He doth not only Justify his Saints from the guilt of sinne but also sanctify and wash them from the filth of sinne the first is from his life and death as a Sacrifice of Propitiaton this from his death as a purchase and his life as an example So the Apostle Heb. 9. 14. as also Eph. 5. 26 27. Two things are eminent in this Issue of Purchased Grace 1. The removall of defilement 2. The bestowing of cleannesse in Actuall Grace For the first it is also threefold 1. The habituall cleansing of § 8 our nature We are naturally uncleane defiled habitually so For who can bring a cleane thing from that which is uncleane Job 14. 4. That which is borne of the flesh is flesh Joh. 3. 6. It is in the pollution of our blood that we are borne Ezek. 16. wholly defiled and polluted The Grace of Sanctification purchased by the blood of Christ removes this defilement of our nature 1 Cor. 6. 11. Such were some of you but ye are washed ye are Sanctifyed So also Tit. 3. 3 4 5. He hath saved us by the washing of Regeneration and the renewing of the Holy Ghost How far this originall habituall pollution is removed need not be disputed It is certaine the soule is made faire and beautifull in the sight of God Though the sinne that doth defile remaines yet it s habituall defilement is taken away But the handling of this lys not in my ayme 2. Taking away the Pollutions of all our actuall transgressions There is a defilement attending every actuall sinne Our own cloaths make us to be abhorred Job 9. 31. A spot a staine rust wrinkle filth blood attends every sinne Now 1 Joh. 1. 7. the blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth us from all sinne Besides the defilement of our natures which he purgeth Tit. 1. 15. he takes away the defilement of our Persons by actuall follies by one offering He Pefected for ever them that are Sanctifyed By himselfe He purged our sinnes before He sate down at the right hand of Majesty on high Heb. 1. 3. 3. In our best dutys we have defilement Isa. 64 6. Selfe Unbeliefe Forme drop themselves into all that we doe We may be ashamed of our choysest performances God hath promised that the Saints good workes shall follow them truely were they to be measured by the Rule as they come from us and weighed in the ballance of the Sanctuary it might be well for us that they might be buried for ever but the Lord Christ first as our High Priest beares the iniquity the guilt and provocation which in severe Justice doth attend them Exod. 28. 37. 38. and not only so but he washes away all their filth and defilements He is as a Refiners fire to purge both the Sons of Levi and their offerings adding moreover sweet incense to them that they may be accepted Whatever is of the Spirit of Himselfe of Grace that remaines whatever is of selfe flesh unbeliefe that is hay and stubble that he consumes wasts takes away So that the Saints good workes shall meet them one day with a changed countenance that they shall scarce know them that which seemed to them to be black deformed defiled shall appeare beautifull and glorious they shall not be affraid of them but rejoyce to see them follow them And this cleansing of our Natures Persons and dutys hath its § 9 whole foundation in the death of Christ. Hence our washing and purifying our cleansing and purging is ascribed to his blood and the sprinkling thereof Meritoriously this worke is done by the shedding of the blood of Christ efficiently by its sprinkling The sprinkling of the blood of Christ proceedeth from the Communication of the Holy Ghost which he promiseth to us as purchased by him for us He is the pure water wherewith we are sprinkled from all our sins That spirit of Judgement and Burning that takes away the filth and blood of the daughters of Syon And this is the first thing in the Grace of Sanctification Of which more afterwards 2. By bestowing cleanesse as to actuall Grace The blood § 10 of Christ in this purchased Grace doth not only take away defilement but also it gives purity that also in a threefold gradation 1. It gives the Spirit of Holinesse to dwell in us He is made unto us Sanctification 2 Cor. 1. 31. by procuring for us the Spirit of Sanctification our renewing is of the Holy Ghost who is shed on us through Christ alone Tit. 3. 6. this the Apostle mainly insists on Rom. 8. to wit that the prime and principall guift of Sanctification that we receive from Christ is the indwelling of the Spirit and our following after the guidance thereof But what concernes the Spirit in any kind must be referred to that which I have to offer concerning our Communion with him 2. He gives us Habituall Grace a principle of Grace opposed to § 11 the principle of lust that is in us by nature This is the Grace that dwells in us makes its abode with us which according to the distinct faculties of our soules wherein it is or the distinct objects about which it is exercised receiveth various Appellations being indeed all but one new principle of life In the understanding it is light in the will obedience in the Affections love in all Faith So also it is differenced in respect of its operations when it carries out the soule to rest on Christ it is Faith when to delight in him it is Love but still one and the same habit of Grace And this is the second thing 3. Actuall influence for the performance of every spirituall duty whatever After the Saints have both the former yet Christ § 12 tels them that without him they can doe nothing Joh. 15. 5. They are still in dependance upon him for new influences of Grace or supplys of the spirit they cannot live and spend upon the old stock for every new act they must have new Grace He must worke in us to will and to doe of his good pleasure Phil. 2. 13. And in these three thus briefely named consists that purchased Grace in the point of Sanctification as to the collating of purity and cleannesse wherein we have Communion with Christ. Thirdly this purchased Grace consists in priviledges to stand before God and these are of two sorts 1. Primary 2. Consequentiall § 13 Primary is Adoption The Spirit of Adoption Consequentiall are all the favours of the Gospell which the Saints alone have right unto But of this I shall speake when I come to the last branch of Communion with the Holy Ghost These are the things wherein we have Communion with Christ as to purchased Grace in this life Drive them up to perfection and you have that which we call everlasting Glory perfect Acceptance perfect Holinesse perfect Adoption or inheritance of Sonnes that 's Glory Our processe now in the next place is to what I mainely in tend even the manner how we hold
one of these families § 6 to another It is not done in a private underhand-way but in the way of Authority Ioh 1 12. to as many as received him he gave power to become the sons of God Power or Authority This investing them with the power excellency and right of the Sons of God is a forensicall act and hath a legall proceeding in it It is called the making us meet for the inheritance of the Saints in light Col. 1. v. 12. A Judiciall exalting us into membership in that family where God is the Father Christ the elder Brother all Saints and Angells Brethren and fellow children and the inheritance a Crowne immortall and incorruptible that fades not away Now this Authoritative translation of Believers from one family into another consisteth of these two parts § 7 1. An effectuall Proclamation and declaration of such a persons immunity from all Obligations to the former family to which by Nature he was related And this declaration hath a threefold object 1. Angells It is declared un to them they are the Sons of God They are the Sons of God and so of the family whereunto the adopted person is to be admitted and therefore it concernes them to know who are invested with the rights of that family that they may discharge their duty towards them unto them then it is declared that Believers are freed from the family of sinne and hell to become fellow Sons and servants with them and this is done two waies 1. Generally by the doctrine of the Gospell Eph. 3. 10. Unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places is made known by the Church the manifold wisdome of God 1. By the Church is this wisdome made known to the Angells either as the doctrine of the Gospell is delivered unto it or as it is gathered thereby And what is this Wisdome of God that is thus made known to principalities and powers It is that the Gentiles should be fellow-heirs and of the same body with us v. 6. The mystery of Adopting sinners of the Gentiles taking them from their slavery in the family of the World that they might have a right of heirship becoming Sons in the family of God is this wise dome thus made known And how was it primitively made known It was revealed by the spirit unto the Prophets and Apostles v. 5. 2. In Particular by Immediate Revelation When any particular soule is freed from the family of this World it is revealed to the Angells There is joy in the presence of the Angells of God that is among the Angells and by them over one sinner that Repenteth Luke 15. v. 10. Now the Angells cannot of themselves absolutely know the true Repentance of a sinner in it selfe It is a work wrought in that Cabinet which none hath a key unto but Jesus Christ by him it is revealed to the Angells when the peculiar care and charge of such an one is committed to them These things have their transaction before the Angels Luk. 12. v. 8 9. Christ ownes the names of his brethren before the Angells Revel 2. 5. when he gives them admittance into the family where they are Heb. 12. 22. he declares to them that they are Sons that they may discharge their duty towards them Heb. 1. last 2. It is denounced in a judiciall way unto Satan the great § 8 master of the family whereunto they were in subjection When the Lord Christ delivers a soule from under the power of that strong armed one he binds him tyes him from the exercise of that power and dominion which before he had over him And by this meanes doth he know that such an one is delivered from his family and all his future attempts upon him are encroachings upon the possession and inheritance of the Lord Christ. 3. Unto the Conscience of the Person adopted The spirit of Christ testifies to the heart and Conscience of a Believer that he is freed from all engagements unto the family of Satan and is become the Son of God Rom. 8. 14 15. and enables him to cry Abba Father Gal. 4. 6. Of the Particulars of this testification of the Spirit and of its absolving the soule from its old alliance I shall speak afterward And herein consists the first thing mentioned 2. There is an Authoritative engrafting of a Believer actually § 9 into the family of God and investing him with the whole right of Sonship Now this as unto us hath sundry acts 1. The giving a believer a new name in a white stone Revel 1. 17. they that are adopted are to take new names They change their names they had in their old families to take the names of the families whereinto they are translated This new name is A Child of God that is the new name given in adoption and no man knoweth what is in that name but only he that doth receive it And this new name is given and written in a white stone that is the Tessera of our admission into the house of God It is a stone of judiciall acquitment Our adoption by the spirit is bottomed on our Absolution in the blood of Jesus and therefore is the new name in the white stone priviledge grounded on discharge The white stone quits the claime of the old family The new name gives entrance to the other 2. An enrolling of his name in the Catalogue of the houshold of God Admitting him thereby into fellowship therein This is called the writing of the house of Israel Ezek. 13. 9. that is the roll wherein all the names of the Israel the family of God are written God hath a Catalogue of his houshold Christ knows his sheep by name When God writeth up the people he counts that this man was borne in Sion Ps. 87. 6. This is an extract of the Lambs book of life 3 ly Testifying to his Conscience his Acceptation with God enableing him to behave himselfe as a child Rom. 8. 15. Gal. 4. 5 6. The two last things required to Adoption are that the adopted person be freed from all Obligations to the family from § 10 whence he is translated and invested with the Rights and Priviledges of that whereunto he is translated Now because these two comprize the whole issue of Adoption wherein the Saints have Communion with Christ. I shall handle them together referring the concernments of them unto these foure heads 1. Liberty 2. Title or right 3. Boldnesse 4. Correction § 11 These are the four things in reference to the family of the Adopted person that he doth receive by his Adoption wherein he holds communion with the Lord Jesus 1. Liberty The spirit of the Lord that was upon the Lord Jesus did anoint him to proclaime liberty to the captive Esay 67. 1. And where the spirit of God is that is the spirit of Christ given to us by him because we are Sons there is Liberty 2 Cor. 3. 17. All spirituall liberty is from the spirit of Adoption What ever
else is pretended is licentiousnesse So the Apostle argues Gal. 4. 6 7. he hath sent forth his spirit into their hearts crying Abba Father wherefore ye are no more Servants no more in bondage but have the liberty of Sons And this Liberty respects in the first place the family from whence the adopted person is translated it is his setting free from all the obligations of that family Now in this sense the liberty which the Saints have by Adoption § 12 is either from that which is reall or that which is pretended that which is reall respects a twofold issue of Law and Sinne. The morall unchangeable Law of God and Sin being in conjunction meeting with reference to any persons hath and hath had a twofold issue 1. An Oeconomicall institution of a new Law of Ordinances keeping in bondage those to whom it was given Col. 2. 14. 2. A Naturall if I may so call it pressing off those persons with its power and efficacy against sin whereof there are these parts 1. It s rigor and terror in commanding 2. It s Impossibility for accomplishment and so insufficiency for its primitively appointed end 3. The Issues of its transgression which are referred unto two heads 1. Curse 2. Death I shall speak very briefly of these because they are commonly handled and granted by all 2. That which is pretended is the power of any whatever § 13 over the conscience when once made free by Christ. First then Believers are freed from the instituted Law of Ordinances which upon the testimony of the Apostles was a yoke § 14 which neither we nor our Fathers in the faith could beare Acts 15. 10. Wherefore Christ blotted out this hand writing of Ordinances that was against them which was contrary to them and took it out of the way nayling it to his Crosse Col 2. 14. and thereupon the Apostle after a long dispute concerning the Liberty that we have from that Law concludes with this instruction Gal. 5. 1. stand fast in the Liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free 2. In reference to the Morall Law the first thing we have liberty from is its rigor and terror in commanding Heb. 12 § 15 18 19 20 21 22. We are not come to the Mount that might be touched and that burned with fire to the whirle-wind darknesse and tempest to the sound of the trumpet and the voice of words which they that heard besought that they might heare it no more But we are come to mount Sion c. As to that administration of the Law wherein it was given out with dread and terror and so exacted its obedience with rigor we are freed from it we are not called to that estate 2. It s Impossibility of accomplishment and so insufficiency § 16 for its primitive End by reason of sin Or we are freed from the Law as the instrument of Righteousnesse since by the impossibility of its fulfilling as to us it is become insufficient for any such purpose Rom. 8. 2 3. Gal. 3. 21 22 23. There being an impossibility of obtaining life by the Law we are exempted from it as to any such end and that by the righteousnesse of Christ Rom. 8. 3. 3. From the Issue of its transgression 1. § 17 Curse There is a solemne curse enwrapping the whole wrath of Cod annexed to the Law with reference to the transgression thereof and from this are we wholly at liberty Gal 3. 13. By being made a curse he hath delivered us from the curse 2. Death Heb 2. 14 15. and therewith from Satan Heb. 2. 15. Col. 1. 13. and Sin Rom. 6. 14. 1 Pet. 1. 18. with the World Gal. 1. 14. with all the attendances advantages and claime of them all Gal. 4 3 4 5. Col. 2. 20. without which we could not live one day That which is pretended and claimed by some wherein indeed § 18 and in truth we were never in bondage but are hereby eminently set free is the power of binding Conscience by any Lawes and constitutions not from God Col. 2. 20. 21 22. 2. There is a Liberty in the family of God as well as a liberty § 19 from the family of Satan Sons are free their obedience is a free obedience They have the spirit of the Lord and where he is there is Liberty 2 Cor. 3. 18. as a spirit of Adoption he is opposed to the spirit of bondage Rom 8. 15. Now this liberty of our fathers family which we have as Sons and children being adopted by Christ through the spirit is a spirituall largenesse of heart whereby the children of God do freely willingly genuinely without feare terror bondage and constraint go forth unto all holy obedience in Christ. I say this is our Liberty in our Fathers family what we have liberty from hath been already declared There be Gibeonites outwardly attending the family of God that doe the service of his house as the drudgery of their lives the principle they yeeld obedience upon is a spirit of bondage unto feare Rom. 8. 15. the Rule they doe it by is the Law in its dread and rigor exacting it of them to the utmost without mercy and mitigation the End they doe it for is to fly from the wrath to come to Pacify conscience and seek righteousnesse as it were by the workes of the Law Thus servilely painfully fruitlessely they seek to serve their own conviction all their daies The Saints by Adoption have a largenesse of heart in all holy obedience saith David I will walk at liberty for I seek thy precepts § 20 Psal. 119. 4 5. Esay 61. 1 Luke 4 18. Rom 8. 2 21. Gal. 4. 2. 5. 1 13. Iames 1. 25. Ioh. 8. 32 33 36. Rom. 6. 18. 1 Pet. 2. 16. Now this Amplitude or Son-like freedome of the spirit in obedience consists in sundry things 1. In the Principles of all spirituall service which are Life and Love The one respecting the matter of their obedience giveing them power the other respecting the manner of their obedience giving them Joy and sweetnesse in it It is from Life that gives them power as to the matter of obedience Rom. 8. 3. The Law of the spirit of Life in Christ Jesus sets them free from the law of sin and death it frees them it carries them out to all obedience freely So that they walk after the Spirit v. 1. that being the Principle of their workings G. 2. 20. Christ lives in me and the life which I now live in the flesh is by the faith of the Son of God the life which I now live in the fiesh that is the obedience which I yeeld unto God whilest I am in the flesh it is from a Principle of life Christ living in me There is then power for all living unto God from Christ in them the spirit of life from Christ carrying them out thereto The fruits of a dead root are but dead excrescencies living Acts are from a principle of life Hence you may see the
difference between the liberty that § 21 slaves assume and the liberty which is due to children 1. Slaves take liberty from duty children have liberty in duty there is not a greater mistake in the world then that the liberty of Sons in the house of God consists in this they can performe duties or take the freedome to omit them they can serve in the family of God that is they think they may if they will and they can choose whether they will or no. This is a liberty stolne by Slaves not a liberty given by the Spirit unto Sons The liberty of Sons is in the inward spirituall freedome of their hearts naturally and kindly going out in all the ways and worship of God When they find themselves straitened and shut up in them they wrestle with God for enlargement and are never contented with the doing of a duty unlesse it be done as in Christ with free genuine and enlarged hearts The liberty that servants have is from duty the liberty given to Sons is in duty 2. The liberty of slaves or servants is from mistaken deceiving conclusions The liberty of Sons is from the power of the indwelling Spirit of Grace or the liberty of servants is from outward dead conclusions the liberty of Sons from an inward living principle 2. Love as to the manner of their obedience gives them delight and joy Ioh. 14. 15. If yee love me saies Christ keep my Commandements Love is the bottome of all their dutys hence our Saviour resolves all obedience into the love of God and our Neighbour and Paul upon the same ground tells us that Love is the fullfilling of the Law 1 Cor. 13. 10. where love is in any duty it is compleate in Christ. How often doth David even with admiration expresse this principle of his walking with God Oh saith he how I love thy Commandements This gives Saints delight that the Commandements of Christ are not grievous to them Jacobs hard service was not grievous to him because of his love to Rachel No duty of a Saint is grievous to him because of his love to Christ They doe from hence all things with delight and Complacency Hence doe they long for advantages of walking with God pant after more ability and this is a great share of their Son-like freedome in obedience It gives them joy in it 1 John 4. 18. there is no feare in Love but perfect love casteth out feare when their soule is acted to obedience by love it expells that feare which is the issue of bondage upon the Spirit Now when there is a concurrence of these two Life and Love there is freedome liberty largenesse of heart exceedingly distanced from that straight and bondaged frame which many walk in all their days that know not the Adoption of Sons 2. The Object of their Obedience is represented to them as desireable when to others as 't is terrible In all their approaches § 23 to God they eye him as a Father they call him Father Gal. 4. 6. not in a forme of words but in the spirit of Sons God in Christ is continually before them not only as one deserving all the honour and obedience which he requires but also as one exceedingly to be delighted in as being all sufficient to satisfie and satiate all the desires of the soule when others napkin their tallents as having to deale with an austeer master they draw out their strength to the uttermost as drawing nigh to a gracious rewarder They goe from the principle of life and love to the bosome of a living and loving Father they doe but returne the strength they doe receive unto the fountaine unto the Ocean 3. Their Motive unto obedience is love 2 Cor. 5. 15. § 24 from an apprehension of love they are effectually carryed out by love to give up themselves unto him who is love What a freedome is this what a largenesse of spirit is in them who walke according to this rule Darkenesse feare bondage conviction hopes of Righteousnesse accompany others in their ways The Sonns by the Spirit of Adoption have light Love with complacency in all their walkings with God the world is an universall stranger unto the frame of children in their Fathers house 4 The Manner of their obedience is willingnesse They yeild § 25 themselves unto God as those that are alive from the dead Rom. 6. 13. they yeild themselves give up themselves willingly cheerfully freely with my whole heart saith David Rom. 12. 1. they present themselves a living sacrifice and a willing sacrifice 5. The Rule of their walking with God is the law of § 26 liberty as divested of all its terrifying threatning killing condemning cursing power and rendred in the blood of Jesus sweet tender usefull directing helpfull as a rule of walking in the life they have received not the way of working for the life they have not I might give more instances These may suffice to manifest that liberty of Obedience in the family of God which his sons and daughters have that the poor convinced Gibeonites are not acquainted withall 2. The second thing which the Children of God have by § 27 Adoption is Title They have Title right to all the priviledges and advantages of the family whereinto they are translated This is the preheminence of the true sons of any family The ground on which Sarah pleaded the ejection of Ishmael was that he was the son of the bondwoman Gen. 21. 10 and so no genuine Child of the family and therefore could have no right of heir ship with Isaak The Apostles arguing is we are no more servants but Sons and if Sons then heires Rom. 8. 14 16. then have we right and Title and being not borne hereunto for by nature we are the Children of wrath we have this Right by our Adoption Now the Saints hereby have a double right and Title 1 Proper and direct in respect of spiritualls 2. Consequentiall in respect of temporalls The first also or the Title as adopted Sons unto spiritualls is in respect of the object of it twofold 1. Unto a present place name and roome in the House of § 29 God and all the priviledges and administrations there of 2. To a future fullnesse of the great inheritance of Glory of a Kingdome purchased for that whole family whereof they are by Jesus Christ. 1. They have a Title unto and an interest in the whole administration of the family of God here The supreame administration of the house of God in the hand of the Lord Christ as to the institution of ordinances and dispensation of the spirit to enliven and make effectuall those Ordinances for the end of their institution is the prime Notion of this administration And hereof they are the prime objects All this is for them and exercised towards them God hath given Jesus Christ to be the head over all things unto the Church which is his body Ephes. 1. 22 23. he hath made him the head
can take up the Soule with such thoughts of God he hath enough all that he doth desire This hath been his designe and way from the beginning The first blood that Murderer shed was by this meanes He leades our first Parents into hard thoughts of God hath God said so hath he threatned you with death he knows well enough it will be better with you with this Engine did he batter and overthrow all mankind in one and being mindfull of his ancient conquest he readily useth the same weapons wherewith then he so succesfully contended Now it is exceeding Grievous to the Spirit of God to be so slandered in the hearts of those whom he dearely loves How doth he expostulate this with Syon What iniquity g have you seen in me saith he have I been a Wildernesse unto you or a Land of darknesse Syon hath said the Lord hath forgotten me and my God hath forsaken me but can a mother c. The Lord takes nothing worse at the hands of his then such hard thoughts of him knowing full well what fruit this bitter Root is like to beare what Alienation of Heart what drawings back what unbeliefe and Tergiversations in our walking with him How unwilling is a Child to come into the presence of an angry Father Consider then this in the first place Receiving of the Father as he holds out Love to the soule gives him the Honour he aimes at and is exceeding acceptable unto him He often sets it out in an eminent manner that it may be so received He commendeth his Love unto us Rom 5. 8. Behold what manner of Love the Father hath bestowed on us Joh. ch 3. v. 1. Whence then is this folly men are afraid to have good thoughts of God They think it a boldnesse to Eye God as good gracious tender kind loving I speak of Saints but for the other side they can judge him hard austere severe almost implacable and fierce the very worst Affections of the very worst of men and most hated of him Rom. ch 1. v. 31. 2 Tim 3. 3. and think herein they doe well Is not this Soule-deceit from Sathan was it not his designe from the beginning to inject such thoughts of God Assure thy selfe then there is nothing more acceptable unto the Father then for us to keep up our hearts unto him as the eternall fountaine of all that rich Grace which flowes out to sinners in the blood of Jesus and 2. This will be exceeding effectuall to endeare thy soule unto God to cause thee to delight in him and to make thy abode with him Many Saints have no greater burthen in their Lives then that their Hearts do not come clearely and fully up constantly to delight and rejoyce in God that there is still an indisposednesse of Spirit unto close walking with him What is at the bottome of this distemper Is it not their unskilfulnesse in or neglect of this Duty even of holding Communion with the Father in Love So much as we see of the Love of God so much shall we delight in him and no more Every other discovery of God without this will but make the Soule fly from him But if the heart be once much taken up with this the Eminency of the Fathers Love it cannot chuse but be overpowred conquered and endeared unto him This if any thing will worke upon us to make our abode with him If the Love of a Father will not make a child delight in him what will put then this to the venture excercise your thoughts upon this very thing the Eternall Free and Fruitfull Love of the Father and see if your Hearts be not wrought upon to delight in him I dare boldly say believers will find it as thriving a course as ever they pitched on in their lives Sit downe a little at the Fountaine and you will quickly have a farther discovery of the sweetnesse of the streames You who have run from him will not be able after a while to keep at a distance for a moment Ob. But some may say Alasse how shall I hold communion with § 13 the Father in Love I know not at all whether be Loves me or no and shall I venture to cast my selfe upon it How if I should not be accepted should I not rather perish for my presumption then find sweetnesse in his Bosome God seems to me only as a consuming fire and everlasting burnings so that I dread to look up unto him Ans. I know not what may be understood by knowing of the Love of God though it be carried on by Spirituall sense and Experience yet it is received purely by believing Our knowing of it is our believing of it as revealed We have known and believed the Love that God hath to us God is Love 1 Joh. ch 4. v. 16. This is the Assurance which at the very Entrance of walking with God thou maist have of this Love He who is Truth hath said it and what-ever thy Heart saies or Sathan saies unlesse thou wilt take it up on this account thou doest thy endeavour to make him a lyar who hath spoken it 1 Joh. 5. 10. Ob. 2. I can believe that God is Love to others for he hath said he § 14 is Love but that he will be so to me I see no ground of perswasion there is no cause no Reason in the world why he should turne one thought of love or kindnesse towards me and therefore I dare not cast my selfe upon it to hold communion with him in his speciall love Ans. He hath spoken it as particularly to thee as to any one in the world And for cause of love he hath as much to fixe it on thee as on any of the Children of men that is none at all without himselfe So that I shall make speedy work with this objection Never any one from the foundation of the World who believed such Love in the Father and made returnes of Love to him againe was deceived neither shall ever any to the Worlds end be so in so doing Thou art then in this upon a most sure bottome If thou believest and receivest the Father as Love he will infallibly be so to thee though others may fall under his severity but Ob 3. I cannot find my heart making Returnes of Love unto God Could I find my Soule set upon him I could then believe his Soule delighted § 15 in me Answ. This is the most preposterous course that possibly thy thoughts can pitch upon a most ready way to rob God of his glory Herein is Love saith the Holy Ghost not that we loved God but that he loved us first 1 Joh. 4. 10 19. Now thou wouldest invert this Order and say herein is Love not that God loved me but that I love him first This is to take the Glory of God from him that whereas he loves us without a cause that is in our selves and we have all cause in the World to love him
in Christ but of this fully before This then also is hid in him 3. There must moreover be a way wherein we must walke with God God did at the beginning assigned us a path to walke in with him even the path of Innocency and exact Holinesse in a Covenant of workes This path by sinne is so filled with thornes and briers so stopped up by curses and wrath that no flesh living can take one step in that path a new way for us to walke in must be found out if ever we think to hold communion with God And this also lys upon the former account It is hid in Christ All the world cannot but by and in him discover a path that a man may walke one step with God in And therefore the holy Ghost tells us that Christ hath consecrated dedicated and set apart for that purpose a new and living way into the holyest of all Heb. 10. 20. a new one for the first old one was uselesse a living one for the other is dead therefore saith he v. 22. let us draw neer having a way to walke in let us draw neere And this way that he hath prepared is no other but himselfe Ioh. 14. 5. in answer to them who would goe to the Father and hold Communion with him he tells them I am the way and no man cometh to the Father but by me He is the medium of all Communication between God and us In him we meet in him we walke all influences of Love Kindesse Mercy from God to us are through him all our returnes of Love Delight Faith Obedience unto God are all through him He being that one way God so often promiseth his people and it is a glorious way Isa. 35. 8. an high way a way of Holinesse a way that none can erre in that once enter it which is further set out Isa. 42. 16. All other ways all paths but this go down to the chambers of death they all lead to walke contrary to God 4. But suppose all this that Agreement be made Acquaintance given and a way provided yet if we have no Strength § 38 to walke in that way what will all this availe us This also then must be added Of our selves we are of no strength Rom. 5. 6. poore weakelings not able to goe a step in the ways of God when we are set in the way either we throw our selves down or Temptations cast us down and we make no progresse and the Lord Iesus tells us plainely that without him we can doe nothing Ioh. 15. 5. not any thing at all that shall have the least acceptation with God Neither can all the creatures in Heaven Earth yeild us the least assistance Mens contending to do it in their own power comes to nothing This part of this Wisdome also is hid in Christ. All strength to walke with God is from him I can doe all things through Christ that strengthneth me saith Saint Paul Phil. 4. 12. who denys that of our selves we have any sufficiency 2 Cor. 3. 5. We that can doe nothing in our selves we are such weaklings can doe all things in Jesus Christ as Giants and therefore in him we are against all oppositions in our way more than Conquerours Rom. 8. 37. and that because from his fullnesse we receive Grace for Grace Joh. 1. 16. From him have we the Spirit of life and power whereby he beares us as on Eagles wings swiftly safely in the paths of walking with God Any step that is taken in any way by strength that is not immediately from Christ is one step towards Hell He first takes us by the arme and teaches us to goe untill he lead us on to perfection He hath milke and strong meat to feed us he strengthens us with all might and is with us in our running the race that is set before us But yet 5. Whence should we take this Confidence as to walke with § 39. Heb. 12. 31. God even our God who is a consuming fire Was there not such a dread upon his people of old that it was taken for granted among them that if they saw God at any time it was not to be endured they must dye Can any but with extreame horrour think of that dreadfull appearance that he made unto them of old upon Mount Sinai untill Moses himself who was their Mediator said I exceedingly feare and quake Heb. 12. 21. and all the people said let not God speake with us least we dye Exod. 20. 19. Nay though men have apprehensions of the Goodnesse and kindnesse of God yet upon any discovery of his Glory how doe they tremble and are filled with dread and astonishment Hath it not been so with the choisest of his Saints Heb. 3. 16. Isa. 6. 5. Job 42. 5 6. whence then should we take to our selves this boldnesse to walke with God This the Apostle will informe us in Heb. 10 19. it is by the blood of Jesus so Ephes. 3 12. in him we have boldnesse and accesse with confidence not standing a farre off like the people at the giving of the Law but drawing nigh to God with boldnesse and that upon this account The dread and terrour of God entred by sinne Adam had not the least thought of hiding himselfe untill he had sinned The guilt of sinne being on the Conscience and this being a common notion left in the hearts of all that God is a most Righteous revenger thereof this fills men with dread and horrour at an apprehension of his presence fearing that he is come to call their sinnes to remembrance Now the Lord Jesus by the Sacrifice and the Attonement that he hath made hath taken away this Conscience of sinne that is a dread of revenge from God upon the account of the guilt thereof He hath removed the slaying sword of the Law and on that account gives us great boldnesse with God discovering him unto us now no longer as a revenging Judge but as a tender mercifull and reconciled Father Moreover wherereas there is on us by nature a Spirit of Bondage filling us with innumerable tormenting feares he takes it a way and gives us the Spirit of Adoption whereby we cry Abba Father behave our selves with Confidence and gracious boldnesse as Children for where the Spirit of God is there is Liberty 2 Cor. 3. 17. That is a freedome from all that dread and terrour which the Administration of the Law brought with it Now as there is no sinne that God will more severely revenge then any boldnesse that man takes with him out of Christ so there is no grace more acceptable to him then that boldnesse which he is pleased to afford us in the blood of Jesus There is then 6. But one thing more to adde and that is that two cannot walke together unlesse they have the same designe in hand § 40 and ayme at the same End this also in a word is given us in the Lord Jesus The End of God is
The spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him the spirit of wisdome and understanding the spirit of councell and might the spirit of knowledge and of the feare of the Lord c. Many of the endowments of Christ from the Spirit wherewith he was abundantly anointed are here recounted Principally those of Wisdome Councell and Understanding are insisted on on the Account whereof all the Treasures of Wisdome and Knowledge are said to be in him Col. 2. 3. and though this be but some part of the furniture of Jesus Christ for the discharge of his Office yet it is such as where our anoynting to the same purpose is mentioned it is said peculiarly on the effecting of such Qualifications as these so John 2. 22 and 27. the work of the anoynting is to teach us The Spirit therein is a Spirit of Wisdome and understanding of Councell Knowledge and quick understanding in the feare of the Lord. So was the great promise of the Comforter that he should teach us Joh. 14. 26. that he should guide us into all truth Chap. 16. 13. This of teaching us the mind and will of God in the manner wherein we are taught it by the Spirit our Comforter is an eminent part of our unction by him which only I shall instance in Give me leave to say there is a threefold teaching by the spirit 1. A teaching by the Spirit of Conviction and illumination so the Spirit teacheth the world that is many in it by the Preaching of the Word as he is promised to doe Joh. 16. 8. 2. A teaching by the spirit of Sanctification opening blind eyes giving a new understanding shining into our hearts to give us a knowledge of the Glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ enableing us to receive Spirituall things in a Spirituall light 1 Cor. 2. 8. giving a saving knowledge of the mistery of the Gospell and this in severall degrees is common to all Believers 3. A teaching by the Spirit of Consolation making sweet usefull and joyfull to the soule the discoveries that are made of the mind and Will of God in the light of the Spirit of Sanctification Here the oyle of the Spirit is called the Oyle of gladnesse That which beings Joy and Gladnesse with it And the name of Christ hereby discovered is a sweet oyntment powred forth that causeth Soules to runne after him with joy and delight Cant. 1. 2. We see it by daily experience that very many have little tast and sweetnesse and relish in their Soules of those Truths which yet they savingly know and believe But when we are taught by this unction oh how sweet is every thing we know of God As we may see in the place of Iohn where mention is made of the teaching of this unction it respects peculiarly the Spirit teaching of us the Love of God in Christ the shining of his Countenance which as David speaks puts Gladnesse into our hearts Psal. 4. 6 7. We have this then by the Spirit he teacheth us of the Love of God in Christ he makes every Gospell Truth as wine well refined § 25 to our Soules and the good things of it to be a feast of fatt things gives us Joy and gladnesse of heart with all that wee know of God which is the great preservative of the Soule to keep it close to Truth The Apostle speaks of our teaching by this unction as the meanes whereby we are preserved from seduction Indeed to know any Truth in the Power sweetnesse Joy Gladnesse of it is that great security of the soules constancy in the preservation and retaining of it They will readily change Truth for Error who find no more sweetnesse in the one then in the other I must crave the Readers pardon for my briefe passing over these great things of the Gospell my present designe is rather to enumerate then to unfold them This one work of the Holy Ghost might it be pursued would require a fuller discourse then I can allot unto the whole matter in hand All the priviledges we enjoy all the Dignity and honour we are invested withall our whole dedication unto God our Nobility and Royalty our interest in all Church advantages and approaches to God in worship our separation from the world the name whereby we are called the liberty we enjoy all flow from this head are all branches of this effect of the Holy Ghost I have mentioned only our teaching by this unction a Teaching that brings joy and gladnesse with it by giving the heart a sense of the Truth wherein we are instructed When we find any of the good Truths of the Gospell come home to our soules with life vigour and power giving us gladnesse of heart transforming us into the image and likenesse of it the Holy Ghost is then at his work is powring out of his oyle We have Adoption also by the Spirit hence he is called the Spirit of Adoption that is either he who is given to Adopted ones § 26 to secure them of it to beget in their hearts a sense and Perswasion of the Fathers Adopting Love or else to give them the priviledge it selfe as is intimated Joh. 1. 12. Neither is that opposite hereunto which we have Gal. 4 6. for God may send the spirit of supplication into our hearts because we are Sons and yet Adopted by his spirit But of this elsewhere He is also called the Spirit of Supplication under which notion he is promised Zach. 12. 10. and how he affects that in us is § 27 declared Rom. 8. 26. 27. and Gal 4. 6. and we are thence said to pray in the Holy Ghost Our prayers may be considered 1. Two waies First as a spirituall Duty required of us by God and so they are wrought in us by the Spirit of Sanctification which helps us to performe all our duties by exalting all the faculties of the Soule for the Spirituall discharge of their respective offices in them 2. As a meanes of retaining Communion with God whereby we sweetly ease our hearts in the bosome of the Father and receive in refreshing tasts of his Love The Soule is never more raysed with the Love of God then when by the Spirit taken into intimate communion with him in the discharge of this duty and therein it belongs to the Spirit of Consolation to the Spirit promised as a Comforter And this is the next thing to be considered in our Communion with the Holy Ghost namely what are the peculiar Effects which he worketh in us and towards us being so bestowed on us as was declared and working in the way and manner insisted on Now these are His bringing the promises of Christ to remembrance glorifying him in our hearts shedding abroad the love of God in us witnessing with us as to our spirituall estate and condition sealing us to the day of redemption being the earnest of our Inheritance anoynting us with priviledges as to their consolation confirming our Adoption and being present
man of a very easy discerning may find them out yet their delusion so strong that not a few are deceived This is one thing that lys evident to every eye That according to his wounted course Satan with his delusions is runne into an extreame to his former actings Not long since his great designe as I manifested was to try up Ordinances without the Spirit casting all the reproach § 6 that he could upon him now to cry up a Spirit without and against Ordinances casting all reproach and contempt possible upon them Then he would have a ministry without the Spirit now a Spirit without a ministry Then the reading of the word might suffice without either preaching or praying by the Spirit now the Spirit is enough without reading or studying the word at all Thē he allowed a litterall embracing of what Christ had don in the flesh now he talkes of Christ in the Spirit only and denys him to be come in the flesh the proper character of the false Spirit we are warned of 1 Joh. 1. 3. Now because it is most certaine that the Spirit which we are to heare and embrace is the Spirit promised by Christ which is so cleare that Him the Montanists Paraclete yea and Mahomet pretended himselfe to be and those of our daies affirme also pretend the same Let us briefly try them by some of the Effects mentioned which Christ hath promised to give the Holy Ghost for The first generall Effect as was observed was this that he should bring to remembrance the things that Christ spake for our guidance and Consolation This was to be the worke of the Holy Ghost § 7 towards the Apostles who were to be the pen-men of the Scriptures this is to be his work towards Believers to the end of the world Now the things that Christ hath spoken and did are written that we might believe and believing have life through his name Ioh. 20. 30. They are written in the Scripture This then is the worke of the Spirit which Christ hath promised he shall bring to our remembrances and give us understanding of the words of Christ in the Scripture for our guidance and consolation Is this now the worke of the Spirit which is abroad in the world and perverteth many Nothing lesse His businesse is to decry the things that Christ hath spoken which are written in the Word To pretend new Revelations of his own To lead men from the written word wherein the whole worke of God and all the promises of Christ are recorded Againe the worke of the Spirit promised by Christ is to glorify him He shall Glorify me for he shall take of mine and shew it unto you John 16. 14. him who was to suffer at Jerusalem who § 8 then spake to his Disciples It was to make him Glorious Honourable and of high esteem in the hearts of Believers and that by shewing his things his Love Kindnesse Grace and purchase unto them This is the worke of the Spirit The worke of the Spirit that is gone abroad is to glorify it selfe to decry and render contemptible Christ that suffered for us under the name of a Christ without us which it slights and despiseth and that professedly It s own Glory it s own honour is all that it aymes at wholly inverting the order of the divine dispensations The fountaine of all being and lying in the Fathers love the Sonne came to glorify the Father He still says I seek not my own glory but the glory of him that sent me The Sonne having carryed on the worke of Redemption was now to be glorifyed with the Father So he prays that it might be John 17. 1. The hower is come glorify the Sonne and that with the glrry which he had before the world when his joynt councell was in the carrying on the Fathers Love Wherefore the Holy Ghost is sent and his worke is to glorify the Sonne but now as I said we have a Spirit come forth whose whole businesse is to glorify himselfe whereby we may easily know whence he is Furthermore the Holy Ghost sheds abroad the love of God in our Hearts as was declared and thence fills them with joy § 9 Peace and hope quieting and refreshing the hearts of them in whom he dwells giving them liberty and rest confidence and the boldnesse of children This Spirit whereof men now boast is a Spirit of bondage whose utmost worke is to make men quake and tremble casting them into an unsonlike frame of Spirit driving them up and down with horror and bondage and drinking up their very naturall spirits making their whole man wither away There is scarce any one thing that more evidently manifesteth the Spirit whereby some are now acted not to be the Comforter promised by Christ then this That he is a Spirit of bondage and slavery in them in whom he is and a spirit of cruelty and reproach toward others in a direct opposition to the holy Ghost in Believers and all the ends and purpurposes for which as a Spirit of Adoption and Consolation he is bestowed on them To give one instance more the Holy Ghost bestowed on § 10 Believers is a Spirit of Prayer and Supplication as was manifested The Spirit wherewith we have to doe pretends the carrying men above such low and contemptible meanes of communion with God In a word it were a very easy and facile taske to passe through all of the eminent effects of the Holy Ghost in and towards Believers and to manifest that the pretending spirit of our daies comes in a direct opposition and contradiction to every one of them Thus hath Satan passed from one extreame to another from a bitter wretched opposition to the Spirit of Christ unto a cursed pretending to the Spirit still to the same end and purpose I might give sundry other instances of the contempt or abuse of the dispensation of the Spirit Those mentioned are the extreames whereunto all other are or may be reduced and I will not farther divert from that which lys directly in my ayme CHAP. VI. Of Particular Communion with the Holy Ghost Of preparation thereunto Valution of the the Benefits we receive by him what it is he comforts us in and against Wherewith How THe way being thus made plain for us I come to shew § 1 how wo hold particular communion with the Holy Ghost as he is promised of Christ to be our Comforter and as working out our Consolation by the meanes formerly insisted on Now the first thing I shall doe herein is the proposall of that which may be some preparation to the duty under consideration and this by leading the soules of Believers to a due valuation of this work of his towards us whence he is called our comforter To raise up our hearts to this frame and fit us for the duty § 2 intended let us consider these three things 1. First What it is he comforts us against 2. Secondly Wherewith he Comforts us 3.