and so are changed into it more and more in sanctification from glory to glory Whatsoeuer boldnesse of face and glory of countenance or libertie of speach wee may haue towardes men in and by our selues and our workes wee haue none towards God but by Faith in Christ Rom. 4.1 First the Law indites arraignes and stops our mouth as Rom. 3.19 shame and confusion couers our faces and then Christ lifts vp our head as Psal 3.3 Thou art my glory and the lifter vp of my head Yea hee annoints our head with oyle giues vs the oyle of gladnesse for the spirit of heauinesse 2. Cor. 1.21 1. Ioh. 2.20 27. as God hath created oyle to make the face to shine gloriously Therefore contrarily by the law in humiliation they cast durt on their heads and couered their faces in pleading their guiltinesse and in dayes of fasting the Pharises were 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Mat. 6.16 Now Christ our high Priest was annointed with this oyle of gladnesse aboue his fellowes that it might lift vp his face for vs in the sight and presence of God to appeare before him and wee receiue an anointing from this holy One and hee annoints our faces with oyle of ioy for this 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which word signifies specially freedome and glory of speech in prayer or praises of God and thankesgiuings for in Christ wee haue a new mouth a new speach tongue and language of Canaan The end of mans creation being chiefely to glorifie God Adam was created with an excellent mouth and tongue wherewith to glorifie him which was his greatest glory life happines but by hearkning to Sathans blasphemous mouth and tongue belying and dishonouring God and beleeuing it he and all his posteritie haue lost their naturall mouth tongue and language and haue the mouth and language of Satan readier to blaspheme and curse God then to pray to him or to prâ—ise him and being man become earth and lacking the Image and Gloâ—ie of God and borne of the earth Ioh. 3 3â— he speakes of the earth as an earth-worme with an earthly mouth rising out of the dust As Satan is a lyer so is euery man from the wombe going astray and speaking lies Therefore Christ giues a new mouth tongue and language if we hearken to him as our only Prophet and Rabbi and a new 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by his spirit of Glory in vs according to his gracious couenant in Christ Isa 59.21 And I will make this my couenant with theÌ„ saith the Lord My spirit that is vpon thee and my words which I haue put in thy mouth shall not depart out of thy mouth nor out of the mouth of thy seede nor out of the mouth of the seede of thy seede from henceforth and for euer Therefore Christ is called the Truth Iohn 14.6 But first he is the Way then the Truth our Way to God and our 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as Priest and then is he the Truth and giues vs a new mouth But these particulars appeare more fully in the obseruations only thus much for vnfolding the text and the sense of the words Wherein wee consider two parts 1. The Excelcellencie of Faith in Christ set forth by two vertues or workes in the heart and inner man 1. Accesse to God or Manuduction with boldnesse or confidence or a confident accesse to God by Manuduction 2. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Glory of face with liberty of speech 2. The limitation of this excellencie and of these vertues They are not in the whole man and beleeuer but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is so farre as he is in Christ not as he is or euer was in the first Adam or as he is in nature in the flesh and world or as he is in any other estate and condition in this life or that any man can haue in any other Religion then by Faith in Christ And whereas the childe of God may complaine that hee finds and feeles contrary to all this feare trembling flying from God shame of face for his sinnes and his mouth often stopped and not able to pray or praise God Answer is here made It is true so farre as we are not in Christ and haue nature and flesh in vs but as we are in Christ we haue all this contrary good 1. De Iure though not de facto by right though not by full possession 2. Wee haue these in some measure though mixt with contrary corruptions 3. We may haue more if the fault be not in our selues 4. We shall haue all these in full measure 5. These are prepared for vs in Christ and our Faith in Christ will grow vp to these and increase with the increasings of God and of Christ if we pray as Paul here doth for these Ephesians so they may haue all this in Christ and that their Faith may grow and haue these vertues working in them as in the verses following verse 16 17 18. which imply that they had them not as yet from Christ as they should haue hereafter but were only laid vp and prepared for them in Christ The summe then is that no Faith nor Religion giues that accesse to God with that boldnesse so cheerefull and glorious a countenance such a mouth to praise God to pray and speake freely to God to powre out our hearts before him that giues such a Spirit of prayer and of Adoption to cry Abba Father to make a man bold to plead with God 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to stand vpon interrogatories with God and to parle with him especially when Satan sinne and conscience accuse Now these vertues are not sanctifying graces in vs in their full perfection but they are such blessings and benefits in Christ as Faith drawes from Christ Therfore he saith 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in which Christ they are as in the propper naturall subiect roote and fountaine and Head and which Faith drawes and receiues from Christ or possesseth in him and therefore he saith 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and so I come to the obseruations 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in whom that is in Christ By Christ dwelling in vs we haue and exercise these vertues of Christ or Christ shewes himselfe to be in vs and we to be in him by these vertues All sauing good things in vs are sauing vertues in and from Christ Rom. 8.2 1. Pet. 2.9 To shew forth the vertues of him that hath called you out of darkenesse As the soule shewes it selfe to be in the body by the life and vertues it exerciseth in the body such as the body it selfe hath not by its naturall humors So Christ exerciseth such vertues in the heart and soule of a Christian as the heart and reasonable soule haue not naturally As a man shewes himselfe to dwell in a house by the wisedome authoritie power he exerciseth therein So Christ to dwell in vs by faith as in his house when he exerciseth his vertues in vs Eph. 3.17 Heb. 3.6
of Christs spirit as the Iewes pierced through and crucified through ignorance fleshly Christ as I may say in the dayes of his flesh when he was in abasement to whom Christ promiseth pardon vpon repentance Matth. 12. If any man speake a word against the Sonne of man that is as onely knowing him as a Man and ignorant of his God-head and Spirit it may bee forgiuen him But if any man blaspheame the Holy ghost and God-head of Christ shining and sparkling in him it shall neuer bee forgiuen him Some now maliciously crucifie Spirituall Christ risen from the dead and shining into their hearts and soules by his Spirit and comming to apply his Crosse and Death to crucifie their flesh and lusts by his Spirit and Spirituall hands they now not as in the dayes of his flesh but in the eternitie of his Spirit and Glory would crucifie againe and abolish for euer They that are thus affected towards the spirit are said to be so affected to Christ because the Spirit is Christs hand and because it reueales presents and offers Christs person merits righteousnesse and the sauing vertue of his Crosse to crucifie all our lusts for this spirit takes of Christ and shewes it vnto vs Ioh. 16.9 10. it comes with its hands full of Christ So that as I loue Christ and take him by the hand when I gladly imbrace his Spirit and suffer my selfe to bee led by it and its spirituall motions so contrarily they hate Christ and crucifie him and pierce through his hands that hate his Spirit and destroy his spirituall motions suggested to their hearts For as some of the Iewes through ignorance of Christs God-head crucified Christ onely as a poore man the Carpenters sonne that had proudly vsurped a Kingdome ouer them and against Caesar and therefore put him to death as a Traitor and as onely crucifying his fleshly hands Yet some others and especially the Scribes and Pharisees that knew him by the light of the Holy Ghost that hee was God and by the finger of God had cast out deuils as Christ knowing their hearts professeth they did They crucified him not as the Sonne of man nor onely his fleshly hands as hee was the Carpenters sonne but his Spirituall hands as he was the Sonne of God hating his spirit and power in the Ministery of his Word and Miracles and Doctrine and Disciples for which sake they chiefely crucified him that if they could possibly they might abolish for euer his Name Doctrine Religion Profession Spirit and Church which now began to bee gathered Hee was crucified of these not as the Sonne of Ioseph but as the Anointed and Holy One of God anointed with the Holy Ghost and with power doing what they could to crucifie the Holy ghost to pierce through the hands and feete of the Spirit They trode vnder feet not the sonne of man but the Sonne of God and made a mocke of him Hebr. 10. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in confidence Christ leading and taking vs by the hand and we laying hold on his flesh crucified for vs wee goe confidently If wee lay hold on any creature else and bee led guided by any Saint or Angel wee goe with feare and doubting with perplexitie and anxietie when conscience of sinne accuseth vs and are neuer secure that wee shall bee saued To bee bould and confident with God at any time but especially in the conscience of sinne is a marueilous courage Before whose face and presence the Angels are abashed the mountaines melt whose Maiestie and presence is so glorious fearefull and terrible that no creature can abide his presence when hee is angry The most Holy Angels without spot of sinne in nature and conscience yet couer their faces as abashed at his presence though doing his will in obeying the voyce of his mouth How much more must sinfull man dust and ashes melt and bee confounded with shame and horrour at the presence of so Holy a God yet Faith in Christ makes confident and bold Iacob had strength and courage preuailed with God Moses indured as seeing him that is inuisible by this Faith in Christ who at Horeb in the giuing of the Law where the sight was so terrible hee confessed I feare and quake Rom. 5.11 Wee not onely glory in afflictions saith Paul which some stout hearted carnall men haue done by pride ambition or strength of nature who vpon the sight of God haue trembled like Belteshar but wee also glory in God see 1. Iohn 4.17 3.21 Abrahams boldnesse was with God to parle with him though hee was but dust and ashes Wee see how hard a thing it is to be bold in the presence of a King a mortall man especially if he be angry His wrath is like the roaring of a Lyon How much more to bee bold in the presence of God the King of Kings when hee is angry who cutteth off the spirit of Princes who is terrible to the Kings of the earth that they feare in their Priuie-chambers Psa 14.4 Psal 76.5 Sinne weakens and breakes the heart and soule of man by breeding doubts feares griefes tremblings and horrours So the Deuils and Adam by their fall brake themselues into shiuers of feares and tremblings And as the Deuill trembles so our corrupt nature and guilty conscience like his is to doe as the Deuill doeth for wee are broken and infected like him by sinne Rom. 5. when wee were yet of no strength Christ died for vs that is when wee were broken and infected with the guilt of all sinnes Therefore the Lawe first breakes vs and kils vs with the sight and guilt of sinne before Christ cures vs and binds vs vp and this is the cure of the heart and soule by Faith in Christs blood and breaking for vs his terrours horrours griefes and paines in soule and body that we are strengthened with confidence Ephe. 3.16 by his spirit in the inner-man 2. Tim. 1.7 and haue not the spirit of feare but of power and loue and of a sound minde Rom. 8.15 Isa 61.1 not the spirit of bondage to feare againe but of adoption to cry confidently Abba Father This is to bind vp the broken hearted Therefore is Christ called the Rocke of the soule Mat. 16.18 Vpon this Rocke will I build my Church because hee giues the heart and soule built on it by Faith strength of courage nd confidence Therefore the fearefull and vnbeleeuing are cast out with dogs Reuel 21. Christ is the Redeemer of the soule chiefely and therefore from feares doubts and griefes chiefely and from the spirit of bondage to feare againe The chiefest vertue of bread is to incourage and strengthen the heart So Christ crucified his body broken and fed on by faith its vertue is to incourage and strengthen the heart with confidence towards God If therefore wee feele feare fainting doubting goe the more to the Sacrament of Christes body which as it requires some courage and hope that we shall
Now this Hand of God is also the Hand of Christ the second Person as made Flesh It s the Hand of Flesh especially as risen from the dead and glorified the holy Ghost is his Breath Shadow Wings Arme Hands and whatsoeuer proceedeth from him towards his Church both Ministers and people is nothing but that eternall Spirit the third Person who proceedeth from the Father and the Sonne Iohn 14.26 By which as High Priest Heb. 9. hee offered himselfe without spot to God as with his owne Hands So now much more the same Spirit proceedth from him in more abundance from his Flesh glorified For before Ioh. 7.39 the Spirit was not giuen in that abundance because that Iesus was not yet glorified But now this Flesh of Christ being glorified this eternall Spirit is all the Breath Armes Hands Strength Shadow Light and Glory of Christ He now breathes nothing but the holy Ghost and Spirit He breathed vpon his Disciples Ioh. 20.21 and said Receiue ye the holy Ghost He hath it now at command as his Breath and as naturall to him and can as easily and plentifully giue it He holds the 7. Starres his Apostles and Ministers in his right hand not of Flesh but of the holy Ghost and being risen he gaue commandements to his Apostles not by a humane breath and voice as before but more specially by the holy Ghost Acts 1.2 See Iohn 5. The time shall come and now is but shall be much more that the dead shall heare the voyce of the Sonne of God that is shall shall haue his quickning spirit 1. Cor. 15. The first Adam was made a liuing soule and all that he could communicate to his posteritie and children if he had continued in innocency had bin only a liuing soule qualified with Gods holy Image but the second Adam is made a quickning spirit which hee communicates to his members and posteritie and which proceedes from him This Spirit is Christs light by which he shines to vs Eph. 5. Awake thou that sleepest and stand vp from the dead and Christ shall shine vnto thee 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Whatsoeuer proceeds from Christs Flesh now in heauen is nothing but Spirit He is ascended farre aboue all things Eph. 4.7 8. to fill all things with his Spirit Whereas therefore he is said to feed vs from heauen with his Bodie as Manna and to wash vs from our sinnes in his blood to guide vs with his light all this is nothing but his Spirit which being purchased by his death comes as it were through his body and blood giuen to vs as our own flesh and blood This Spirit is obtained and giuen by his death and sufferings and comes to vs by his humane flesh and nature into our flesh and nature Ioh. 6.63 Therefore his Flesh is called meate indeed and his blood drinke indeede For the flesh of it selfe profiteth nothing but because for the merit of his sufferings in his flesh and by it as by a cundit the third Person the holy Ghost proceeding naturally from the Father and the Sonne is hereby procured to flow issue and come forth to vs and into our hearts by grace Galat. 4.4 Because yee are sonnes reconciled to God by the death of his Sonne God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Sonne into your hearts which cryeth Abba Father The Spirit doth and would euer naturally issue and proceed from God into vs as Iam. 1.17 did not our sinnes stop the currant and keepe him out of our hearts by our indisposition and vnworthinesse and vncapablenesse of receiuing him as Ioh. 14. Which the world cannot receiue because it seeth him not neither knoweth him but our sins remooued and abolished by the death sacrifice of Christ and by his flesh and body broken through it as by a conduite the spirit againe hath its issue and vent to flow into our sinfull flesh and hearts and God becomes againe that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 That liuing God Iam. 1.3 that giues to all men simply without exception whatsoeuer his sinnes he and reproacheth no man that by faith comes to him but poures of his Spirit vpon all flesh Act. 2.17 This Spirit as its God the Fathers hand so it s Christs our Sauiours hand the hand of flesh which Christ reacheth from heauen to vs as to his brethren and takes vs by the hand Now that Christ is glorified in our flesh and nature that Spirit which from eternitie proceeded from the Father and the Sonne and was as their breath and hand by which they made the worlds and breathed into mans face the breath of life and made him a liuing soule the same spirit and third person doth now proceed from the Father of Christ as man and from Christ the second Person Incarnate and is now both the breath of Christ and the arme of Christ which breath of eternall spirit Christ now breathes into man dead in sinne to make him a new creature created in Christ Iesus vnto good works creating anew all the powers and faculties of soule and body as it were new hands and feete quickned with a new life for new motions towards God and seruices and workes it s the hand and arme of Christ which he now reueales and makes bare from heauen and thrusts into our hearts quickning and creating in vs new hands that is new faculties of our soules to lay hold on and fasten on spirituall good purchased by his death and offered vs by his Gospel Christ by his Priestly Office hath performed all things needfull for our saluation and prepared all sauing matter And by his Propheticall Office in the Ministery of his Word offers vs himselfe the second Person incarnate to be our Sauiour and all his sauing benefits and spirit if we will reach forth our hands that is the faculties of our soules to receiue and apprehend him but our hands lye dead in sinnes that is our minds and hearts from vnderstanding choosing willing and affecting any such Person and his Spirit and benefits offered Therefore Christ as King risen from the dead and as Lord of life reacheth forth his arme hand from heauen and creates in vs new hand◠that is new mindes and hearts Hee breathes into vs the breath of life that is his quickning spirit that quickens our dead hands to apprehend spirituall things For the naturall man by his naturall soule and spirit 1. Cor. 2. as 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Therefore the Spirit creates in vs. First a right hand of Faith to know and apprehend the Person of the Son of God and to choose and take him for our Sauiour as he is reuealed and offered in the Word reiecting all other Persons Angels or Saints or any creature or our selues and our workes betaking our selues to Christ alone and to this second Person in Trinitie made flesh fastning vpon him and receiuing him as offered and commended to vs in the Gospel euen as crucified and made our King
not the like vigour and vertue of life comfort strength into all the members of the body So nor Christ We must as well goe to Christ for faith and confidence as for any other grace and he requires of vs perswasion and faith that wee shall receiue it from him viz. that he will in dangers feares sinnes temptations strengthen incourage and comfort vs against them all euen death and hell and all enemies Say not I am a creature so weak and faint in faith that I shall neuer stand against these Cast not away thy weake faith as Heb. 10.35 Sit not still and keepe not thy bed because thou canst not goe so strongly to Christ as others can but goe as well as thou canst with thy feeble weake knees and let not that which is halting be turned out of the way but rather be healed Heb. 12. Seeke for more strength of faith rather then despaire and cast away all faith Fight the good fight of faith and striue to lay hold on Christ and he will strengthen thy faith only seeke not to strengthen and secure thy heart in wealth pollicie thy owne righteousnesse For he is the sheepheard of our soules Psal 23. and hath promised to conuert our soules and to dwell in our hearts if we by faith choose him to dwell in vs to bee his house reiecting all other lords and spirits then will he come into vs and strengthen vs by his Spirit in the inner man as Eph. 3.16 17. and he dwelling in vs as in his house we shall hold fast our confidence and hope of reioycing vnto the End Heb. 3. Therefore pray as the Disciples Luk. 17.5 Lord increase our Faith and cry as the Father of the Daemoniake Mark 9.24 Lord I beleeue helpe my vnbeleefe and giue me confidence and beleeue that hee will pardon thy weake faith and heale it as well as any other thy sinnes and enormities as long as they are but infirmities which thou striuest against lamentest and labourest for strength of faith desiring aboue all to honour God with confidence Beleeue hee will pardon the want of beleefe as long as thou striuest and labourest to beleeue and doest not affect infidelitie with an euill heart of infidelitie Heb. 3. totally euill and vnfaithfull to depart away from the liuing God and to forsake him our Rocke and portion choosing and preferring other creatures as Heb. 10. vlt. For that which our hearts choose for our portion they trust in and are strong and confident in Where our treasure is Math 6. there will our hearts bee also Lam. 3. The Lord is my Portion saith my soule therfore will I trust in him Hereby I know I haue some true faith though with much feare when I choose God to bee my chiefe portion to be secure confident and fearelesse in him As a seruant that chooseth a Master in whose power riches authority for protection and maintenance he reposeth himselfe to quiet secure and rest his heart in him Some choose wealth some the Arme of flesh But a Christian by faith chooseth Christ Therefore Christ saith A man cannot serue two Masters to repose confidence and safety in them both but wee must either cleaue to the one and despise the other or hate the one and loue the other So yee cannot serue God and Mammon to seeke safetie and securitie from them both The heart seekes its security but in one treasure See Math. 6.21.24 That which is our portion giues vs confidence It belongs not to our Faith but to our portion which faith chooseth and pitcheth on to giue vs confidence Choose God for thy portion to rest thy heart in him as he hath promised to be the Rocke of thy heart and then try and see if God doe not giue thy heart secure confidence as a Rocke Psal 73.26 and 2. Chron. 20.20 Trust in the Lord and ye shall be assured Let thy heart bee Christs house to dwell in thee by faith thou shalt see that he will strengthen thee by his Spirit in the inner man not to faint or feare in any afflictions as Eph. 3.13 16. Thou shalt then sensibly feele know that Christ is in thee and thou art his house in that thy heart keepes this confidence and hope of reioycing vnto the End as Heb. 3. that is hereby we sensibly know it We are Christs house before by faith but we doe not so sensibly feele and know it that he dwels in vs till he as the Master of the house strengthen and incourage our hearts Wicked men and vnbeleeuers doe not beleeue that Christ can or will strengthen their hearts to make them strong and confident without feare and griefe therefore they put their strength and confidence in wealth pride malice Pride is to them as a chaine Psal 7.3 cruelty couers them as a garment They arme themselues with these weapons of the flesh and imbolden incourage themselues by them and not in God and Christ their Portion They seeke freedome from care feare and trouble of minde in wealth and honour and promise to themselues all securitie of minde and heart and safety of life and estate in these things as Luke 12. My soule take thine ease eate and drinke thou hast much goods laide vp for many yeares Contrary a beleeuing heart beleeues as God saith not as Satan Reason and flesh say viz. that though he had all abundance Luk. 12. yet his life stands not in his riches and though hee had all the world it will not keepe his minde and heart safe from feares cares griefe nor his body and life safe quiet nor secure but only God and Christs loue and mercy and therefore nothing will content him but these Therefore hee goeth to God and Christ onely to repose his soule in them and hauing them he is perswaded as the word saith that his soule shall dwell at ease and bee secure his defence shall bee the munition of rockes Isa 33. that the Name of the Lord will be a strong Tower Prou. 18. to him if he could attaine to it that he should lie downe in peace and sleepe and rise againe Psal 3. because the Lord would make him dwell in safetie Isa 33. that bread should be giuen him and his waters should bee sure But the wilfull infidelitie of vnbeleeuers makes them resolutly to conclude and say Who is the Almighty that they should serue him Iob 21.15 and what profit should they haue that they should pray vnto him They count not God any such secure refuge Isa 28.15 and therefore make falsehood their refuge and vnder vanitie hide themselues They cannot rest nor sleepe without their God Mammon their chiefe portion and their bellies filled with that meate that perisheth Contrary a Christian cannot rest nor sleepe feeling his soule emptie of God and Christ and the meat that indureth to euerlasting life Because hee beleeues that Christs body broken is that onely bread of life that
in this estate no benefite of this Mediatour Vse Hereby we see what it is to be a Puritan To professe or thinke himselfe to be so holy of himselfe as daring to goe to God in his owne name that he needs not a Mediatour to lead him that feeles no such filth and corruption in himselfe for which God should abhorre him or if there be sinne and corruption yet it s so little light and veniall that we neede not make so great friends and suite a Saint or Angel may be sufficient for mediation Such a Puritane was the proud Pharisee and euery carnall presumptuous Atheist who without faith and repentance dare goe to God in the Church to the Word and Sacraments and such as goe in confidence of their ceremoniall righteousnesse These lay the imputation of Puritanisme on others which themselues chiefely practise Vse Sinne being an infinite euill and infinitely hated of God its infinite pride and presumption for any creature to dare to present such a sinner to God For its worse then any sinne committed against God to be an Aduocate for sinners to dare to speake for them and to countenance them before God as Romanes 1. verse last vnlesse that hee that shall dare to doe this be as great as God and as a surety will vndertake to satisfie and answer God for them and therfore to make any Saint a Mediatour to God for sinners is to make him God So much of the Ground of this leading In the Meanes and Manner of leading we consider First the Person leading Secondly the Persons led Thirdly the hands by which the one leadeth and the other is led The Person leading as I haue shewed is only the second Person in Trinitie the Sonne of God made flesh like vnto vs as I haue already shewed The Persons led are the Saints and children of God reconciled by Christs flesh crucified and imperfectly sanctified as is also shewed The hands by which this leading is made are carefully and distinctly to bee considered And first the hand of Christ the Person leading The hand of the second Person in Trinitie Iesus Christ euen now as he is man is his spirit As it was the hand of the second Person before hee was made Flesh so it is now since he is made Flesh especially since his Resurrection The hand of God is the hand also of Flesh now risen from the dead and glorified Now God hath no hand but his Spirit the Father and the Sonne haue no hands but the Spirit the holy Ghost For nothing can proceed from the Father and the Sonne but the holy Ghost which is sometimes called the hands of God Thy hands haue made mee and fashioned me that is as else-where is expounded his Spirit Eccl. 11.5 Who knoweth the way of the Spirit and how the bones grow in the wombe of her that is with childe Iob 26.13 His Spirit garnished the heauens and renueth the Face of the Earth Psal 104. â—0 Thou sendest forth thy Spirit and they are created which in other places is called his hands His hands prepared the dry land Psal 101.26 And Christ calles it the finger of God If I by the finger of God cast out Diuels Luk. 11.20 then is the Kingdome of God come vnto you which is expounded by him to be his Spirit It s also called the breath of God which proceeds from him the heauens were made by the word of the Lord and all the Host of them by the breath of his mouth and His word and Spirit proceede and come forth from him together that is his commandement and infinite diuine Spirit and power as his Arme and therefore it s called the Word of his power Heb. 1.2 Who hath beleeued our report and to whom is the Arme of the Lord reuealed and the word is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 breathed forth by his Spirit It s called the shadow of God and the wings of God and whatsoeuer proceeds from the Father and the Son to Man or to any creature is only the holy Spirit Luk. 1.35 The holy Ghost shall come vpon thee and the power of the most High shall ouer shadow thee Psal 90.1 Psal 90.1 Such as dwell in the secret of the most High shall abide vnder the shadow of the Almightie Psal 63. Vnder the shadow of thy wings will I reioyce all which must be meant of his Spirit counselling comforting strengthning as Isa 30.1 Woe bee to them that seeke a couering and not by my Spirit Therefore Mary conceiuing by the holy Ghost without all power of nature a weake woman sings Luke 2. that God had shewed strength with his Arme. As the shadow comes from the body so the holy Ghost from God which is therefore sometimes called a shadow because it shewes it selfe but darkely obscurely and mystically and yet surely and powerfully and this especially in the Ministry of the Church both in Ministers and people In Ministers as Isa 50.16 I haue hid thee vnder the shadow of my hand that I may plant the heauens c. that is I will powerfully by my Spirit way thee and inable to this so great a worke as to make a new world by thee and protect thee from diuels and men No shadow can proceede from God but what is God himselfe his Spirit and Diuine power and vertue which when it s giuen obscurely and not so manifestly is called a shadow In people as Acts 3.19 that is when God in his infinite loue mercy and grace shining to you as his face shall send to you his Spirit the Comforter which shall assure you of the pardon of your sinnes and refresh you with ioy peace comfort in Christs righteousnesse applied to you blotting out your sins out of your consciences if ye continue to grieue repent and to be sorrowfull for them daily and by sorrow to kill and mortifie them Let all your care be only to repent and to lament your sinnes to mortifie them and to grieue for them all your dayes and God knowes the best season when to refresh you with comfort which is the Season of all Seasons 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is when to giue you the Spirit the Comforteâ— as an infinite gift of his Fatherly loue and mercy and when to shew you that his Fatherly Face and the refreshing from it by sending his holy Spirit to assure your grieued hearts of his fauour and true reconciled in Christ which is the most comfortable refreshing season that can come to a mans soule Now we must not appoint God this season when to refresh vs with the comforts of his Face and Loue by his Spirit but we must goe on in our worke and labour of repentance and daily turning to God flying all sins and vsing all meanes of obtaining all the good promised vs and God in his due time after all our toile labour and sorrowes will send his Spirit to refresh vs. But this by the way to shew what Gods Hand is