongues The Apostles were not only inspired for their now benefit but they had gifts bestowed on them to impart the benefit to more their themselves But why did the holy Ghost appear like Tongues I answer 1. The Tongue is a symbole of the holy Ghosts proceeding from the Word of the Father as the Tongue hath the nearest affinity with the word and is moved by the word of the heart to express the same by the sound of the voice so the holy Ghost hath the nearest affinity that may be with the Word of God and is the expresser of his voice and the speaker of his will 2. The Tongue is the sole instrument of Knowledge which conveighs the same from man to man though the Soul be the Fountain from whence all wisdom springs yet the Tongue is the Channel and the conduit-pipe whereby this Wisdom and Knowledge is communicated and Tansferred from man to man in like manner the holy Ghost is the sole Author and Teacher of all Truth though Christ be the Wisdom of God yet the holy Ghost is the Teacher of this Wisdom to men And hence it is that the holy Ghost appeared in the form of Tongues And yet not meerly in the form of Tongues but thus qualified 1. They were Cloven Tongues to signifie that the Apostles should speak in divers Languages if there must be a calling of the Gentiles they must needs have the Tongues of the Gentiles wherewith to call them if they were debtors not only to the Jews Rom 1.14 but to the Grecians nor only to the Grecians but to the Barbarians also then must they have the tongues not only of the Jews but of the Grecians and Barbarians to pay this debt and to discharge this duty of go and teach all Nations Mat. 28.19 Surely this gift was bestowed for the propagating of the Gospel far and wide The tongues were cloven that the Apostles might speak all Languages and that all Nations of the World whithersoever they came might hear them and understand them speaking in their own Tongues 2. They were fiery Tongues to signifie that there should be an efficacy or fervour in their speaking the World was so over-whelmed with ignorance and errour that the Apostles lips had need to be touched with a coal from the Altar Tongues of flesh would not serve the turn nor words of air but there must be fire put into the Tongue and Spirit of life into the words they speak with such a tongue Christ speak himself when they said of him did not our hearts burn within us Luke 24.32 while he spake unto us by the way and with such a tongue Peter spake at this time Acts 2.73 something like fire fell from him on their hearts when they were pricked in their hearts and said men and brethren what shall we do Oh that we of the Ministry had these fiery Tongues O that the Spirit would put his live-coal into our speeches Oh that our Sermons were warming Sermons may we not fear that the Spirit is gone whiles the people are dead and we are no more lively in our Ministry it is said of Luther that when he heard one preach very faintly cold cold sayes he this is cold preaching here 's no heat at all to be gotten Oh when the Spirit comes it comes with a tongue of fire instead of words sparks of fire will fall from us on the hearts of hearers 3. These cloven tongues sate upon each of them to signifie their constancy and continuance they did not light and touch and away after the manner of butterflies but they sate they abode still they continued steddy without any stirring or starting This was the privy sign by which John the Baptist knew Jesus to be Christ upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending and remaining on him John 1.33 the same is he which Baptiseth with the holy Ghost It was not only the Spirits descending but the Spirit 's remaining on him Psal 51.10 that was the Sign The Spirit of God is a constant Spirit it abides on the Soul to whom it is given and therefore the Psalmist describes these great Transactions of Christ to this very end that the Spirit might dwell with us thou hast ascended on high Psal 68.18 thou hast led Captivity Captive thou hast received gifts for men yea for the rebellious also that the Lord God might dwell among them Not only that he might stay and lodg for a night as a way-fairing man that comes to his Inn and then is gone in the morning no no but that he might take up his residence and dwell in them I know it is a question whether the holy Ghost may be lost but certainly of the Elect he is never totally or wholly lost only I dare not say but as touching many gifts he may be lost even of the Elect themselves David after his sins was forced to cry Psal 51.11 12. cast me not away from thy presence O Lord and take not thy holy Spirit from me restore unto me the joy of thy Salvation and uphold me with thy free Spirit we find here that in respect of some gifts even of regeneration the
in his first Sermon after the Spirits mission Act. 2.17 18. In which we read of two pourings of the Spirit one upon their sons and the other upon his servants the former concerned only the Jew they should have Prophesies Visions and Dreams the old way of the Jews but the latter concerns us we are not of their sons but of his servants to whom visions and dreams are left quite out and therefore if any now pretend to those visions and dreams we say with Jeremy Jer. 23.28 The prophet that hath a dream let him tell a dream but he that hath my Word let him speak my Word Faithfully what is the Chaffe to the wheat But of all the prophesies concerning the mission of the Holy Ghost our Saviour gives the clearest and the most particular two great Prophesies we find in the Bible the one is of the Old Testament and the other of the New that of the Old Testament was for the coming of Christ and this of the New Testament was for the coming of the Holy Ghost and hence we say that the coming of Christ was the fulfilling of the Law and the coming of the Holy Ghost is the fulfilling of the Gospel In this respect let us search and see those Prophesies of Christ the great Prophet in the New Testament I will pray the Father Joh. 14.16 17. John 15.26 Luke 24.49 John 16.7 and he shall give you another Comforter that he may abide with you for ever even the Spirit of truth But when the Comforter is come whom I will send unto you from the Father he shall testifie of me And behold I send the prâ—mise of my Father upon you but tarry ye in the City of Jerusalem untill ye be endued with Power from on high It is expedient for you that I go away for if I go not away the Comforter will not come unto you but if I depart I will send him unto you Why it was of necessity that all these Prophesies and promises must be accomplished and therefore was the Holy Ghost sent amongst us 2. That the holy Apostles might be furnished with gifts and graces suitable to their estates conditions stations places To this purpose no sooner was the Spirit sent Acts 2.3 but they were filled with the Holy Ghost and began to speak with other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance They were filled with the Holy Ghost not that they were before empty but now they were more full of the spirit than ever they were before and they speak with other tongues other than ever they had Learned probably they understood no Tongue but the Syriack till this time but now on a sudden they could speak Greek Latine Arabick Persian Parthian and what not the Wisdom and Mercy of God is very observable herein that the same means of diverse Tongues which was the destroying of Babel should be the very same means here conferred on the Apostles to work the building of Syon that the curse should be removed and a blessing come in place that confusion of Tongues should be united to God's Glory that this should be the issue of Tongues that neither Speech nor Language should be upon all the Earth but his praise and glory and the Gospel should be heard amongst them And here is something more observable in that they spake with other Tongues As the spirit gave them utterance the word utterance is in the Original 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 you have heard of Apothegmes i.e. wise and weighty sententious speeches now such as these the spirit gave them to utter magnalia Dei v. 11. as in the eleventh verse the wonderful works of God they spake of those singular benefits God offered to the world by the death of his Son they spake of the work of our Redemption of the merits of Christ of the glory and riches of his Grace of the praises due to his Name for all his Mercies others add that they spake of those admirable works of the Trinity as of our Creation Redemption and Sanctification and of whatsoever generally concerned the Salvation of mankind their speeches were not crudities of their own Brain trivial base or vulgar stuff but magnalia great and high Points Apothegmes or Oracles as the spirit gave them utterance But these reasons are remote to us 3. That he might fill the hearts of all the Saints and make them Temples and receptacles for the Holy Ghost 1 Cor. 6.19 know you not that your body is the Temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you which ye have of God and ye are not your own It is said here that after the mighty rushing Wind and cloven fiery Tongues Acts 2.4 they were all filled with the Holy Ghost and began to spake with other Tongues First they were filled with the Holy Ghost and then they spake with other Tongues the Holy Ghost begins inward and works outward it first alters the mind before it change the speech it first works on the Spirit before on the phraze or utterance this was the first work of the Spirit it filled them And thus for the daily ministration such must be appointed as were full of the Holy Ghost Acts 6.3 Acts 7.55 Acts. 11.24 and Stephen is said to be full of the Holy Ghost and Barnabas is called a good man and full of the Holy Ghost The Holy Ghost is usually said to fill the Saints only whether it be the person of the Holy Ghost or the impressions of the Holy Ghost is a very great question for my part I am apt to incline to their mind who say not only the impressions of the spirit the qualities of holiness the gifts and graces of the Holy Ghost or as some think habitual grace in a special manner but that the Holy Ghost himself doth fill and dwell and reign in the hearts of all regenerate men And this seems clear to me 1. By Scriptures 2. By Arguments 1. The Scriptures are such as these He that believeth on me as the Scripture saith out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water but this spake he of the Spirit John 7.38 39 which they that believe on him should receive for the Holy Ghost was not yet given because that Jesus was not yet glorified for those words out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water by living water is meant grace by rivers of living water is meant the manifold graces of the Spirit by the flowing of these rivers is meant the abounding and communicating of those graces from one to another and by the belly out of which those rivers should flow is meant the heart indued or filled with the Holy Ghost Now the spring and rivers the fountain and streams are diverse things and to be distinguished the one is the cause and the other the effect the one is the tree and the other the fruit it is the holy Ghost filling the hearts of beleivers that is the spring and fountain
grace well may we cry come holy Spirit Oh what a comfortable condition would it be if our Spirits never lay still but we were alwayes hungring thirsting or moving after God and goodness 6. That the holy Ghost might according to his Office comfort his Saints amidst all their afflictions this was that which Christ had so often told his Apostles John 14.16 V. 18. V. 26. John 15.26 I will not leave you comfortless I will come unto you And I will pray the Father and he shall give you another Comforter that he may abide with you for ever But the Comforter which is the Holy Ghost whom the Father will send in my Name he shall teach you all things But when the Comforter is come whom I will send unto you from the Father even the spirit of truth which proceedeth from the Father he shall testifie of me John 16.17 If I go not away the Comforter will not come unto you but if I depart I will send him unto you But how is it that the spirit comforts Saints I answer in these particulars †See at large Dr. Reynolds on Psal 116. 1. The Spirit discovers sin and bends the heart to mourn for sin and such a sorrow as this is the seed and matter of true comfort as Josephs heart was full of joy when his eyes poured out tears on Benjamin's neck so there is a certain seed and matter of joy in spiritual mourning I know they are contrary but yet they may be subordinate to each other as a dark and muddy colour may be a fit ground to lay gold upon Certainly there is a sweet complacency in an humble and spiritual heart to be vile in its own eyes But especially the fruit of it is joy and great joy John 16.21 A woman when she is in travail hath sorrow because her hour is come but as soon as she is delivered of her Child she remembreth no more the anguish for joy that a man is born into the World 22. and ye now therefore have sorrow but I will see you again and your heart shall rejoyce and your joy no man taketh from you 2. The Spirit doth not only discover but heal the corruptions of the soul and there is no comfort to the comfort of a saved and cured man the lame man that was restored by Peter expressed the abundant exaltation of his heart by leaping and praising God Act. 3.8 and for this cause the Spirit is called the Oyl of gladness because by that healing vertue that is in him he makes glad the hearts of men 3. The Spirit doth not only heal but renew and revive again when an eye is smitten with a sword there is a double mischief a wound made and a faculty perished and here though a Chirurgeon can heal the wound yet he can never restore the faculty because total privations admit no regress or recovery But the spirit doth not only heal and repair but renew and re-edifie the spirits of men as he healeth that which was torn and bindeth up that which was broken so he reviveth and raiseth up that which was dead before Hos 6.1.2 And this the Apostle calls the renovation of the Spirit Tit. 3.5 Now this renovation must needs be matter of great joy for so the Lord comforts his afflicted people O thou afflicted tossed with tempest Isa 54.11 12. and not comforted behold I will lay thy stones with fair colours and lay thy foundations with Saphyres and I will make thy windows of Agates and thy gates of Carbuncles and all thy borders of pleasant stones The meaning is that all must be new and new built up as for a goodly costly and stately structure 4. The spirit doth not only renew and set the frame of the heart aright and then leave it to it self but being thus restored he abideth with it to preserve and support it and to make it victorious against all tempests and batteries and this further multiplyeth the joy and comfort of the heart victory is ever the ground of joy Isa 9.3 They joy before thee as men rejoyce when they divide the spoyle And the spirit of God is a victorious spirit A bruised reed shall he not break and smoaking flax shall he not quench Mat. 12.20 till he send forth judgment unto victory 5. The spirit doth not only preserve the heart which he hath renewed but he makes it fruitfull and abundant in the work of the Lord. And fruitfulness is a ground of comfort Sing O barren thou that didst not bear break forth into singing Isa 54.1 and cry aloud thou that didst not travail with Child for more are the Children of the desolate than the Children of the married Wife saith the Lord. 6. The Spirit doth not only make the heart fruitful but gives it the hansel and earnest of its inheritance and thereby it begets a lively hope an earnest expectation a confident attendance upon the promises and an unspeakable peace and comfort thereupon Oh when I feel a drop of heavens Joy shed abroad into my soul by the Holy Ghost and that I look upon this as a taste of glory and a forerunner of happiness how should I but rejoyce with joy unspeakable in all these respects the Spirit is our Comforter and this is another reason why the Holy Ghost is sent I will not leave you comfortless saith Christ no no for I will come unto you by my spirit Eph. 4.30 7. That the Holy Ghost might according his Office seal us unto the day of redemption By sealing is meant some work of the Spirit by which he assurâ—s a believer that he is Gods it is all one with the spirits witnessing only under that notion I shall speak of it another time But all the question is what is that work of the spirit by which he assures I answer this work is many-fold As 1. There is a reflex work of faith and this is the work of the Spirit too assuring our souls of our good estate to God-ward 1 John 5.10 and Christ-ward He that believeth hath the witness in himself he carries in his heart the Counterpane of all the promises this is the first seal or if you will the first degree of the Spirits sealing the first discovery of our election is manifested to us in our believing as many saith the Text as were ordained to eternal life believed Acts 13.48 2. There is a work of sanctifying grace upon the heart and this is a seal of the Spirit also 2 Tim. 2.19 for whom the Spirit sanctifieth he saveth The Lord knoweth who are his saith the Apostle ay but how should we know it why by this seal as it follows Let every one that Nameth the Name of the Lord depart from iniquity none are children of God by adoption but those that are Children also by regeneration none are heirs of Heaven 2 Pet. 1.3 4. but they are new born to it Blessed be
quickenings stirrings of the spirit of God commanding thy faith love zeal and other graces to be in exercise hath he not many a time at some dead lift at some mighty straight at some prevailing temptation when thou wast even ready to yield to Satan Heb. 4.16 come in as betwixt the bridge and water and given thee grace to help in time of need O the sweet in-comes of the Spirit of God! as he is an holy Spirit so he makes holy hearts and if there be any holiness in thy heart what is it but an emanation influence effect of the Spirit of God if ever thou hadst any flowings of exciting quickening grace say This is above nature above flesh and blood it comes from the holy and blessed Spirit of God Some other effects thou mayst consider of as of the comforts of the spirit what hast thou not sometimes felt the joyes unspeakable and full of glory hast thou not sometimes known a mornings joy after a nights sorrow an healing of thy broken heart a reviving of thy dead Spirit a drop of heavens joy given thee as the hansel or earnest of thine inheritance why all these are but the workings of the promised comforter And I will pray the Father and he shall give you another Comforter that he may abide with you for ever John 14.16 Another effect is the seal of the spirit and what hast thou not sometimes had the seal of the Spirit stamped on thee I will not say this is absolutely necessary but hast thou not sometimes been assured of thy salvation by a reflect act of faith or by a work of grace habitual or actual or by an irradiation of the spirit on thy graces sometimes the spirit is pleased to shine with its bright and glorious and heavenly beams into our souls and then we are assured hence the Apostle prayes for the Ephesians Eph. 1.17.18 19. That they might have the spirit of revelation And to what end That they might know what is the hope of his calling i.e. that they might know upon what certain grounds and foundation their hopes were built and hence the Psalmist prayes for himself Psal 13.16 Cause thy face to shine upon thy Servant and again God be mercifull unto us and bless us and cause his face to shine upon us psal 67.1 Selah If the spirit shine upon our graces then it seals O consider of this shining-sealing work and leave not till the Spirit dart in a spiritual light and give thee a revelation knowledg and perswasion of thy effectual calling Many other reasons are of the spirits mission but amongst them all consider O my soul and ponder on these few think over Christ's Ascension Session and Mission of the Spirit but in every thought be serious fruitful and particular say Christ is gone up into heaven for me and he is sate down at God 's right hand for me and he hath sent down his spirit into my heart O what workings would there be within if thou wert but lively and active in the meditations of these several passages SECT III. Of desiring after Jesus in that Respect 3. LEt desire after Jesus carrying on the great work of our salvation for us in these particulars who seeing Christ to ascend into Heaven would not be glad to ascend up with with him who seeing Christ to sit down at the right hand of his Father would not be glad to sit down with him who seeing Christ to scatter his gifts and spirit amongst his Saints would not cry Come holy spirit O Christ give me thy spirit thou that givest gifts unto me come and bestow those gifts on me even upon me The believing soul cannot hear of Christ in any true discovery of his grace and glory but it must needs send out many breathings after him Oh that Christ were mine Oh that I had any interest in this transaction it is true these transactions are past but the vertue of them continues still and accordingly the vertue power and influence of these transactions must be the object of our desires now what is the vertue of Christ's Ascension but that we might ascend and what the vertue of Christ's Session but that we might sit down with him in his Throne and what the vertue of the mission of his Spirit but that we might partake of the holy Ghost Oh let these be the objects of our desires come let us pant and breath after these things As 1. Let us see Christ ascending and so desire to ascend with him when Christ ascended it was not meerly for himself but also in our stead he ascended as a common person as the high Priest ascending into the Holy of Holies he carried all the names of the Twelve Tribes on his breast so Jesus Christ ascending into heaven he carried the names of all Believers in the world on his Breast thereby shewing that they were likewise to come after him in this case how should we long after him and cry after him as Elisha after Elijah when he saw him ascending My Father my father 2 Kings 2.12 Isa 14.14 15. the chariots of Israel and the horsemen thereof How should we cry after him O my Lord and my God see that my name be written in thy Breast O that vertually I may ascend with thee and that really and bodily I may at last ascend after thee There are many can say in their heart I will ascend above the heights of the clouds Psal 14.3 4. I will be like the most High but the prophet tells us Such shall be brought down to hell and to the sides of the Pit O the desires and eager pursuits of men after ambition what topping and advancing is there of one over another in the mean time the Psalmist's Question is quite forgotten Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord Isa 14.12 he that hath clean hands and a pure heart who hath not lift up his soul unto vanity Down O my soul with thy top and top gallant strike sail to God and Christ know that God resists the proud How art thou fallen from Heaven O Lucifer son of the morning even he that would exalt his Throne above the stars of God is brought down to hell Come come a desire after Christ and his Ascension is the way to Heaven if thou wilt ascend after Christ set thy desires upon Christ if thou wilt arrive at true glory breath after Christ ascending up into his glory let others ascend up into their heaven upon earth but O my soul desire thy interest in Christ's Ascension into the Heaven of Heavens O when will it once be that by the vertue of Christ's Ascension I shall ascend is Christ gone up and am I yet behind is my Head my Husband my Lord in Heaven and am I a poor member of his body grovelling here on earth what is Christ gone up with a shout the Lord with the sound of a trumpet are all the Angels sounding
the holy One and ye know all things But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you and ye need not that any man teach you but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things and hence it is that this holy spirit is called the Spirit of wisdom Eph. 1.17 and revelation in the knowledge of God 2. The Spirit of Christ is the spirit of adoption it brings our souls into that blessed estate that we are the Children of God Rom. 8.15 Gal. 4.6 Ye have not received the Spirit of bondage again to fear but we have received the spirit of adoption whereby we cry Abba Father And because ye are sons God hath sent forth the spirit of his son into your hearts crying Abba Father Zach. 12.10 Rom. 8.16 3. The spirit of Christ is a spirit of prayer I will pour upon the house of David and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem the spirit of grace and of supplication Likewise the spirit also helpeth our infirmities for we know not what we should pray for as we ought but the spirit it self maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered It is not said that the spirit teacheth us words and fluent phrases but it teacheth us to pray in the heart and spirit with sighs and groans 4. The spirit of Christ is a spirit of sanctification the Apostle having told the Corinthians that they had been notorious sinners 1 Cor. 6.11 Rom. 1.4 saith further that they were washed and sanctified by the spirit of God Hence the holy spirit is called The spirit of holiness because he makes us holy who were in our selves corrupt and sinful If we have thiâ— spirit it inclines our hearts to the things above it mortifies our lusts it brings us nearer unto God the spirit therefore that is impure and encourageth men in sin and cries up carnal Liberty is certainly none of the spirit of Christ and by this one sign many carnal pretenders of our times may be justly convicted 5. The Spirit of Christ is a spirit of love God is love and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God 1 John 4.16 Gal. 5.22 and God in him as the spirit is love so it begets love in the hearts of his people The fruit of the spirit is love joy peace long-suffering gentleness goodness faith meekness temperance All these graces are the fruits of the spirit but the first grace in the link is love by his spirit we are taught to love God not only for his benefits but in respect of his nature for his goodness mercy justice holiness and all other his saving attributes by his spirit we are taught to love any thing that hath but the stamp and image of God upon it but as touching brotherly love 1 Thes 4.2 ye need not that I write unto you for ye your selves are taught of God to love one another the most of the Heretical spirits of these times do hereby shew that they have not the Spirit their very religion lyeth in rayling at ministers and reproaching those that are not in their way this is far from the Spirit of love that is in God's Children certainly where there is malice hatred strife bitter-envyings raylings revilings for such kind of persons to lay claim to the Spirit of unity it is a piece of impudent vanity and a false suggestion from their own corrupt erring spirit or from the spirit of error himself who is an hater reviler and the accuser of the brethren 6. The Spirit of Christ is a leading Spirit Rom. 8.14 As many as are led by the Spirit of God they are the Sons of God But what is this leading of the Spirit I Answer 1. It is a drawing of the soul Christ-ward Cant. 1.4 Draw me saith the Spouse and we will run after thee There must be a drawing of the soul in every duty to Jesus Christ I say to Jesus Christ for a man may be furnished with eminent gifts and with suitable assistance in the laying out of those gifts from the Spirit and yet he may be without the leadings of the spirit gifts exercised cannot suppress corruptions in a man 's own heart and hence they that used their gifts are called workers of iniquity Mat. 7.23 Jer. 30.21 gifts do not carry out the heart towards Christ but graces do I will cause him to draw near and he shall approach unto me for who is this that engaged his heart to approach unto me saith the Lord. 2. It is a giving liberty to the soul to walk in the wayes of Christ 2 Cor. 3.17 Where the spirit of the Lord is there is liberty I mean not a liberty to sin but to duty nor yet every liberty to duty for a man may exercise himself in the external part of all duties and yet be without the leadings of the spirit but I mean such a liberty as when a soul accounts it an high favour from the Lord if he will but use him in any services for himself when it finds more delectation in these than in any other wayes Psal 119.34 173 174. Rom. 7.22 Rom. 8.2 I have chosen the way of truth saith David and therein is my delight And I delight in the law of God after the inner man saith Paul for the law of the spirit of life in Jesus Christ hath made me free from the law of sin and death 3. It is a corroberating or strengthening of the soul against all those impediments that would hinder it in the wayes of Christ Isa 63.11 12 13 14. Israel is said to be led by the spirit of the Lord and how did he lead them but by dividing the waters before them and by keeping them that they should not stumble many times God's holy ones are beset with temptations they find their hearts full of deadness hardness unbelief and all manner of distempers now if at such a time the mountains have been made planes if at such a time corruptions have been born down and their hearts have been let out towards Christ certainly these are the leadings of the spirit Rom. 8.13 14. If ye through the spirit do mortifie the deeds of the body ye shall live for as many as are led by the Spirit of God are the Sons of God the particular for argues mortification to appertain unto the leadings of the spirit There is in the Saints a constant opposition between the works of the flesh and the works of the spirit Gal. 5.17 18. now when the works of the flesh are kept underneath and prevailed against then a soul enjoyeth the leadings of the spirit I know such oppositions are not in any but Saints carnal men would wonder that any should complain for want of strength unto duties why they can easily come up to them and be in the exercise of them but alas this arises either from Satans not molesting them in the performance of duty because they look not
beyond the external part of it or from their own insensibleness of the working of corruption when yet it doth act only a gracious heart findeth that if it be not strengthened by a Power beyond its own it cannot act any grace or perform any duty as acceptable to God and hence the Apostle prayes That they might be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man Eph. 3.16 4. It is an enabling of the soul to act in Gospel-duties for Gospel-ends when the spirit leads the soul never aims at a self-advancement it never looks at its own name and glory as they did in Mat. 6.1 5. but it eyes in all its actings the mortification of corruption and the attainment of communion with God and Christ and the increase of all Grace Faith Love Patience Meekness self-denial c. or if it seek for outward mercies it seeks them in a subordination to these and in a way of subserviency to the interest and designs of Christ in all things whether outwarâ— or inward it seeks the glory of God as the ultimate end And in these particulars consists the leadings of the spirit of Christ Rom. 8.16 1 John 5.10 7. The spirit of Christ is a witnessing spirit The spirit it self beareth witness with our spirit that we are the children of God and every one that believeth hath the witness within himself But of this two questions 1. What is this witnessing work of the spirit 2. How doth the spirit thus witness for the first I answer 1. In general witnessing is a giving in some evidence upon our knowledge how the matter in question standeth that thereby others may be ascertained of the truth of the thing Deut. 19.15 John 8.17 At the mouth of two or three witnesses shall the matter be established these words Christ cited and said It is written in your Law that the testimony of two men is true not but that it was certain in it self before but that now by the testim ny of two it is rendred certain unto those that question the same this is witnessing 2. In special The witnessing of the spirit is an Office of the spirit whereby it works the soul into a knowledge perswasion or conclusion of its acceptation into favour with God in Christ Now the spirit witnesseth either objectively or efficiently 1. Objectively When it only affords such special operations as have an aptitude to ascertain the soul but do not ascertain thus many a time the Spirit comes and brings in such and such ascertions or affirmations of our adoption as if they were but duly observed might manifest the same but we over-look these evidences we will not hear what the spirit speaks to us John 3.11 We speak that we know saith Christ and testifie that we have seen but ye receive not our witness so may the spirit complain I have testified to you that which I know I have said that ye were children of God but ye have not received my witness doubtless it is a sinful neglect not to yield attention unto the voyce of the spirit and yet the spirit in this way may be resisted 2. Efficiently and if the spirit witness thus it cannot be resisted in this way the spirit causeth the soul to conclude of its adoption by its speakings to it this is not onely the assertions or affirmations of our adoption but the assurances of our souls that we are adopted Rom. 8.38 Job 19.25 1 John 3.24 I am perswaded saith the Apostle and I know that my Redeemer liveth saith Job And hereby we know that he abideth in us by the Spirit which he hath given us But 2. How doth the Spirit thus witness I answer 1. Immediately 2. Mediately 1. Concerning the immediate testimony of the Spirit there is some controversie Antinomians would have no other testimony but this all other evidences say they are deceiving evidences or if not deceiving yet to make use of them it were but to light a candle to the Sun for what are the graces of the Spirit in comparison of the Spirits own testimony and it may be the running into this extream hath caused others absolutely to deny any such testimony or at least to say for these enthusiasms or inspirations let them boast of them that have them wâ— know no such thing Methinks a middle betwixt both these as it is proved by others is most consonant to truth for neither can I reject the graces of sanctification from being grounds of our assurance neither dare I deny but there is something of the work of the Spirits testimony which is an immediate work Let us hâ—ar what others say of it Certainly there is a work wherein the spirit acts as in illumination and infusion of good motions into us Ford of the Spirit wherein by a secret influence upon the heart he quiets and calms the troubled soul concerning its condition by his own immediate power without any grounds from Scripture without or graces within There is a threefold work of the spirit first to conveigh and plant grace in the soul 2. To act and help us to exercise the graces which are planted there 3. To shine upon and enlighten those graces Caryl on Job chap. 10. this last work the spirit fulfills two wayes first by arguments and inferences which is a mediate work 2. By presence and influence which is an immediate work this the Apostle calls witness-bearing There are three that bear witness in Earth The spirit and water and blood the spirit brings in the witness of Water and Blood which is his mediate work but besides and above these he gives a distinct witness of his own which is his immediate work is in a way of peculiarity and transcendency called the witness of the Spirit As it is with the motions of the spirit many a time the spirit excites a man to such or such duties by laying his hand immediately upon the heart and thereby inclining it to obey those motions so in this case when a poor soul sits in darkness and sees no light Boltons direct for a comfortable walking with God sometimes upon a sudden it is as it were taken up into the third Heaven and this is in such away that though the spirit of a man really believe it and is immediately calmed by it yet it cannot tell how it came to pass There is a Testimony of the spirit which sometimes the spirit may suggest and testifie to the sanctified Conscience with a secret still heart-ravishing voice thus or in the like manner Thou art the child of God thou art in the number of those that shall be savid thou shalt inherit everlasting life and that as certainly and comfortably as if that Angel from Heaven should say to thee as he did to Daniel greatly beloved Mighty and remarkable was the work of the spirit this way upon the heart of that noble Martyr Robert Glover upon the first sight and representation of the stake
Christ's intercession why this is the most perfect and consummate act of Christ's Priestly office this argues thy Christ to be a perfect Mediator and being a perfect Mediator no condition can be desperate And being made perfect saith the Apostle he became the Author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him Heb. 9.5 now therefore lead up thy faith to this blessed object and thou hast under consideration the whole of Christ and the total of Christ's actings in this world from first to last in respect of mediation this is the Coronis the up-shot the period the consummation the perfection of all 8. Faith in going to Christ as interceding for us it is principally and mainly to look to the purpose end intent and design of Christ's intercession now the ends of Christ as in the reference unto us are these 1. That we might have communion and fellowship with the Father and the Son I pray for these that as thou Father art in me and I in thee John 17.21 they also may be one in us 2. That we might have the gift of the Holy Ghost I will pray the Father John 14.16 17. and he shall give you another Comforter that he may abide with you for ever even the Spirit of Truth 3. That we might have protection against all evil John 17.15 I pray saith Christ that thou wouldst keep them from the evil Some may object are not the faithful Subject to evils corruptions and temptations still how then is that part of the intercession of Christ made good unto us I answer the intercession of Christ is presently available only it is conveyed in a manner suitable and convenient to our present condition so as there may be left room for another life and therefore we must not conceive all presently done it is with us as with Malefactors doomed to death suppose the Supreme power should grant a pardon to be drawn though the grant be of the whole thing at once yet it cannot be written but word after word and line after line so the grant of our protection against all evil is made unto Christ at first but in the execution thereof there is line upon line and precept upon precept here a little and there a little we know Christ prayed for Peter I have prayed for thee that thy faith fail not yet Peter's faith did shake and totter the prayer was not that there might be no failing at all but that it might not utterly and totally fail and in that respect Peter was protected Heb. 4.14 16. 4. That we might have free access to the Throne of Grace So the Apostle Seeing then we have a great high-Priest that is passed into the heavens Jesus the Son of God let us hold fast our profession Heb. 10.23 and come boldly to the Throne of grace And again Having therefore boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus and having an high Priest over the House of God let us draw near with a true heart in a full assurance of faith 5. That we might have the inward interpellation of the Spirit which is as it were the Eccho of Christ's intercession in our heart Rom. 8.26 The Spirit maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered It is the same Spirit groans in us which more distinctly and fully in Christ John 17.13 prayeth for us These things I speak in the world saith our Saviour that they might have my joy filled in themselves q. d. I have made this prayer in the world and left a record and pattern of it in the Church that they feeling the same heavenly desires kindled in their own hearts may be comforted in the workings of that Spirit of prayer in them which testifieth to their souls the quality of that intercession which I make for them in the Heaven of Heavens certainly there is a dependance of our prayer on Christ's prayer as it is with the Sun though the body of it abide in the Heavens yet the beams of it descend to us here on earth so the intercession of Christ though as tyed to his person it is made in Heaven yet the groans and desires of the touched heart as the beams thereof are here on earth 6. That we might have the sanctification of our services of this the Levitical Priests were a type Exod. 28.38 Rev. 8.3 For they bear the iniquity of the holy things of the children of Israel that they might be accepted and he is the Angel of the Covenant who hath a golden Censer to offer up the prayers of the Saints Some observe a three-fold evil in man of every of which we are delivered by Christ First an evil of state or condition under the guilt of sin Secondly an evil of nature under the corruption of sin Thirdly an evil in all our services by the adherency of sin for that which toucheth an unclean thing is made unclean thereby Now Christ by his righteousness and merits justifieth our persons from the guilt of sin and Christ by his Grace and Spirit doth in measure purifie our faculties from the corruption of sin and Christ by his incense and intercession doth cleanse our services from the adherency of sin so that in them the Lord smells a sweet favour and both we and our services find acceptance with God 7. That we might have the pardon of all sin It is by vertue of Christ's intercession that a Believer sinning of infirmity hath a pardon of course for Christ is his Advocate to plead his case or if he sin of presumption and the Lord give repentance he hath a pardon at the hands of God the Father by vertue of this intercession in a way of justice And to this end rather is Christ called an Advocate than a Petitioner 1 John 2.1 If any man sin we have an Advocate with the Father The work of an Advocate differs from the work of a Petitioner an Advocate doth not meerly petition but he tells the Judge what is Law and what ought to be done and so doth Christ O my Father saith Christ this soul hath indeed sinned but I have satisfied for his sins I have payed for them to the full now therefore in a way of equity and justice I do here call for this mans pardon If this were not so our estate would be most miserable considering that for every sin committed by us after repentance we deserve to be cast out of the love and favour of God our Father for ever and ever 8. That we might have continuance in the state of grace I have prayed for thee that thy faith fail not Luke 22.32 Some that dissent from us in the point of perseverance object that in our Saviour's Prayer for Peter there was somewhat singular but we say that in this Prayer there is nothing singular which is not common to all the faithful and unto such as are given unto Christ of the Father they
destruction O Christ thou that art the judge of Nations and the revenger of blood reward thou this man as he hath rewarded us he led us in the ways of wickedness and if it must be so let him be our ring-leader to Hell and upon his soul once buryed in Hell let this be the Epitaph the price of blood the price of blood if thou didst hear the blood of Abel being but one man forget not the blood of many now thou art judging the earth Why thus do the damned cry about thine ears and as for us say the Saints who were once thy people but now thy Judges we consent to their cry and to our Saviours doom go ye cursed into everlasting fire Men Brethren and Fathers I begin thus with the Ministers doom that you may see I would deal impartially and verily I believe it if our case come to this we of the Ministry shall be in a thousand times worse condition than any of you for besides the horrour due to the guilt of our own souls all the blood of those souls who have perished under our Ministry through our default will be laid to our charge little do you know or consider the burthen that lies upon us a burthen able to make the shoulders of the most mighty Angel in heaven to shrink under it Chrysostome was a glorious Saint Heb. 13.17 Hujus comminationis terror animum mihi concutit Chrys d yet casting his eye upon one only Text in the Bible Obey them that have the rule over you and submit your selves for they watch for your souls as they that must give account He professeth that the terror of this Text made his heart tremble Surely it is enough to make our hearts tremble if we seriously weigh our terrible doom in case that we should miscarry But now on the other side if the Minister be the Elect and sentenc'd to salvation and many of his people prove no better than Reprobates then shall the Minister say O miserable souls now you feel the truth of those comminations and curses which we opened and unfolded and discovered to you out of God's Word We dealt plainly with you 1 Cor. 6.9 10 11. that the unrighteous should not inherit the Kingdom of God we advised you again and again be not deceived neither Fornicators nor Idolators nor Adulterers nor effeminate nor abusers of themselves with mankind nor Theeves nor Covetuous nor Drunkards nor Revilers nor Extortioners shall inherit the Kingdome of God and such were you and notwithstanding all our threats warnings intreatings beseechings thus ye lived and thus ye dyed and there is the issue Christ now hath doomed you to hell and here am I set on a throne to judge your souls for the Saints shall judge the World as well as Christ himself Oh what shall I do Oh my bowels my bowels here 's a case beyond all the former each of them according to their relations judge another but here 's a multitude not one or two or ten or an hundred but many hundreds or thousands according to the number of such and such Congregations where I have preached In Christ's reasonings with the wicked we have heard of his sayings and their answers and of his replications to their answers much said on both sides to and again I may suppose the like here O what shall I do says the Minister what doom shall I pass on this Assembly of Reprobates can I absolve them whom the righteous God hath condemned can I say come along with me to heaven now Christ hath said go ye cursed into hell and oh now shall I turn my speech from my wonted wooing beseeching intreating exhorting to a direct dooming damning condemning these souls to the pit of hell sometimes indeed I opened to these souls the armoury of God's wrath I thundred and lightned in their Congregations but my design was to fright them out of hell-fire and knowing the terrours of the Lord to have perswaded them towards heaven and heavenly things but now if I speak condemnation no sooner shall I speak but their souls will sink down to hell O miserable souls what shall I say or what can you say for your selves Then shall they answer Oh Sir do not you aggravate the torment by your condemnation the weight of Christ's doom is already unsupportable but will you adde more weight Why remember we are some of us it may be of your flesh and blood many a time you told us that you unfeignedly loved us and that we were dearer to you then all worldly enjoyments many a time you told us that you were willing to spend your self for us as the candle that burns it self to give others light you were pleased to bestow your prayers tears sighs groans for our souls your very Books and Writings were high expressions and abiding monuments of your dear love to us you weighed not your strength and spirits in comparison of our souls and shall this fair comical scean end in a dismal doleful bloody Tragedy would you do or suffer any thing to save us and will you now condemn us Oh forbear Ah no saith the Minister I cannot forbear all is true that you say I loved you dearly and I was willing to spend or to be spent for you but this aggravates the more ah my travail pains books writings words fears sighs groans are in one volume together and this volume has been opened this day and now is the question put what have you profited by all my words prayers tears sighs and groans is not all lost and are not your souls lost and now do you tell me of love what did I ever love you more then Christ loved you were the drops of my tears to be compared with the showers of his blood were my pains for you equal with the pains of his Cross and hath he not condemned you to hell and shall not I be like-minded to Jesus Christ Surely the Lord's will must be my will he hath already judged you and he will make me to judge you so far am I from pitying you that if he that formed you will shew you no mercy if he that saves me and all the Elect people of God will not save you can I pity you or save you or discent from Jesus in his sentence upon you speak no more of flesh and blood of labours of love Christ's Sentence must stand and as I am a member of Christ and a Minister of Christ I cannot but approve of it and so judge you to hell Why then say Reprobates we will curse thee and blaspheme Jesus Christ in hell for ever cursed be the time that ever we heard of Jesus Christ or that ever we knew thee or thy Ministry do not thy Sermons send us deeper into hell had it not been easier for us at this day of judgment if we had lived in Tyre and Sydon where the Gospel never was Preached didst not thou harden our hearts in such and such