from the consideration of their nighness to and mercy they have received from God he thus speaks This I say therefore and testify in the Lord that Ye walk not as other Gentiles walk in the vanity of their mind Eph. 4. 17-20 So the Apostle Peter saith Dearly beloved I beseech you as Strangers and Pilgrims abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the Soul having your conversation honest c. 1 Pet. 2. 9-12 And this will appear if we consider 1. They are called out of darkness out of ignorance and blindness into Gods marvellous light 1 Pet. 2. 9. And therefore it more abundantly behoves them to put off and flee from this work of darkness Ye were sometimes darkness saith the Apostle to these believing Ephesians and then ye walked according to the course of this world c. but now are ye light in the Lord walk as children of light walk not as other Gentiles walk in the vanity of their minds having the understanding darkned being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them because of the blindness of their heart Eph. 5. 8 with chap. 2. 1 2 and 4. 17 18. Indeed this is the condemnation as to men generally this is their condemning-sin and the cause of their condemnation that light is come into the world and men loved darkness rather than light because their deeds are evil Joh. 3. 19 20. But now as to these not only light is come into the world but they are turned from Darkness to light and from the power of Satan unto God as to their state they have believed in the light and are the children of it born of it and called into it indued with the light of the knowledg of God which shines in the face of Christ and therefore it behoves them especially to avoid and abstain from all evil and from this of Intemperance particularly or else they will more highly sin and rebel against the light than others Christ hath given them light let such see then that they walk circumspectly not as fools but as wise Let them not be drunk with Wine Eph. 5. 15-18 Certainly men act as and render themselves to be fools at an high rate especially the Children of Light who are Drunk with Wine and such deeds are directly and openly opposite to the Light they have received and to that Wisdom they are indued with As on the other hand it is an high point of Wisdom and the way to be more wise still for those who are of the light to avoid Wine wherein is excess and such as are Bibbers thereof Hence the Holy Ghost saith My Son if thine heart be wise mine heart shall rejoyce even mine yea my reins shall rejoyce c. But how may the heart of such an one be wise Wherein consists and what is the way to Wisdom The Wisdom of God informs us of this as one thing contained in it and needful to it Hear thou my Son and be wise and guide thine heart in the Way Be not amongst wine-bibbers amongst riotous eaters of flesh Prov. 23. 15-21 This Argument the Apostle also propounds to the Thessalonians to move them to be and abide Sober Ye are all the children of light and the children of the day We are not of the night nor of darkness Therefore let us not sleep as do others but let us watch and be sober For they that sleep sleep in the night and they that are drunken are drunken in the night But let us who are of the day be sober 1 Thes 5. 5-8 And if they be not so who are Children of light but become the servants of corruption as their sin is more sinful than others so their judgment will be much more severe and intollerable For such as these The blackness of darkness is reserved for ever Jude 12 13. For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ they are again intangled therein and overcome the latter end is worse with them than the beginning For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness than after they have known it to turn from the holy Commandment delivered to them 2 Pet. 2. 19-22 The Apostle gives us to understand that the Iniquity of Intemperance in those who are Children of Light is greater than that of other men and answerably their judgement and punishment will be heavier and more terrible if they be not seasonably washed therefrom in that he saith I wrote unto you in an Epistle not to keep company with fornicators yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world or with the covetous c. For then must ye needs go out of the world But now I have written unto you not to keep company If any that is called a Brother be a fornicator or a Drunkard with such an one no not to eat not familiarly to converse or not to eat at the Table of the Lord with such an one as this is 1 Cor. 5. 9-11 Because such sin so greatly against the Light and act so very uusutably unto those principles which they have received of God in walking according whereto they would certainly be preserved from such a brutish and beastly Iniquity as is this of Drunkenness and Intemperance 2. These are Saints by calling and profession washed and sanctified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God and so are brought nigh unto God They are no more strangers and forreiners but fellow-Citizens with the Saints and of the household of God And in Christ they are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit And so are made nigh unto him by the Blood of Christ Eph. 2. 13-19-22 They are brought into and made of his House And holiness becometh thy house O Lord for ever Psal 93. 5. And therefore it doth behove these especially to escape and flee from the corruptions of the world and this also particularly of Insobriety or otherwise they will more abundantly provoke the eyes of his Glory unto whom they are made so nigh Be not unequally yoaked together with unbelievers For what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness and what communion hath light with darkness And what concord hath Christ with Belial whose Children Drunkards are as we have seen Or what part hath he that believeth with an Infidel And what agreement hath the Temple of God with Idols For ye are the Temple of the living God as God hath said I will dwell in them and walk in them c. And if any man defile the Temple of God him shall God destroy For the Temple of God is holy which Temple ye are 2 Cor. 6. 14-16 with 1 Cor. 3. 16 17. The Lord will be sanctified in them that come nigh him Lev. 10. 3 though he hateth sin with a perfect and everlasting hatred in all God is of purer eyes than to behold Iniquity yet
of Wounds as appears Luk. 10. 34 So it is certainly true concerning this Spiritual Wine It is proper to wash us from all our pollution and defilements and to cleanse and heal the Spiritual Maladies of our Souls This is therefore called frequently the Holy Spirit not only to denote that he is so in himself but in his work also to sanctify us by bearing witness of and sprinkling and applying the Blood of the true Vine even of Christ unto us Hence the Apostle declaring what filthy and poluted creatures some of the Corinthians were he saith They were washed and sanctified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God 1 Cor. 6. 9-11 And the Lord doth wash away the filth of the daughters of Zion and purge the blood of Jerusalem by the Spirit of judgment and by the Spirit of burning so that he that is left in Zion and he that remaineth in Jerusalem shall be called holy Isa 4. 3 4. And the Baptist doth declare unto us that this is the work of Jesus Christ to Baptize and wash men with the Holy Spirit Mar 1. 8. And the sanctifying men separating them from their polutions and dedicating them unto God is attributed to the Spirit as his proper work 2 Thes 2. 13. 1 Pet. 1. 1 2. And so also in and by the Gospel of Christ which is called Spirit as we have seen Christ doth give us an escape from the pollutions of the world And it is the power of God to salvation to every one that believeth even to save them from their sins Rom. 1. 16. Now are ye clean saith our Saviour through the word that I have spoken unto you Joh. 15. 1-3 And hereby may a young man who is most apt and inclinable to pollution cleanse his way his works walkings and garments Psal 119. 9 And they that are undefiled and sincere in the way who walk in the Law of the Lord they also do no iniquity Psal 119. 1-3 with Gal. 5. 16 17. Oh! this is Wine indeed to cleanse and rinse us from whatsoever is polluting and defiling to us to wash our Garments and make them white and therefore those who live in the Spirit are instructed to walk in it also whereby they shall be enabled to mortify the deeds of the body and as he who hath called them is holy so also to be holy in all manner of conversation Gal. 5. 25. Rom. 8. 13. 3. Wine moderately taken is proper to quench the thirst and so to allay and remove the torment and affliction thereby caused unto a man which is very great so as it causes their tongues to fail and cleave to the roof of their mouths Isa 41. 17. Lam. 4. 4. Thirst causes the youngest and strongest to faint Amos 8. 13. And even to die Exod. 17. 3. Judg. 15. 8. But now Wine is proper to asswage and quench it Hence it is given as one Branch of the description of Covetous worldly men that have no power to enjoy what God gives them they tread their Wine-presses and suffer thirst Intimating they refrain from and deny themselves that which would quench their thirst Job 24. 11. And the thirsty person is invited to buy Wine to quench his thirst and satisfy him Isa 55. 1 2. So we may say of the Spirit it is Wine in a most eminent consideration in this respect viz. to quench the thirst of the Soul and Spirit which no other Drink or Wine will do all other things are such as will not satisfy but herewith our Souls may delight themselves and be abundantly satisfied even every or any poor thirsty Soul Isa 55. 1 2 3. Hence our Saviour in the last day the great day of the Feast of Tabernacles stood and cried saying If any man thirst which he might do notwithstanding that Feast let him come unto me and drink But this spake he of the Spirit which they that believe on him should receive c. Joh. 7. 37-39 And indeed such is the excellency of this Heavenly and Spiritual Wine that it doth not simply quench the thirst of the Soul but so abundantly satisfy it as that in continually drinking in hereof a man shall be preserved from thirsting after any other Wine and he that cometh unto Christ continually unto whom God hath not given the Spirit by measure shall never thirst Joh. 6. 35. This will take off his desire and appetite from all stolen-waters of Wine of violence from lusting after such things as our natural Spirit is thirsting for As our Saviour saith in another Metaphor Whosoever drinketh of any other water shall thirst again But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him of this Aquavitoe this blessed Spirit Isa 44. 3. shall never thirst to wit after any other kind or number of Drink But the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of living water springing up to everlasting life Joh. 4. 10-13 14. Such shall be inebriated and fully satisfied with the fatness of his house and he will make them drink of the River of his pleasures for with him is the Fountain of life Psal 36. 7-9 Oh! Such a Feast hath God prepared for us in Christ such Wines on the Lees well refined whereto this Holy Spirit is directing us and which it is bringing nigh unto us in the Gospel that were we feeding on and drinking in hereof our Souls would be so contented and satisfied as that all excess in natural Wine or Strong Drink would be bitter to us and we should loath and not lust after perishing deceitful things which cannot profit nor satisfy us because they are vain In Christ whom this Holy Spirit glorifies and of whose things he receives and shews unto us it hath pleased the Father that all fulness should dwell and therefore there is an emptiness in all other things And in drinking in of this Spirit we should be helped to see and say and set our Seals to the truth of that saying of the Wisdom of God by the wisest of meer men Vanity of vanities vanity of vanities all is vanity and vexation of Spirit Eccles 1. 2. and 2. 1 II Colos 1. 19. 4. Because as Wine doth make one forget ones poverty and remember their misery no more Prov. 31. 7 and doth comfort chear and make merry the heart of man Judg. 9. 13. Plal. 104. 15. Eccles 10. 19. So eminently the Spirit is Wine indeed and answers to though it inconceivably excels all other Wine It is proper to heal the broken-hearted and bind up all their griefs and to comfort all that mourn and doth comfort them that drink it in with everlasting Consolations It gives unto them beauty for ashes the Oyl of joy for mourning the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness Isa 61. 1-3 Luk. 4. 18. Hence the Holy Spirit is called the Comforter because it is his work and office to comfort in all tribulations and trials and to make the
unto you Prov. 1. 21-23 So the Lord also saith concerning his people in former times They shall take away all the detestable things and all the abominations thereof And I will put a new Spitit within you But as for them whose heart walketh after the heart of their detestable things and their abominations he will not put a new Spirit within them but saith he I will recompence their way upon their own head saith the Lord God And again I will sprinkle clean water upon you and ye shall be clean from all your filthiness and from all your Idols I will cleanse you And a new Spirit I will put within you And I will put my Spirit within you c. Ezek. 11. 18-21 and 36. 25-27 Oh then to the end we may be filled with this holy and blessed Spirit and drink in and drink abundantly of this Wine let us forsake the foolish both persons and things And let us have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness but rather reprove them Eph. 5. 11-18 Come we out from amongst men and be we seperate and let us touch no unclean thing And this is the way for us to be filled with the Spirit Gen. 6. 3-6 1 Thes 4. 1-8 3. Needful also it is that we may be filled with the Spirit that we be emptied of our selves and of our conceits of our knowledg fulness and sufficiency The full Soul loatheth the Honey-comb But unto the hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet Prov. 27. 7. He filleth the empty and hungry with good things but the rich he sends empty away Luk. 1. 5 3. Wo unto you that are full saith our Saviour for ye shall hunger Luk. 6. 24 25. When men once begin to think and say they are rich and increased with goods and have need of nothing when they conceit they know enough already and need not to receive help from others and that they are already whole and clean Alas this will hinder men from being filled with the Spirit and make them wax wanton against Christ and shut the door against him Rev 3. 17-20 If they think unsoberly of themselves and of their knowledg parts attainments cleanness and uprightness How should they as new-born babes desire earnestly the sincere milk of the word that they may be filled therewith and grow thereby Wo to them that are rich and full in and of themselves But Blessed are they that are empty and who hunger and thirst after righteousness for they shall be filled Matth. 5. 6. While men retain a lie in their right hand and fill their bellies with the wind how shall they receive and be filled with the truth the Spirit of truth we must be emptied of the former that the latter may dwell plentifully in us Isa 44. 20. Men cannot press forward toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ unless they be like-minded with the Apostle namely to count and reckon that they have not yet attained neither are already perfect that they have not yet apprehended Phil. 3. 12-15 Seest thou a man wise in his own eyes there is more hope of a fool than of him Prov. 26. 12. with chap. 29. 22. 4. Needful also it is that we come continually unto Jesus Christ and believe in him that of his fulness we may receive and be filled with this holy Spirit If any man thirst saith our Saviour let him come unto me and drink If any man be empty and sensible of his need and want of his emptiness and incompleatness in himself let him come unto Christ the house of Wine Cant. 2. 4. In whom there is a feast prepared for all nations of fat things of Wines on the lees Isa 25. 6. And let him drink let him take freely of it Rev. 22. 17. But how should such an one come unto him and drink Our Saviour acquaints us how this may be done He that believeth on me as the Scripture hath said out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water saith our Saviour But this spake he of the Spirit which they that believe on him should receive Such an one shall so receive the Spirit as that his belly and inward man shall be abundantly filled with it even as with new Wine Joh. 7. 37-39 And indeed this coming unto him is a believing on him as the Scripture hath said and so according to his word cleaving to and depending on him And in his Word and Gospel there is Christ and his Spirit So that the way to come to Christ and be filled with his Spirit is to receive and let the word of Christ dwell richly in us as hath before been said Ephes 5. 18. with Col. 3. 16. Avoid we then and go from the presence of all strangers that consent not to wholsom words the words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the Doctrine according to godliness Reject all false Doctrines and listen not to them for this Spirit is not in them but another even the Spirit of the Devil and Errour 1 Joh. 4. 1-6 But receive and keep his word in the midst of your hearts as the wisdom of God saith Let thine heart retain my words keep my Commandments and live Prov. 4. 4 5. For his words are Spirit and Life Joh. 6. 63. And having and keeping his Commandments his word God and Christ will by his Spirit come unto us and make their abode with us Joh. 14. 21-23 Come we then unto Christ the fountain of Spirit continually in his Testimony and so he will pour out his Spirit unto us and fill us therewith 5. In an exercise of faith pray we and pour out our hearts unto the Father in the name of Christ for his Holy Spirit and for a plentiful effusion thereof Howl we not firstly for Corn and Wine for the outward man as we are too apt to do But if any of us lack wisdom this Spirit of wisdom as who doth not let him ask of God who giveth liberally to all men and it shall be given him But let him ask in faith nothing wavering Jam. 1. 5 6. I say unto you saith our Saviour ask and it shall be given you seek and ye shall find knock and it shall be opened to you For every one that asketh receiveth And he that seeketh findeth And to him that knocketh it shall be opened If ye being evil know how to give good gifts to your Children How much more shall your Heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him Luk. 11. 7-13 If thou knewest the gift of God saith our Saviour to the Woman of Samaria and who it is that saith unto thee Give me to drink Thou wouldst have asked of him and he would have given thee living water even this good and Holy Spirit Joh. 4. 10. with chap. 7. 37-39 Ask then in Christs name and ye shall receive that your joy in the enjoyment of this Holy Spirit may be full Joh. 16. 24. with Rom. 14. 17.
stubble and the flame consumes the Chaff so their root shall be rottenness c. Therefore is the anger of the Lord kindled against his people and he hath stretched forth his hand against them and hath smitten them c. And threatens to bring upon them Forreiners to wast and destroy them Isa 5. 11-14 22-25-30 Yea indeed he is many times so provoked to anger with men on this account as that especially if they continue in this iniquity he cuts them off even in their sin of Drunkenness as may be intimated unto us in what is said by the Prophet The Lord will make an utter end Affliction shall not rise up the second time For while they be drunken as Drunkards they shall be devoured c. Nahum 1. 9 10. And however persisting in this Iniquity they will hereafter be excluced and shut out of the Kingdom of God Nor drunkards nor revilers c. shall inherit the Kingdom of God 1 Cor. 6. 10. The works of the flesh are manifest which are adultery drunkenness revellings and such like of the which I tell you before as I have also told you in time past that they which do such things shall not inherit the Kingdom of God faith the Apostle Gal. 5. 19-21 All which considerations do shew unto us that the Believers need to be admonished and warned of this Iniquity that they be not Drunk with Wine c. And this Instruction as thus spoken unto may be of usefulness to us 1. To shew unto us That the believers themselves are not while in mortal bodies perfect as to attainment Phil. 3. 12. But they have still the Old-man which is corrupt according to the deceitful Lusts thereof which though Crucified with Christ yet is not whosly destroyed Rom. 6. 6. Therefore are they instructed and incouraged through the Spirit to mortify continually the deeds of the Body that they may live Rom. 8. 13. There is a Generation indeed that are pure and sinless in their own eyes and yet are not washed from their filthiness There is a generation O how lofty are their eyes and their eye-lids are lifted up Prov. 30. 12 13. But it is not so with them that walk in the light as God is in the light they see by the light of Gods testimony and prove by experience that they have sin within them and many fleshly lusts that war against the Soul to abstain from daily ungodliness and worldly lusts to deny and renounce And the consideration hereof causeth them to cry out O wretched men that we are who shall deliver us from this body of death Rom. 7. 14-24 1 Pet. 2. 11. Tit. 2. 11 12. And this leads them to pity others Gal. 6. 1. 2. It shews unto us the mercy of God in giving gifts unto men and fitting them to go before others in the Word of the Lord and to warn them of every path of the Destroyer and such should not be despised but esteemed by us who are faithful in admonishing us of that which is evil and displeasing unto him who is of purer eyes than to behold Iniquity Thus when the Apostle had been warning the Thessalonians of Intemperance and instructing them to Sobriety he gives this exhortation to them And we beseech you Brethren to know them which labour among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you to wit among other things of Drunkenness and Insobriety as appears by the scope of the place And to esteem them very highly in love for their works sake 1 Thes 5. 6 7 8-12 13 for whosoever despiseth them in their faithful admonitions and dehortations despiseth not Man but God who also hath given unto them his Holy Spirit to accompany and assist them 1 Thes 4. 2-4-8 3. Seeing such need to be dehorted from this Iniquity of Drunkenness we may learn from hence That they are no friends to them nor is this love in any whatever pretensions and professions they have and make thereof who entice them to this great and provoking Iniquity They need not be provoked to Insobriety for we are all too forward thereto naturally but dehorted therefrom And therefore it is not loving-kindness but hating-kindness to urge any to eat or drink intemperately and such an Iniquity as wherewith God is provoked Wo unto him that giveth his neighbour drink that puttest thy bottle to him and makest him drunken also that thou mayest look on their nakedness Thou art filled more with shame than with glory c. Habbak 2. 15 16. Though men may pretend this to be liberality and to tend to their glory yet it will appear in conclusion that such glory is their shame and that they call evil good and good evil put darkness for light and light for darkness Isa 5. 20-22 And time will come when the vile person shall no more be called liberoel Isa 32. 5. Whatever appearance of love such may have to us yet indeed it is and is to be esteemed hatred by us for Love worketh no ill to his neighbour Let us then cast off these works of darkness and walk honestly not in rioting and drunkenness Rom. 13. 8-10-13 and rather esteem them to be our friends and reckon them to be lovers of us and kind to us whose work it is to endeavour to preserve us from this and all other crooked-paths whatsoever Prov. 27. 5 6. 4. The consideration hereof might hide Pride from them and help them Not to be high minded but fear Rom. 11. 20. Happy is the man that feareth alwayes but he that hardneth his heart shall fall into mischief Prov. 28. 14. Truly even the Believers have great cause to stand in awe and not to sin for they have sin in them and many enemies that seek the hurt of them and too readily and frequently they offend in many things and therefore it behoves them to fear the Commandment Prov. 13. 13 And suffer the word of Exhortation and not to think themselves to be so strong or wise as that they need no such admonitions But rather to be alwayes jealous of themselves and to seed themselves to eat and drink with fear Jude v. 12 The wise man feareth and departeth from evil but the fool rageth and is confident Prov. 14. 16. Yea indeed it especially behoves them to flee from Intemperance and avoid all occasions thereof Therefore is this Instruction and Counsel given by Wisdom to her Children Hear thou my Son and be wise and guide thine heart in the way be not amongst Wine-bibbers Prov. 23. 19 20. And this leads us to a second Instruction from these words viz. II. In that he saith Be not ye drunk with Wine so he signifieth to us That it doth especially behove them who have heard and believed the word of Truth the Gospel of our Salvation to flee from Drunkenness and if they do not so their Iniquity will be greater more provoking and inexcusable than others and their judgment more terrible and intolerable Hence to such and
them and rose again 2 Cor. 5. 14 15. 1 Pet. 4. 1-3 He partook with us of flesh and blood that he might through death destroy him that had the power of death that is the Devil And deliver them who through fear of death were all their life time subject to bondage Heb. 2. 14 15. God had threatned that in the day man did eat of the forbidden fruit in dying he should dye And by our first Fathers disobedience we fell under the sentence of death And though we might have had a sensible being yet it had heen a miserable one we could have had no comfortable being in this world But now when Christ was interposed and God promised this Seed of the Woman Adam in belief of God's promise of his purpose and grace gives his Wife a new name and called her Eve or Chavah because she was the mother of all living who otherwise had been the mother of all dead Gen. 2. 17 with chap. 3. 15-20 In this was manifested the love of God towards us because God sent his only begotten Son into the world that we might live through him 1 Joh. 4. 9. Joh. 6. 51. Rom. 5. 12-18 And through his precious Blood and powerful Sacrifice God doth us good and fills our hearts with food and gladness We must otherwise have been alwayes and altogether accursed Cursed in basket and cursed in store cursed in our meat and drink cursed in all we had injoyed or partaken of But Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the Law being made a curse for us Gal. 3. 13. And now because he descended into the lower parts of the earth and is ascended up on high and hath led captivity captive and received gifts for men yea for the rebellious also As the consequent and fruit hereof God daily loadeth us with his benefits and is a God of salvation to us And to God the Lord belong the issues from death Psal 68. 18-20 and 85. 10-12 Every creature of God is good for it is sanctified and made clean by the word of God and prayer or intercession as the word signifies that is by the word of God even by Jesus Christ his being made flesh and in that body of his flesh bearing our sins and dying our death in the virtue whereof he is raised again His name is the word of God Heb. 4. 12. Rev. 19. 13. and by his intercession for us 1 Tim. 4. 4 5. And hence we are instructed to give thanks alwayes for all things unto God and the Father in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord Eph. 5. 20. To signify to us that all the mercies we are made partakers of we partake of them upon the account of the Sufferings Sacrifice and Mediation of our Lord Jesus Christ and all mixtures of mercy and compassion in afflictions and deliverance therefrom is because God hath found out a ransom Psal 75. 3-8 Job 33. 19-24 And the end of all his goodness extended and continued to us through our blessed Mediator is to lead us to repentance Rom. 2. 4. 2 Cor. 5. 15. And surely were this heartily minded and considered that our lives and our comfortable enjoyment of Gods mercies are the price of his Blood and Sacrifice and vouchsased to us that we might live not to the lusts of men but to the will of God it would be powerful to preserve us from consuming upon our lusts the good things we receive at so dear a rate Hence the Apostle when he exhorts the Believers to walk honestly not in rioting and drunkenness he to this end instructs them to put on the Lord Jesus Christ Rom. 13. 13 14 and counsels them to walk in the Spirit whose work it is to glorify Christ and receive of his things and shew unto us and saith he Ye shall not fulfil the lusts of the flesh Amongst which are revellings and drunkenness Gal. 5. 16-18-21 And from the consideration hereof that the earth is the Lords even the Lord Jesus Christs and the fulness thereof and that by grace we are made partakers of a comfortable enjoyment of Gods mercies even by the grace of our Lord Jesus who so greatly humbled himself for our sakes And by the grace of God whereby Jesus Christ tasted death for every man The Apostle exhorteth the Believers that whether they eat or drink or whatsoever they did they should do all to the glory of God 1 Cor. 10. 21 26-28-31 And the not considering or taking notice of this is the reason and cause of mens abuse of the good creatures of God and of their consuming them upon their lusts or in the service of their Idols Hence the Lord saith the did not know or take notice that I gave her Corn and Wine and Oyl which they prepared for Baal Hos 2. 6-8 Did we indeed consider at what a dear rate we have all the mercies vouchsafed to us it would powerfully help us thus to say Seeing these are the price of the Blood of my blessed Redeemer shall I abuse and waste that which cost so dear Shall I tread under my feet the precious Blood of Christ God forbid How shall I do such wickedness and sin against the precious Blood and powerful mediation of my Lord who loved me and gave himself for me and affords me these conforts and refreshings that I might live to him that died for me and rose again 2 Cor. 5. 14 15. Rom. 12. 1. 1 Pet. 4. 1-3 Yea indeed now the greatness and preciousness of the sufferings of Christ and the wonderfulness of the grace of God are more brightly manifested and clearly discovered to us than they were in former times and thereby greater obligation is laid upon us now than upon others under the more dark ministration of the Law to flee from the service of our Lusts and Idols Through the tender mercy of our God the day-spring from on high hath visited us To give light to them that sate in darkness and in the shadow of death and to guide our feet into the way of peace Luk. 1. 78 79. Jesus Christ is now evidently set forth before our eyes as one who hath been Crucified for us in which the vileness and odiousness of our sins and vanities is clearly discovered to us Gal. 3. 1 with Rom. 3. 8. The Gospel is preached according to the Revelation of the mystery and the grace of God hath been more clearly revealed than before Christs coming in the flesh yea than before he had poured down and shed forth the Holy Spirit upon his Apostles from Heaven after he ascended on high Therefore now especially it behoves us and we are more powerfully enabled and moved to flee from all Intemperance and the evil fruits thereof The night is far spent the day is at hand let us therefore cast off the works of darkness and put on the armour of light let us walk honestly as in the day-time not in rioting and drunkenness c. Now it is high time for us to
and rejoycing to their Hearts and Spirits But here by is meant the spirit of God 1 Cor. 2. 12 even the holy Spirit the comforter whom the Father hath sent forth in Christ's name to give forth the full of the Testimony and by which we have the Gospel now preached to us according to the Revelation of the mystery and the mystery so opened and made known as in former times it was not made known to the sons of men Joh. 14. 16 17 26. and 15. 26. 1 Pet. 1. 12. Eph. 3. 3-5 And the work of which Spirit is to testifie of Christ Joh. 15. 26. Of his death as actually sustained and overcome of his having been actually raised again from the dead according to the Scriptures of the excellency compleatness and everlasting acceptableness of his own Sacrifice once offered so as there needs no more sacrifice for sin Of his being exalted with and to God's right hand a Prince and Saviour The Saviour of the World in what he hath done and is become The Saviour of all men especially of them that believe in what he is now doing c. Joh. 15. 26. Act. 5. 30-32 Heb. 10. 10-15 1 Joh. 4. 13 14. 1 Tim. 4. 10. And that he shall come again Joh. 16. 13. This Spirit is called and is the spirit of Christ Rom. 8. 9. Phil. 1. 19. Both because it rests upon him immeasurably in the nature of man upon the account of his having been slain for us Mat. 12. 28. Act. 2. 33. Rev. 5. 6. And he hath shed forth and sent him from the Father Luk. 24. 49. Joh. 15. 26. Act. 2. 33. And it is his work and office to glorifie Christ and to take of his things and to shew unto us Joh. 16. 14 15. And in glorifying him in the Testimony as now come forth To reprove and convince the World of sin of righteousness and of judgment and to teach the Believers all things and guide them into all truth and shew them things to come And to be the Comforter of them and Advocate in and for them To be the Spirit of Wisdom and Revelation to them in the knowledg of Christ Eph. 1. 17 18. To bring to their Remembrance and mind them of his sayings Joh. 14. 26. To teach them how to pray and what to pray for as they ought Rom. 8. 26. To give them wherewith to Answer all their Adversaries and Opposers Mat. 19. 19 20. Luk. 12. 11 12. To baptize them into one body and make them to drink into one Spirit one inlightned mind and judgment 1 Cor. 12. 13. Ephes 4. 3-5 To strengthen them that Christ may dwell in their hearts by Faith Eph. 3. 16. To prepare them more and more for an habitation of God Eph. 2. 22. To help them to mortifie their lusts and corruptions Rom. 8. 13. Gal. 5. 16 17. To conform them in beholding Christ's glory in the Gospel into his Image and Likeness 2 Cor. 3. 18. To fill them with the fruits of Righteousness which are by Jesus Christ to the praise and glory of God Gal. 5. 16-22 Eph. 5. 9. To direct them to have their Access through Christ unto the Father at all times and for all things according to his light and direction Eph. 2. 18. To make them useful instruments of good to others among whom they live and unto whom they have opportunity to speak Isa 59. 21. 1 Cor. 12. 7. and so to perfect whatsoever doth concern them All which he doth by his bearing witness of the blood of Christ which hath been shed for mankind and the ends and virtues thereof and the free and immense love and charity of God therein commended to us 1 Joh. 5. 4-6 And because by this holy Spirit in glorifying Christ God doth work all our works in us and perfect all that doth concern us and all is given by this Spirit therefore the spirit is used as a comprehensive word in which all heavenly and spiritual things are contained It is even the whole of and answers unto the blessing of Jehovah as Isa 44. 3 I will pour my spirit upon thy seed and my blessing upon thine off-spring And he is set down as comprehensive of all spiritual good things Hence whereas in one Evangelist Christ saith How much more shall your father which is in heaven give good things unto them that ask him It is thus expressed in another How much more shall your heavenly father give the holy spirit to them that ask him Mat. 7. 11. with Luk. 11. 13. And this was the one thing as it were Christ promised that he would pray for and send unto his Disciples when he was taking his leave of them even the holy spirit Joh. 14. 16 17 26. and 15. 26. and 16. 7-15 Luk. 24. 49. And the spirit is set down as containing the blessing of Abraham as the Apostle intimates in saying Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law being made a curse for us That the blessing of Abraham might be in Christ for the gentiles that we might receive the promise of the spirit through faith Gal. 3. 13 14. And hereby we know that we dwell in him and he in us because he hath given us of his spirit And he that hath not this spirit of Christ whatever else he may have or be possessed of he is none of his in a peculiar consideration 1 Joh. 4. 13. Rom. 8. 9. This is the Spirit here meant and intended by the Apostle of which now in this day the believers receive but a first fruits The harvest thereof is still to be waited for as well as the Adoption the Redemption of the body which is to be given and effected in due time also by this holy Spirit Rom. 8. 11 23. John 6. 63. And by the spirit is also meant together with the former The Gospel of Christ especially as it hath been now preached to us according to the Revelation of the mystery And many times this bears the Name of the Spirit because it hath been given forth by the Spirit and with the holy Spirit came down from Heaven 1 Pet. 1. 12. And the Apostles in preaching it have spoken it not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth but which the holy Ghost teacheth compareing spiritual things with spiritual they spake as the holy Ghost gave them utterance Yea in these last days the Spirit was poured forth more abundantly than in former times especially after Christ's ascension and receit thereof in the nature of man To make known the mystery to the Apostles and by them to us as in former times it was not made known to the Sons of men Act. 2. 1 Cor. 2. 10-12 Eph. 1. 8 9. and 3. 3-5 And with this Gospel of Christ the holy Spirit is present unto the end of the World so as that it is the ministration of the spirit and life 2 Cor. 3. 6 8. And he that ministreth it ministreth the Spirit 2 Cor. 3. 6. Gal. 3. 5. And he
that receiveth this testimony of Jesus receiveth the Spirit Gal. 3. 1 2. And he that rejecteth and despiseth it despiseth and rejecteth the holy Spirit 1 Thes 4. 8. Hence the words which Christ spake unto us are said to be and are spirit and life Joh. 6. 63. And the Apostles were able Ministers of the new Testament not of the letter but of the spirit 2 Cor. 3. 5 6. And the Spirit is said to be the word of God even the Gospel of Christ Ephes 6. 17. And the Testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy Rev. 19. 10. And whereas our Saviour signifies unto us the necessity of a mans being born of the Spirit that he may enter into the Kingdom of God Joh. 3. 5 6 8 the Apostles explicating it unto us shews that the immortal and incorruptible seed is the Gospel 1 Cor. 4. 15. the word of truth Jam. 1. 18 19. the word which by the Gospel hath been preached to us 1 Pet. 1. 23-25 Gal. 4. 21-29 And so also the spirit with which they should be filled is the Word and Testimony of Christ And this understanding of it agrees well with the saying of the same Apostle in another Epistle in which he is speaking to the same purpose as here For whereas here he saith Be ye filled with the spirit speaking to your selves in Psalms and Hymns c. He thus elsewhere expresseth it Let the word of Christ dwell richly in you in all wisdom Teaching one another in Psalms and Hymns c. Compare Eph. 5. 18 19 with Col. 3. 16. 17. And this the spirit wherewith they should be filled the Gospel of Christ and the holy Spirit which breathes therein and always accompanies it and in which he testifies of Christ glorifies him and takes of his things and shews unto us And so we have briefly spoken to the first thing and come to the second viz. II. How or in what respects the Spirit answers unto though yet it infinitely exceedeth Wine It doth appear in the very words that though the Spirit be opposed unto Wine and signified to be exceedingly and inexpressibly better yet there is some answerableness between these two But there is nothing in the Spirit answering to any evil in the Wine Of the former it is said therein is excess but not of the latter we cannot exceed in drinking in the Spirit nor will our being filled therewith lead us to any thing that is displeasing unto God or hurtful unto men But the Spirit doth in many particulars answer unto Wine as that is good and may lawfully and commendably be made use of by us though still as we have said it infinitely exceeds and excels it As to say 1. Wine is the blood of the Vine or Grapes which are the fruit of the Vine it proceeds from the Vine without which we could have no Wine properly so called Gen. 49. 11 12. Matth. 26. 29. So it may be said of the Spirit as sent forth and communicated to us It is the blood or fruit of the Vine of the true Vine which cheareth the heart of God and man even of Jesus Christ who is the true Vine Joh. 15. 1. We could have had no Spirit but by and from him by his having been trodden in the wine-press as it were It is indeed the blood of the Vine the procurement and product of the precious Blood and sufferings of our Gracious and blessed Redeemer It is upon the account of Wisdom's having killed her killing that the Wine is mingled that the Spirit is received into the nature of man that it might be imparted to us and that we have any Gospel or glad tidings preached to us by the messengers Prov. 9. 1-3 So much our Lord Jesus signifies to his Disciples It is expedient for you saith he that I go away that he departed from them by death that he died for our offences and rose from the dead for our justification and went to him that sent him For if I go not away the Comforter this Holy Spirit will not come unto you But if I depart I will send him unto you Joh. 16. 7. The Father hath so loved him that he hath given all things into his hand and particularly given the Holy Spirit unto him without measure to speak and make known Gods words But the reason why he so loved him was because he laid down his life that he might take it again compare Joh. 3. 34 35. with chap. 10. 17. It is because Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures and was raised again and exalted that he hath received of the Father the Holy Spirit which also he shed forth upon his holy Apostles that by them the Preaching might be fully known Act. 2. 31-33 It was upon the Lamb that had been slain that John saw the seven eyes which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth Rev. 5. 6. And because this Spirit is procured for us and dispensed to us by the Blood of this Vine therefore it may be called and included in his Blood as that which is obtained by Blood is called Blood 2 Sam. 23. 16 17. Act. 1. 19. So whereas in one place it is said Come drink of the Wine that I have mingled to wit of his Spirit In another it is said My blood is drink indeed He that eateth my flesh and drinketh my blood dwelleth in me and I in him saith our Saviour compare Prov. 9. 3-5 with Joh. 7. 37-39 and 6. 53. 54-56 Oh! this Spirit is Wine in this respect Wine by way of eminency it is the product of the true Vine who hath been tormented for our transgressions bruised for our Iniquities Hence the Spirit is called as hath been said the Spirit of Christ because obtained by him put upon him and sent forth from him 1 Pet. 1. 11. Rom. 8. 9. Philip. 1. 19. And the Spirit of Gods Son whom he in the fulness of time sent forth made of a woman made under the Law to redeem us that were under the Law Gal. 4. 4 5 6. This is Wine indeed the Blood of the true Vine to him are we beholding for it and have therefore cause to give thanks to God for his unspeakable gift and to do it in the name of our Lord Jesus and so to thank Christ Jesus our Lord who hath been Sacrificed for us that this Wine might be mingled for us and dispensed to us 2 Cor. 9. 15. Eph. 5. 18-20 1 Tim. 1. 13-15 2. As Wine was used to wash away spots from Garments and make them clean and comely for so much appears to be meant by that Prophesy of Jacob concerning Judah He washed his garments in Wine and his clothes in the blood of Grapes Whereto possibly respect may be had in saying They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb who is the true Vine Gen. 49. 11. Rev. 7. 14. And as Wine was used to cleanse away filth the filth
heart merry though heaviness be occasioned to the outward man by the temptations and trials man here meet with Joh. 14. 16. 26. and 16. 7. And he is the Comforter in bearing witness of Christ of his sufferings and the glory which therethrough he hath received Joh. 15. 26. And indeed this Comforter doth glad at the heart those that drink in of his Cup of Consolation in shewing unto them the great abasement of Christ who by the grace of God tasted death for every man and is raised again for their justification and hath offered up himself a spotless Sacrifice unto God through this Eternal Spirit and so hath made peace for us by the Blood of his Cross purged away the guilt of our first sin and sinsuluess so as that it is no longer retained in Heaven against us abolished our first death and destroyed him that had the power of death that is the Devil taken out of the way all contrary to us c. And the Law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus doth make them free from the Law of Sin and Death that walk after it Rom. 8. 1-3 As well as also it shews unto us that our loss is recovered and all fulness treasured up in Christ that we might be brought back to God That by his own Sacrifice once offered he hath obtained plenteous Redemption even the forgiveness of sins for ever whereof the Holy Ghost is a witness to us and that God hath given to us eternal life and this life is in his Son Heb. 10. 10-15-18 1 Joh. 5. 6-11 That in him all things are ready and prepared for us even all things pertaining to life and Godliness That in him there is a feast of fat things prepared for all people of wines on the lees of fat things full of marrow of wines on the lees well refined In him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily and in him is all compleatness for us And the Spirit and the Bride say come Isa 25. 6. Col. 2. 9 10. Rev. 22. 16 17. Oh! what joy hath this found of the Spirit caused to those amongst whom it hath been sounded Act. 8. 5-8 and how hath their hearts been comforted and helped to rejoyce with joy unspeakable and full of glory who have received and been made to drink into this one Spirit And Blessed are the people that know this joyful sound In thy name they shall rejoyce all the day-long Psal 89. 15 16. Indeed the natural Wine exceedingly falls short of this herein though that be proper to comfort and chear the natural Spirit of a man yet the Soul in a Spiritual consideration may be overwhelmed with sorrow and sadness mean time But this Spirit will fill the heart with solid and durable joy and the heart of such as drink it in shall rejoyce and their joy no man taketh from them Joh. 16. 22. with chap. 14. 16-18 And though the believing Thessalonians received Christs Gospel in much affliction yet also they received it with joy of the Holy Spirit 1 Thes 1. 6. And though now the dayes were evil in which the Apostle writes to these Ephesians sinful dayes and dayes of affliction both which cause sorrow yet now he gives this exhortation and instruction to them Be ye filled with the Spirit and signifies in what follows that this would apt and dispose them to Sing and make melody in their hearts to the Lord Eph. 5. 18 19. Oh! this is Wine indeed that will make the heart truly solidly and everlastingly merry and chearful and comfort it with everlasting consolations and good hope through Grace well therefore may it be likened to Wine 5. Wine is that which is proper to deliver the natural Spirit of a man from his fears and timerousness and to make one bold courageous against ones enemies and notwithstanding any cause or occasion of fear Hence we have such expressions used Like a mighty man that shouts by reason of Wine And he smote his enemies in the hinder parts he put them to a perpetual reproach Psal 78. 65 66. They shall devour and subdue with sling-stones and they shall drink and make a noise as through wine Zech. 9. 15. And they of Ephraim shall be like a mighty man and their hearts shall rejoyce as through Wine chap. 10. 5-7 And so it is an usual thing now in our dayes that men may be delivered from fears to drink Wine or Strong Drink And indeed the Spirit is Wine in an eminent consideration in this respect namely it is that which doth strengthen against and deliver from fears those that drink it in For God hath not given us the Spirit of fear or cowardize but of power of love and of a sound mind Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of the Lord But be thou partaker of the afflictions of the Gospel according to the power of God 2 Tim. 1. 7 8. Rom. 8. 15. And whose hearkeneth unto Christ the Wisdom of God receives and entertains his Gospel and turns at his reproofs To such an one he will pour out his Spirit and make known his words And he shall dwell safely and shall be quiet from the fear of evil Prov. 1. 20 21-23 33. Hence as the Lord saith to his people in former times My Spirit remaineth among you fear ye not Hag. 2. 5. So when he sent his Apostles to preach the Gospel in all the world he first tells them they should be indued with power after the Holy Spirit was come upon them and then should be his witnesses being thus strenghened and imboldened as well as fitted and furnished Act. 1. 8. Truly we may say This Holy Spirit in glorifying Christ and shewing unto us that he is indeed the Saviour of the world In bearing witness of that plenteousness of redemption and everlasting righteousness that is in him and the love of God manifested in Christ and that he is Love and Charity it self hereby casteth out all fear all fear that hath torment out of the hearty Believer hereof as with respect to God and saves them from his wrath and from the fears thereof And such receive not the Spirit of bondage to fear but the Spirit of Adoption the Spirit of child-like boldness and confidence to approach through Christ by this Spirit unto the Father and so unto the Throne of Grace and to cry Abba Father 1 Joh. 4. 14-18 19. Rom. 8. 15. Gal. 4. 4-6 Eph. 2. 18. Psal 49. 5. And by this Holy Spirit we may be delivered from the fears of death and though we walk in the midst of the valley of it yet to fear none evil because in the Light and by the Testimony of the Spirit we may see that Christ hath abolished it and destroyed him that had the power of it that is the Devil And will in due time destroy it utterly even this first death Heb. 2. 14 15. Psal 23. 4. 2 Tim. 1. 7-10 And in drinking in and walking after this Spirit we shall
especially in any large measure will enflame the natural heart with love and lustings towards the proper object thereof And therefore David that he might cover his great evil and iniquity made Uriah to eat and drink yea he made him drunk As knowing this was the way to cause him to go down to his Wife and lye with her and though David's policy herein failed him yet therein is signified that this was a proper means to bring to pass his evil and naughty intendment 2 Sam. 11. 11-13 So we may say this Spirit is by way of eminency Wine that wherewith being filled we shall be enflamed with heavenly and Divine Love Hence this Spirit is called the Spirit of Love 2 Tim. 1. 7 and the Love effected in the Believers is called their love in the Spirit Colos 1. 8 and to move the Believers to walk in the Spirit the Apostle tells them The fruit of the Spirit is love This is that which the Holy Spirit doth produce in them in whom it is and abides Gal. 5. 16-22 And so this Spirit doth enflame the heart with love to Jesus Christ and God in him It doth discover make known and shed abroad the love of God in the heart of the Believer even that love that while we were yet without strength in due time Christ died for the ungodly the Spirit causes to appear the kindness and love of God to man ward in sending his Son the Saviour of the world and of Christ in laying down his life for us and tasting death by the grace of God for every man That this love being seen known and believed by us we might love him who hath so testified love to us with all our hearts and hereby is their love made perfect who know and believe it and that God is love so as they love him because he first loved them Rom. 5. 5-8 Tit. 3. 4 5. 1 Joh. 4. 13-16 17-19 Hereby he makes them sick of love and helps them to cleave to him in love with full purpose of heart Cant. 2. 3 4 5. And in discovering of the excellency and comeliness of Christ of the plenteousness of Redemption in him by his blood even the forgiveness of our sins of the everlasting righteousness brought in by and treasured up in him of the treasures of wisdom and knowledg hid in him of that eternal life given us in him and all things pertaining to life and godliness of the favour of his good ointments wherewith he is anointed as the great Apostle and High-Priest yea of his compleat perfect and universal loveliness hereby the Spirit renders him as an object worthy to be delighted in by the Soul And therefore do the virgins love him He is the He whom their Souls love Cant. 1. 3 4. and 5. 8-16 And this Love is such as is clean and leads to the abhorring all that is evil even whatsoever is forbidden by the Lord and discovered by the light the Spirit in the Testimony to be displeasing and offensive to the beloved Hence whereas God in giving forth his Law at first saith Thou shalt have no other gods before me Thou shalt not make to thy self any graven Image c. Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain Remember the Sabbath-day to keep it holy c. all is summed up in this short saying elsewhere Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart and soul and mind and strength Exod. 20. 3-11 with Deut. 6. 4 5. Matth. 22. 36 37. To signify that the love of the Spirit is such as is exercised in abstaining from and denying all ungodliness and in cleaving unto and following whatsoever is well-pleasing in the sight of the Lord and this Spirit is also purifying the heart from all unclean and filthy love in obeying the truth unto the unfeigned love of the Brethren that they might love one another with a pure heart fervently 1 Pet. 1. 22. 1 Joh. 3. 16-18 And this Love thus begotten even by the Spirit in commending Gods love in Christ worketh no ill to ones neighbour and so preserves from Murder Uncleanness Thest bearing False-witness Covetousness Rioting and Drunkenness or any other thing that is contrary to sound Doctrine Rom. 13. 8-13 And also this Spirit in discovering the greatness and extensiveness of the Love of Christ to wit that this One died for all constrains the Believers thereof to love all men even their enemies also Mat. 5. 44 45. 2 Cor. 5. 14 15. 8. Wine is proper to make men free to speak it causes them to be talkative to open their mouths freely in discoursing or speaking about any matter or business So Elihu saith Behold my belly is as Wine which hath no vent it is ready to burst like new bottles I will speak that I may be refreshed I will open my lips and answer And that which made him so free to speak was this Spiritual Wine we are speaking of He was full of matter and the Spirit within him did constrain him Job 32. 17-20 And thus it was with the Apostles and the residue of the Believers when the Holy Spirit was poured down from on high upon them They were all filled with the Holy Ghost and began to speak c. They did freely declare the wonderful works of God And though some foolish ones mocking said These men are full of new wine because they were so free in speaking yet as Peter saith These were not drunken with Wine as they supposed But this was that which was spoken by the Prophet Joel It shall come to pass in the last dayes saith God I will pour out of my Spirit c. Act. 2. 1-4-11-13-17 18. This Spirit will apt and enable us to speak not as men filled with Wine do to wit vain and unprofitable things But it will help us to speak unto God and to pray unto him in Christs name for what we want And to give thanks unto him alwayes for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ Eph. 5. 18-20 The Spirit in opening the things of Christ unto us 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 that cannot be uttered And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit because he maketh intercession according to God Rom. 8. 26 27. And this Spirit will apt and incline us to be speaking unto our selves in Psalms and Hymns and Spiritual songs Eph. 5. 18 19. To be teaching and admonishing one another Col. 3. 16. And to speak unto others even all men or any man we have opportunity to converse with that will hear To speak unto them and make mention of the sufferings of Christ and what he hath thereby done and obtained into himself for every poor sinful creature of mankind And the love of God manifested in Christ to man-ward And in all to make mention of Gods righteousness even of his
sanctified in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ and by the spirit of our God 1 Cor. 6. 11. Joh. 13. 8 Unto him as our redemption to free us and set us at liberty in our minds from all bondage and thraldom whatsoever whether to sin death Satan an evil conscience Law world or whatever we are naturally inslaved withal Joh. 8. 31 32 36. Rom. 8. 1 2 3. Gal. 5. 1 13. 1 Cor. 1. 29-31 The work of this Holy Spirit is to lift up and glorify Jesus Christ that we may run unto him continually as to that good and only foundation of faith and hope Isa 28. 16. 1 Pet. 2. 4-7 As to the fountain of light and teaching who is the light of the world the Son of righteousness Joh. 8. 12. Matth. 4. 2. To him as the matter of our feeding who is the living bread and the bread that he giveth is his flesh which he hath given for the life of the world Joh. 6. 35. 51-58 So as to have our life in him and he to be our life the life of our Souls and Spirits to be our self as it were Gal. 2. 20. Colos 3. 3 4. And they are in some measure filled with this Spirit who are not led by themselves as men but led and guided by this heavenly Wine so as they suffer the loss of all things and go on to count them as dung that they may gain Christ and be found in him that Christ may be all unto them as the life of their Spirits Philip. 3. 7-9 When they are overcome of this Spirit and subdued and conquered by it to be under its regiment and government and being brought out of themselves are translated and removed into Jesus Christ who is the beginning of the creation of God And so live in the Spirit Gal. 5. 25 and are new Creatures 2 Cor. 5 14 17. Eph. 2. 10. and helped to reckon themselves in and after Jesus Christ Rom. 6. 3-11 Col. 2. 12. And then men may be said to be Filled with the Spirit when they grow up into the knowledg of Christ in all things so as that He in the full of the Testimony is formed in them Gal. 4. 19. And they are filled with the knowledg of Gods will in all wisdom and Spiritual understanding Col. 1. 10. And have through the knowledg of Christ in the Gospel a right judgment concerning all things effected in them He that is Spiritual judgeth discerneth all things yet he himself is judged discerned of no man 1 Cor. 2. 13-15 16. and chap. 3. 1 2. For this the Apostle prayes for these Ephesian Believers that the God of our Lord Jesus the Father of Glory would give unto them the spirit of wisdom and Revelation in the knowledg of Christ the eyes of their understandings being enlightned that they might know what is the hope of his calling c. This he prayed for them who were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise after they believed Eph. 1. 13-17 18-23 and 4. 30. And when as the consequent of the former the Believers are established in the faith and rooted and grounded in Jesus Christ standing fastly and firmly in him For this the Apostle also prays for these Believers That God would grant them according to the riches of his glory to be strengthned with might by his spirit in the inner man that Christ migh dwell in their hearts by faith That they being rooted and grounded in love might be able to comprehend with all Saints what is the breadth and length and depth and height and to know the love of Christ which passeth knowledg That so they might be filled whth all the fulness of God Eph. 3. 16 17-19 And unto this the Apostle exhorts the believing Colossions that they would walk in Christ rooted and built up in him and established in the faith as they had been taught c. Colos 2. 6 7. And when also with the former they are filled with joy and spiritual mirth and have a merry heart effected in them rejoycing in Christ Jesus rejoycing with joy unspeakable and full of glory and having no confidence in the flesh rejoycing in Christ in his Cross and what he hath thereby done for us and obtained into himself and is become and is and in what he is now doing both from Heaven in the name of the Father and in the anointing of the Holy Spirit to us and in Heaven with the father for us and what he will do hereafter As a man when he is in Wine his heart is made merry and chearful therewith he remembers not his former or present poverty affliction and misery but he sings and rejoyces So also it is here in a spiritual consideration This Heavenly Wine being largely drunk in by us will cause our hearts to rejoyce as through Wine even to rejoyce in the Lord Zech. 10. 7. So here the Apostle exhorts these Believers Be ye filled with the spirit singing and making melody in your hearts c. Eph. 5. 18 19 Giving thanks alwayes for all things not only at some times and for such things as our natural spirit is desiring and pleased withall but for those things which seem to be grievous unto us also unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ vers 20. In being filled with this Spirit they are filled with joy and peace with joy in the Holy Ghost Rom. 14. 17. and 15. 13. And whatever occasions of sorrow and sadness they have as with respect to the temptations trials and troubles which they here meet with and depravations which are ordered to them Though their belly trembles and lips quiver and rottentess enters into their bones c. Yet they rejoyce in the Lord and joy in the God of their salvation and even glorify him in the fires Habbak 3. 16-19 Isa 24. 7-14 15 1 Pet. 1. 6-8 Psal 89. 15. 16. Prov. 15. 15. And then they may be said to be Filled with the Spirit when they walk in Christ Jesus as they have received him and through this blessed Spirit crucify continually the lusts and affections of the Flesh Mortify their members which are upon the earth then are they led by this holy Spirit as the Apostle signifies when he saith If ye through the spirit do mortify the deeds of the body ye shall live For as many as are led by the spirit of God they are the Sons of God intimating to us that such as these are in and led by the Spirit Rom. 8. 7-9 13 14. Walk in the Spirit and ye shall not fulfil the lusts of the flesh Gal. 5. 16 17. If we live in the Spirit let us also walk in the Spirit let us not be desirous of vain-glory provoking one another envying one another vers 24 25 26. To this the Apostle exhorts these Believers That they put off as concerning the former conversation the old man which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts To put away lying To be angry
seen and said before The Gospel of Christ and Spirit therein may be received by men and the Spirit in the Testimony may be in them though yet they are not in it not so overcome led enlightned established and framed thereby to the mind of Christ as might be desired and ought to be endeavoured And Christ will not break the bruised reed nor quench the smoaking flax or dimly-burning week but nourish and cherish every little spark Be we more like-minded after the example of our Lord Jesus Christ that we may not despise the day of small things nor discourage but support the weak Zech. 4. 10. 1 Thes 5. 14. 4. It may exhort and provoke us all to come unto Christ and drink and drink in abandantly of the Wine which is in him for us That we may grow thereby and increase with the increase of God Joh. 7. 37-39 He that cometh unto him continually shall never thirst but his Soul shall be abundantly satisfied and his faith shall grow exceedingly and his charity towards all men and especially towards the Brotherhood shall abound But to this we shall have occasion to speak afterwards II. A second Instruction we may note from these words is That the Believers cannot fill themselves with the Spirit they have no sufficiency hereto of themselves as of themselves Therefore he saith not fill your selves but Be ye filled with the Spirit They have not the fountain of Spirit in themselves The Spirit is not put upon them for themselves but it is given unto and resteth upon Jesus Christ Isa 11. 1-3 and is put upon him that he might dispence thereof unto us This was he saith the Baptist of whom I spake He that cometh after me is preferred before me for he was before me And of his fulness have all we Prophets and holy ones received and grace for grace Joh. 1. 15 16. In him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily And in him ye are compleat Col. 1. 19. and 2. 3 9 10. God hath not given the Spirit by measure unto him but hath immeasurably filled him therewith And to that end he hath so done that he might pour forth thereof to us according to our needs and capacities Joh. 3. 34 35. Isa 42. 1. Upon this stone this precious corner-stone and sure foundation this Stone which the builders disallowed and which is now become the head of the corner are the seven eyes even the seven spirits of God which are sent forth into all the earth Zech. 3. 8 9. and 4. 10. with Rev. 5. 6. Indeed in us that is in our flesh in us as of us we have no good thing dwelling we have all sinned and are come short of the Glory of God But our Lord Jesus hath restored that which he lost not and recovered by his Blood and is possessed of all fulness for us being glorified with the Father 's own self with the glory which he had with him besore the world was Joh. 17. 4 5. He hath the seven spirits of God Rev. 3. 1. And from him the Apostles received the Holy Spirit And unto every one of us it is given according to the measure of the gift of Christ Eph. 4. 7-10 And this Instruction might be of usefulness unto us all 1. To hide Pride from us and preserve or deliver us from boasting of or glorying in our selves for wherein are we to be accounted of Isa 2. 22. Who maketh thee to differ And what hast thou that thou didst not receive Now if thou didst receive it why dost thou glory as if thou hadst not received it 1 Cor. 4. 7. The blessing of Abraham is in Christ for us Gentiles that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith Gal. 3. 13 14. To him are we beholding for all and none can fill themselves with this Holy Spirit out of their own store For we are poor empty creatures destitute of all spiritual good Job 11. 12. We cannot furnish or fill our selves with this blessed Wine but need continually to be supplied therewith from Jesus Christ Philip. 1. 19. Where is boasting then it is excluded We neither have this good Spirit of our selves nor can we purchase it by any price of ours that we can give to God But it is the gift the free gift of our Lord Jesus Christ and of God in and through him Act. 5. 32. and 8. 20. 1 Joh. 3. 24. 2. This may also warn and admonish us to take heed heed that we sin not against Christ Oh! let us all beware of him and not provoke him but obey his voice lest he withhold or withdraw his good Spirit from us for his it is primarily properly and fully So he saith to the Angel of the Church in Sardis These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God Remember how thou hast received and heard and hold fast and repent If therefore thou shalt not watch I will come upon thee as a thief c. I will take away mine Holy Spirit from thee which I have given unto thee and which thou hast so much and so often grieved and sadned Rev. 3. 1-3 Psal 51. 11. And if he take it away from us no man hath power over the Spirit to retain the Spirit Eccles 8. 8 nor can we fill our selves therewith by any wisdom strength or works of righteousness of ours It is not received nor can we fill our selves therewith by any works of the Law Gal. 3. 2. Oh then let us take heed and beware that we sin not against Jesus Christ But let us Kiss the Son and be ruled and ordered by him lest he be angry and we perish from the way Psal 2. 12. III. We may also note from this Exhortation in that he saith Be ye filled with the Spirit That God is so giving his Holy Spirit to them that obey him that they might be filled therewith Act. 5. 32. He is not like unto them that say Be ye warmed and filled and yet give them not needful things Jam. 2. 16. He saith not Be ye filled with the Spirit and yet withholds it from them or gives it not unto them so as they might obey his exhortation But He gives liberally to all men and upbraids not Jam. 1. 5. He who loveth a chearful giver is himself a chearful and liberal giver and dispenser of his Holy Spirit to them that believe in him Joh. 7. 37-39 He will pour out his Spirit unto such as hearken to him and receive his Gospel and make known his words unto them as he hath promised both to the Jews and Gentiles Prov. 1. 20-23 Act. 2. 38 39 his readiness to dispence his Spirit is manifested and evidenced to us in that he hath at so dear a rate prepared it for us and caused it to rest upon his Son to that end that it might be made communicable and be poured forth unto us he hath killed his killing He hath not spared his own Son but delivered him up for
us all and raised him again and put his Spirit upon him and poureth forth thereof to men preventingly that they might come unto Christ and dispenseth it plentifully and gives it to them richly with Christ who receive him that they might be filled therewith Rom. 8. 32. Indeed they have not this Holy Spirit in themselves as of themselves nor can fill themselves therewith But this needs be no discouragement to us for it is in his hand who is graciously affected toward us and is a bountiful giver to us according to our capacities to the end we might be filled therewith nor is it good or safe for us to conclude that he gives it not because we have it not for he gave it unto his people in former times his good Spirit to instrust them and withheld not Manna from their mouths nevertheless they were disobedient and rebelled against him Neh. 9. 20-26 Isa 63. 10. IV. And lastly In this Exhortation we may also learn that there is somewhat required of the Believers that they may be filled with this Holy Spirit Therefore he saith Be ye filled with the Spirit Indeed they cannot fill themselves with it by any wisdom or strength of theirs as we have seen before But yet this Commandment is given unto them by the Lord Jesus and they are exhorted to be filled with it So in many things in which there are passives there is yet somewhat required of them in the light and strength of Gods grace They cannot save themselves yet it is required of men to look unto Christ and be saved Isa 45. 22. They cannot reconcile themselves to God and yet it is said We pray you in Christs stead be ye reconciled unto God 2 Cor. 5. 18 20. Men cannot regenerate themselves but of Gods own will he begets with the word of truth and yet our Saviour saith Ye must be born again Jam. 1. 18. with Joh. 3. 7. So we may say here they cannot fill themselves but yet it is required of them Be ye filled with the spirit and so to this end and purpose that they may be filled with it it is needfull for them 1. To hear wisdom and watch daily at her Gates and wait at the posts of her doors To hearken diligently unto Christ as he is speaking unto us by his Gospel and to frequent the assemblies of his people for where two or three of them are gathered together in his name he hath promised he will be in the midst of them Prov. 8. 32-35 Mat. 18 20. Drunkards love their own company such as they call Good-fellows and by frequenting their companies they are the more provoked to drink and drink largely and the way for us to be filled with the Spirit is not to forsake the assembling of our selves together but to gather together and be together as oft as we may For there hath God commanded the blessing even life for evermore Psal 133. 3. And to that end it is needful for us to redeem the time from other business and employment that we may wait upon the Lord without distraction Ephes 5. 16. If two lie together then they have heat warmth and Spirit But how can one be warm alone Eccl. 4. 11. Thus it is said When the disciples of Christ were all with one accord in one place suddenly there came a sound from Heaven as of a mighty rushing wind And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit c. Act. 1. 13 14. and 2. 1-3 42-47 Those that be planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the Courts of our God They shall be fat and green To shew that the Lord is upright c. Psal 92. 13-15 A day in his Courts is better than a thousand elsewhere For the Lord God is a Sun and shield He will give grace and glory and no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly Psal 84. 4 5-10 11. 2. Needful also it is to the end we may still and further be filled with the Spirit that we part with and let go the things reproved by the Gospel and which he is discovering to be sinful and poluting to us as here he saith All things that are reproved are made manifest by the light for whatsoever doth make manifest is light Wherefore be saith Awake thou that sleepest and arise from the dead both persons and things and Christ shall give thee light See then that ye walk circumspectly c. Eph. 5. 13-18 As signifying to us that this is the way to be enlightned by and filled with the Spirit To abstain from those things and persons which are evil and hurtful to us and manifested so to be by the light of Gods Testimony And in this verse we are speaking to he first gives this Admonition Be not drunk with Wine wherein is excess before he saith Be ye filled with the Spirit to give us to understand that we cannot be filled with both but we must abstain from the former that we may be filled with the latter For whoredom and wine and new-wine take away the heart from the mindfulness of the things of the spirit and from the receiving and drinking them in Hos 4. 11. And provoke God to withhold and withdraw his good Spirit from them so as such are inclined unto and polluted with this Iniquity They are all blind they are all ignorant they are such as cannot understand Isa 56. 10-12 Yea indeed needful it is to deny and mortify our members upon the Earth generally and to abstain from all fleshly lusts for they war against the good and prosperity of the Soul 1 Pet. 2. 11. Hence the Apostle exhorts these believers To put off concerning the former conversation the old man which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts To put away lying To be angry and not sin not to steal To let no corrupt rotten communication proceed out of their mouth To let all bitterness anger wrath and clamour and evil-speaking be put away from them with all malice or else they would grieve and sadden the Holy Spirit of God and cause him to depart from them For he is an holy Spirit and will not dwell or abide richly in them that willingly entertain and retain what is reproved filthy and unclean Ephes 4. 22-31 1 Sam. 15. 23. with chap. 16. 14. Genes 6. 3. As is said concerning Gods people in former times They rebelled and vexed his holy spirit therefore he was turned to be their enemy and he fought against them Isa 63. 10. Needful therefore it is that we may be filled with this holy Spirit that we daily and continually lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness and flee from the things which God is faulting by his Spirit in his Testimony And then he will largely dispence unto us this blessed Spirit that we may be filled with it according to that Turn you at my reproof Behold I will pour out my Spirit unto you I will make known my words
1 Thes 1. 6. For this the Apostle made mention of these Believers in his prayers That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ the Father of Glory would give them the Spirit of wisdom and Revelation in the knowledge and for the acknowledgment of him The eyes of their understanding being enlightned that they may know what is the hope of his calling and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the Saints c. Eph. 1. 16-19 And good encouragement have we to pray that we may be filled with this blessed Spirit because our Lord Jesus the last Adam who by the Grace of God tasted death for every man and is raised again for their justification is made a quickening Spirit 1 Cor. 15. 45. And hath the Spirit given immeasurably to him Joh. 3. 34 35. And also prays the Father to give the Holy Spirit to them that ask it in his name while they pray on earth he prayes in Heaven for them And hath also promised that abiding in him and his words abiding in them they may ask what they will and it shall be done unto them He will do it for them Joh. 14. 13-16 17. and chap. 15. 7. Oh then Restrain we not our prayers but as he hath encouraged and given us liberty let him see our countenance and hear our voice And let us come boldly to the throne of Grace that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in the time of need Cant. 2. 14. Heb. 4. 14-16 6. And lastly That we may be more and more abundantly filled with the Spirit walk we in and after it mind we the things of the Spirit the things of Christ which the Spirit takes and shews unto us And be we led by the Spirit and yield up to his operations so shall we not fulful the lusts of the flesh Gal. 5. 16. But be helped continually to mortify them and put them to death Rom. 8. 13. Col. 3. 5. And whatever this Holy Spirit is working in us to will and do let us do all things without murmuring and disputing It will produce nothing hurtful in us For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth Eph. 5. 8 9. Oh! Quench not this Spirit but let it inflame your hearts with love to Christ and God in him and to Men and Brethren according to his Instructions and operations and fill you with joy and peace in believing And effect in you Long-suffering gentleness goodness faith meekness temperance Gal. 5. 16-22 And smother not this blessed Spirit but work out that Salvation he is working in you with fear and trembling make confession and hold forth the profession of the faith unto salvation without wavering And fear not the reproach of men nor be afraid of their fear Follow the leading of this Spirit without doubting where-ever or unto whatsoever it leads you Act. 11. 12. Rom. 8. 14. Have in usefulness what God hath given to you For to him that hath shall be given and he shall have more abundantly But from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath Matth. 13. 12. And sow to this blessed Spirit in labours of love according to your capacity and ability make not your bellies your gods For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption everlasting corruption But he that soweth to the spirit shall of the spirit reap life everlasting And let us not be weary in well doing for in due season we shall reap if we faint not As we have therefore opportunity let us do good to all men especially to the houshold of faith Gal. 6. 6-10 If thou draw out thy soul to the hungry and satisfy the afflicted soul Then shall thy light rise in obscurity and thy darkness shall be as the noon-day And the Lord shall guide thee continually and satisfy thy Soul in droughts and make fat thy bones And thou shalt be like a watered garden and like a spring of water whose waters fail not Isa 58. 7-11 Consider what is said and the Lord give us understanding in all things And the Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the Love of God and the Communion of the Holy Ghost be with us all Amen The END
and not sin c. Eph. 4. 22-30 31. And when also they so drink in of this Wine as that they are filled with the fruit of the Spirit with love joy peace long-suffering gentleness goodness faith meekness temperance against which the Law is not The fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth Gal. 5. 16-22 Eph. 5. 8 9. And have the righteousness of the Law fulfilling in them more and more Rom. 8. 3 4. And are seeking after and setting their affections upon things above where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God having their conversation not on earth but in Heaven Col. 2. 12. and 3. 1-5 Philip. 3. 7-9-20 And when they are led by this Spirit and overcome thereby to speak unto and to be teaching and admonishing one another sounding forth Gods praises holding forth the word of life in word and conversation holding fast and holding forth the profession of their faith and hope without wavering without fear of men or their fear without fear of amazement speaking the word of Christ and walking in his way and as he hath left us an example with boldness and confidence and chearfully and confidently enduring whatever they may meet with and undergo taking joyfully the spoiling of their goods for Christ and his Gospel sake so as walking in the wisdom and humility of Christ not being moved by any thing they suffer nor counting their lives dear to themselves that they may finish their course with joy when they are so filled with Christ's Gospel as that it is a burning fire shut up in their bones and they are even constrained to speak what they have seen and heard Psal 39. 1-3 Jer. 20. 7-11 Act. 2. 11-13 The being filled with the Spirit is to be imboldned by it as Esth 7. 5. So of the Apostles and Believers it is said They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and they spake the word of God with boldness And with great power gave the Apostles witness of the Resurection of the Lord Jesus c. Act. 4. 30 31 32. and vers 20. Mic. 3. 8. To which we shall not enlarge any further because we have spoken so largely in shewing the answerableness of the Spirit unto Wine before nor indeed am I in a meet capacity to speak any thing hereabout because I am not filled therewith my self and therefore do but darken Counsel by words without knowledg IV. We come in the last place briefly to note some Instructions from this Exhortation of the Apostle Be ye filled with the Spirit Namely I. That even the Believeres themselves which have received the Holy Spirit and have been sealed therewith unto the day of Redemption may not be filled or so filled with the Holy Spirit as God would have them to be as is before signified in what we have said These were Believers and had received this good Spirit in some measure and yet they are instructed and exhorted to be filled therewith and made more spiritual thereby The Believing Corinthians were Baptized into one body and made to drink into one Spirit and yet they were not filled with the Spirit For the Apostle could not speak unto them as unto spiritual ones but as carnal as unto Babes in Christ 1 Cor. 12. 13. with chap. 3. 1-3 The Believing Hebrews though in receiving the word of Christ they received his Spirit yet alas they still needed to be taught which were the first principles of the Oracles of God and were become such as had need of Milk and not of strong meat Through their dulness of hearing and slowness of heart to believe the first and great things of Gods Law the word of the begining of Christ the Apostle knew not well how to speak unto them of the High-Priesthood of Christ his Sacrifice which he had offered his Mediation in the Heavens and Advocation for Believers his coming again with the high acts and works of faith c. Heb. 5. 10-14 and 6. 1 2 c. The Thessalonian-Believers though they received the word in much affliction with joy of the Holy Spirit yet there were wants found in their Faith and therefore the Apostle did pray night and day exceedingly that he migh see their face and might perfect that which was lacking in their faith 1 Thes 1. 2-6-10 and 2. 13. and 3. 10. There may be much or somewhat lacking in them that have received this good Spirit as to their being filled therewith there may be somewhat wanting in their knowledg faith establishment rejoycing confidence consolation in Christ conformity unto Christ conversation c. They may be and some of them are but little children And others though they be young men yet still they may receive and dirnk in more and more of this Spirit in the Testimony of Christ yea and the fullest may yet be fuller while they are here in mortal bodies For they receive here but some First fruits of the Spirit Rom. 8. 23. And this Instruction may be of usefulness unto us 1. To warn and admonish us all to take heed and beware of high-mindedness and that we should not think of our selves more highly than we ought to think but to think soberly as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith Rom. 12. 2. 3. A sad and dangerous thing it is for us all to think and say We are rich and increased with goods and have need of nothing This is the high-way so to provoke Christ as to cause him to spue us out of his mouth Rev. 3. 15-17 We have none of us yet attained nor are we already perfect as to attainment Philip. 3. 12 13. Alas how short are we in every thing We have cause continually to cry out and complain of and and bewail our leanness emptiness blindness instability in the faith inconformity to Christ Oh! be we not high-minded think we not more highly of our selves than is meet for that will hinder us from coming continually unto Christ who is the fountain of life and Spirit and all spiritual blessings 2. This instruction shews unto us and informs us that the receit of the Spirit is a gradual thing it is not wholly received at once But the Light and Spirit of Christ is received and shines more and more unto the perfect day Prov. 4. 18. They who have obtained like precious faith with the Apostles and know and are established in the word of truth the Gospel of our salvation may grow in grace and in the knowledg of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ 2 Pet. 1. 1-12 with chap. 3. 18. They who are in Christ go from strength to strength from one degree to another until every one of them appear before God in Zion Psal 84. 4-7 3. This Instruction may teach us that we should not conclude concerning any that they have not the Spirit of Christ because they are not so filled therewith as they should be for the former may be where the latter is wanting as we have