the disproportion between one condition and the other here is affliction there is glory here light affliction there is weight of glory here is momentany afflictions there is eternity of glory But that that is chiefly for our purpose in this text is the influence that these afflictions have towards this glory in the word worketh knowing that these afflictions c. worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternall weight of glory the suffering of Christ hath wrought it for us but our own suffering worketh us for it namely by the sweet growing of grace and subduing of sin through these afflictions And the Apostle saith that by afflictions that is through the kind working of afflictions we are made partakers of his holinesse Hebr. 12.10 the Apostle vindicates a necessitie of afflictions to this purpose Now for a season if need be you are in afflictions through manifold temptations if need be that is if the glorie of God and your good doth require it For so saith the context that the triall of your faith being much more precious then gold that perisheth though it be tried with fire might be found unto praise and honour and glory of God at the appearing of Jesus Christ 1 Pet. 1.7 8. Let me appeal unto the experiences of the Saints whether they do not find and feel the quiet fruit of righteousnesse the fruits of sufferings do not corruptions weaken the sweet influence of divine joy dependance patience hope meeknesse contentednesse humilitie and love to God increase more and more when they are under the crosse Thus the Spirit convinceth that God as a Father chastiseth in measure in love and to fit them thereby for that glorie whereunto he hath appointed them That is the second particular the Spirit convinceth and comforteth by convincing that God afflicteth as a Father tender and loving in Jesus Christ Thirdly the Spirit of Jesus Christ comforteth Beleevers in evill times by opening unfolding and breaking up the exceeding rich and precious promises of the Gospel and applying the same unto the soule the word of God is that River the streams whereof shall make glad the Citie of God Psal 46.4 and these waters breakes out in the wildernesse and these streams in the desart Esay 35.6 When poor Hagar was in the wildernesse with her child and her accomodations gone she casts her thirstie infant under a shrub and not able to heare the pittifull cryes of her bemoaning babe then doth the Angel of the Lord shew her a Well at hand which was there before though not discerned Gen. 21.16.19 just so when outward comforts are gone and spent and the poore soule at a losse not knowing what to doe but to lift up the eye towards God and weepe why then doth the Lord by his Spirit shew them the sweetnesse and fulnesse of such and such promises which before were not regarded Tell me you plundered beleevers that are driven as Hagar out of house and home did you ever feel the sweetnesse of the promises in that measure as you now feele them have not these breasts of Consolation been sweet and luscious unto your tasts Psal 119.50 saith David This is my comfort in my affliction thy word hath quickned me and many such passages as these I had fainted had it not been for thy word I rejoyce at thy word as one that findeth great spoiles 162. verse Hath not this been your case have you not found those treasures in the promises the spoiles of the victories of Jesus Christ for you which you never looked for hath not the word of promise been more precious then gold and sweeter then the honey yea and the honey comb have you ever seene your rich and glorious estate in Christ so cleare and evident as of late hath not the Lord fince he separated you from your comforts relations estates and employments brought you as once he did Peter and James and John to the Mount and transfigured himselfe before you shewed himselfe in such fulnesse of glory and satisfaction that you have said it is good for us to be here hath not this time of trouble compared with the rest of your former time of your lives been like Gideons fleece most sweetly filled with the fatning dew of inward joy and peace and comfort did not many of the sweet promises of the Gospel before lye by you as uselesse did you ever know the meaning of them as of late Experience is the best knowledge and now have you not experience of the fulnesse and truth of such promises as these In ill never leave thee nor forsake thee I will be with thee when thâ—u art in the fire it shall not burn thee and in the water it shall not drown thee I will be thy God all-sufficient Have you not seen the truth of this great promise Trust in the Lord and do good so shalt thou dwell in the land and verily thou shalt be fed Psal 37.3 Can you not read the truth of the promises in your experiences as you did before the letter of them in your Bibles Have you been a looser by your sufferings Would you sell if it were possible your experiences for your former injoyments Can you not say with Solomon Blessed be the Lord God of Israel who hath with his hands fulfilled that which he spake with his mouth 2 Chron. 6.4 That is the third way whereby the Spirit comforteth in evill times by opening the treasures of the promises and by staying and chearing the heart with the comforts thereof Fourthly the Spirit of Jesus Christ comforteth beleevers in evill times by translating or carrying away the soul above out of the reach of all present troubles and sorrows so that as I may allude unto that of Philip in Act. 8.39 the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip from the Eunuch and he could see him no more but he was found at Azotus just so when troubles and sorrows arise the Spirit of the Lord catcheth away the heart and soul of beleevers and these cannot find them Isa 33.16 it is said of a beleever that he shall dwell on high his place of defence shall be a munition of rocks And in Cant. 2.14 the Church is said to dwell in the clefts of the rocks that is in the wounds of Christ for securitie from the guilt of sin in the attributes of God for his securitie in respect of the power and reach of sin and sorrow having all the attributes of God as so many mightie Rocks for his safetie and in or among the promises of the Cospel for his inward chear and spirituall consolation and here she dwels it is the place of her habitation and constant abode that no trouble or sorrow can come at her nor touch her at any time Revel 12.1 she is said to have the Moon under her feet So that it is as easie for men yea more casie for men to hit the Moon and pluck her out of the firmament then it is to come at the
be kept under and the Spirit of Christ will be above all The needle that is once touched with the load-stone though it may be hindred through the strength of some motion yet its naturall bias is still towards the North and will shake and tremble untill such time as it settles there Even so an heart once touched with Christ is naturally bending I mean in respect of its new nature and acting towards Christ and is never quiet in its obstructions untill it settles in him as the Mantle of Elijah being cast upon Elisha 1 King 19.19 20. made him run after the Prophet even so the Spirit of Christ being once poured forth upon a man maketh him ever after to run after Christ And as the spirit of Elijah did rest upon Elisha 2 King 2.15 even so doth the Spirit of Christ upon true Christians which Spirit doth alwaies maintain a continuall warre against sin Galat. 5.17 and at last as Esau is kickt out of the wombe after much striving and Jacob possesseth it alone and as after long war between the house of David and the house of Saul yet at last the house of Saul decreasing Saul is slain and David weares the Crown So sin dies and at last the Lord Jesus reigns in the heart bringing down all strong holds there and setling his own blessed and glorious kingdom in the roome thereof Thirdly The Spirit of Christ trades for God with the soule as Christ trades for the soule with God There is a holy trade betweene God and Beleevers Gods wealth and riches are his glory he trades with Beleevers for that peace and favour with God is a Beleevers riches he trades with God for that Beleevers have a Factor with God in the heavens that is Christ God hath a Factor with Beleevers in earth that is his Spirit Christ brings it about so with God that all that is in God and from God his Attributes his Actions c. are according to and fall in with a Beleevers peace and benefit in the latter end So the Spirit brings it so about in the soule that the whole soule and all that is within it and proceeds from it is in a sweet degree according to and falling in with the glory of God Christ hath taken away all enmity out of the heart of God toward Beleevers and the Spirit of Christ takes away the enmity that is in the heart of man towards God Christ presents his blood and his all sufficient Sacrifice unto God and by this hee prevailes with God for man We have redemption through his blood Ephes 1.5 Wee are made nigh by the blod of Christ Ephes 2.13 And we have boldnesse to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus Heb. 10.21 These and many such like places of Scripture holds forth the glorious efficacy of Christs blood with God in Beleevers behalfe and the Spirit of Christ also prevailes with the soul in and by the same blood 1. John 1.7 The blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin Not onely quitteth us but cleanseth us Christ having offered his blood up unto God God now judgeth himselfe satisfied and therefore hath proclaimed it to all the world That in him he is well pleased Matth. 3.17 So now the Spirit representing unto the soule the same all-sufficient Sacrifice of Jesus Christ the soule becomes now reconciled unto God No actions now from God but of love kindnes and that because of the blood of Christ So no actions now from the soule delighted in and own'd towards God but actions of love and dutie and thankfullnesse and that by vertue of the same blood the love of Christ now constraineth them because now they thus judge that those now that live through the blood of Christ should not now live to themselves but unto him that died and gave himselfe for them 2. Cor 5.14 15. Christ hath prevailed with his Father that he should in all things next unto his own glory advance his people in as much as Pharaoh said unto Joseph Thou shalt be ruler over my house and according unto thy word shall all my people be ruled onely in the Throne I will be greater then thee Gen. 41.40 Even so saith God unto his people Have ye dominion from Sea to Sea Psalme 72.8 and concerning the worke of my hands command ye me Isaiah 45.11 Onely my glory will I not give to another Isaiah 42.8 And the truth is God will not be glorified but in the peace and welfare of his people and never did he speake thinke or doe any thing but next unto his glory with reference unto them and all this is accomplished through the Lord Jesus in their behalfe just so the Spirit of Christ prevaileth so with Beleevers that they say concerning themselves and all that they have as Ahab said to Benhadad 1. Kin. 20.4 concerning his silver and gold c. I am thine and all that I have Hence it is that their hearts doe so thirste and pant after Sanctification in so much as Christ did long to perfect the worke of their redemption crying out That he was straightned till he did accomplish it Luke 12.50 Even so a spirituall heart cryes out Oh that my wayes were so directed that I might keep thy Statutes Psal 119.151 And the promises of Sanctification are sweet and luscious unto their hearts and they do plead so pathetically and cordially the performance of these promises that concernes their Sanctification the stony heart is their deep complaint and the heart of flesh their strong desires in so much that these requests takes up the very quintessence and life of their soules in their wrastling with God in so much as that what ever God denies them he shall not deny them that the reason of this is That the Lord Christ might be more advanced both in them and by them So that as Christ trades with God for Beleevers peace even so doth the Spirit of Christ trade with them for his praise and glory Fourthly The Spirit of Christ doth most affect the heart with spirituall objects things that are spirituall do most take up the soule the things of heaven the building not made with hands the incorruptible crowne the life that is to come and all those things that accommodate that way are most taking and acceptable it makes the heart subscribe unto the testimony that the Scriptures gives of this world that all here is vanity that the world passeth away c. and that that which is spirituall is most substantiall faith hope love meeknesse patience c. These are their riches and their substances and those duties that are high divine and spirituall are most sweet spirituall fellowship spirituall language spirituall notions these are most choise and precious unto the soule hence the Scripture saith That they minde or savour or relish the things of the Spirit Rom. 8.5 And the naturall man cannot discerne the things of the Spirit but the spirituall man judgeth thereof
Spirit of Christ stamps the image of his Son upon us looking upon and beholding the glory of the Lord we are changed into the same image from glory to glory even as by the Spirit of the Lord 2. Cor. 3.18 that is the first reason God gives the Spirit of his Sonn to conforme us to the similitude of his Sonne Secondly God gives his people the Spirit of his Son which is the fruit of his death and intercession that we may be fully convinced of all the glorious perfections and fruits of the death and merits of Jesus Christ God hath convinced us of the perfection of his love by sending his Sonne into the world John 3.16 God so loved the world that he gave his Sonne if you will measure his love measure the gift but both the one and the other is infinite Christ was the ensuring earnest of his love having given him he will surely give all things with him Rom. 8.32 Now as Christ is an assuring testimonie of the perfection of Gods love so the gift of the Spirit is an assuring testimonie of the perfection of Christs merits and therefore it is called the earnest of our inheritance untill the redemption of the purchased possession 1. Ephes 14. greater is Christ then all other fruits of Gods love and greater is the Spirit then all other fruits of Christs merits as all the fruits of Gods love are intayled unto the person of Christ so all the fruits of Christs death are intayled unto the Spirit of Christ hee that hath Christ need not question whether God will give any other fruit of his love so he that hath the Spirit need not question any other fruit of Christs merits his Justification Sanctification Adoption Grace and Glory will follow God would not have us doubt of his love and therefore he hath given us the person of his Son neither would he have us doubt of the fruit of Christs merits aad therefore hath hee given us the Spirit of his Son the very gift of Christ being understood doth convince of the love of God and yet Christ in his person did also preach the love of God so the very gift of the Spirit doth convince of the merits of Christ and yet this Spirit doth preach and declare the perfection of Christs merits None in the world could be convinced of the love of God except Christ had preached it unto him so none in the world can be convinced of the merits of Christ except this Spirit doth shew it and preach it unto him Christ did bear witnesse of the truth of Gods love and his witnesse is true John 5.31 and it is the Spirit that beareth witnesse unto Christs blood and this Spirit is truth 1. John 5.6 What ever God gives and not his Son there is no testimonie of Gods love so what ever the soule hath and not the Spirit there is no conviction of the merits of Christ though the Word speakes peace and the Prophets of God speakes peace and all the people of God speakes peace yet the soule cannot heare it except God viz. by his Spirit cause it to heare the voyce of joy and gladnesse Psal 51.8 Thirdly God gives the Spirit of his Son unto his Saints to fit them for glory God doth not love disproportion when he made a woman for man hee made her a meet help 1. Genesis 18. When God sent Christ for the worke of Redemption he fitted him A body hast thou prepared or fitted Heb. 10.5 So God intending his Elect for glorie he makes them meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the Saints in light 1. Col. 12. and to sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus 2. Ephes 6. and this meetnesse is by the Spirit for the Elect of God are chosen to salvation through the sanctification of the Spirit and beleefe of the Truth 2. Thess 2.13 who living in the Spirit and walking in the Spirit wait through the Spirit for the righteousnesse of Faith viz. the end thereof which is the salvation of their soules Gal. 5.5 no uncleane thing shall enter into the Kingdome of God Revel 22.15 but the Saints shall therefore are they washed and sanctified and just fied in the Name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of ouâ— God 1. Cor. 6.11 The Sacrifices and all the appurtenances thereof under the Law were to be sanctified and set apart and the Priests that were to enter into the holy place were sanctified and chosen from the world for that purpose and this sanctification was tipified by the anointing oil sprinkled upon Aaron Exod. 29.21 So the Saints of God are sanctified chosen or separated out of the world being made spirituall Kings and Priests unto God and appointed to come into that holy place even the place of glorie wherein dwelleth righteousnesse to give glory and honour and thanks to him that sitteth upon the Throne that liveth for ever and ever Revel 4.9 which sanctification consisteth in the powring forth of the Spirit compared to oyle 1. John 2.27 upon the Saints and thereby fitting them for glory Lastly God gives his people the Spirit of his Son that so they may be enabled to doe and suffer his will in an acceptable manner God is a Spirit and will be worshipped in Spirit 4. John 23. hee requireth that wee should pray in the Spirit and sing in the Spirit 1. Cor. 14.15 that wee should walke in the Spirit and live in the Spirit Gal. 5.25 that wee should doe every thing from a spirituall principle according to a spirituall rule with reference unto a spirituall end God is not a hard Master requiring to reap where he did not sow exacting a tale of bricke and give no straw but that they may doe the will of God in an acceptable manner he gives his Spirit unto all his Saints the Apostle saith that through Christ we have accesse by one Spirit unto the Father 2. Ephes 18. through Christ viz. the blood of Christ wee are brought into this grace and by the Spirit wee are enabled to improve this grace viz. in all spirituall services so that God gives them his Spirit that so they may be enabled to offer up spirituall sacrifices acceptable unto God by Jesus Christ 1. Pet. 2.5 And so likewise for passive obedience he hath given them his Spirit that with comfort and spirituall joy and consolation they may undergoe that hard worke of bearing the crosse which leadeth me to the solution of the second generall Question Namely how the Spirit doth comfort beleevers in evill times How doth the Spirit of Christ support Beleevers in evill times Answ First by his owne naturall genuine and proper strength and influence 1. John 4 4. You are of God little children and have overcome the world because greater is he that is in you then he that is in the world the Saints of God are as little children in meeknesse humilitie singlenesse of heart simplicitie of mind freedom from envie dependance upon God and
God my high tower God gives unto the soule the wings of a Dove as David hath it Psalme 55.6 viz. of his Spirit whereby he flies away and is at rest Tell me you experienced holy ones did you ever feele the strength of faith more glorious in you then since these troubles came upon you have you not found your faith a great deale weaker under lesser troubles then now when happily you are plundered of all you have Fourthly as the Spirit of God shewes the soule where his sccuritie is and the doore hereunto and gives legs and spirit to run unto it it shewes God and Jesus Christ and brings the soule unto God through Christ So in the fourth place it enables the souleta treat with God in prayer and to prevaile with him to be his securitie his rocke his defence c. The Spirit of Christ moves the soule towards God through Christ and then suggests and dictates its request unto him Gal. 4.6 Because you are sonnes God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Sonne into your hearts whereby you cry Abba Father the Saints of God are sons of God Ye are sons saith the Text the free grace of God maketh them so by adoption the Spirit of God makes them so by the infusion of the Divine Nature viz. so farr as communicable the sons of God have the Spirit of Christ because you are sonnes God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts where hee gives the priviledges of his Sonne he gives the Spirit of his Sonne into their hearts not onely the knowledge of his Sonne into their heads and the confession of his Sonne into their tongues but the Spirit of his Sonne into their hearts whereby ye cry the Spirit of Christ is a spirit of prayer and of fervency in prayer ye cry Abba Father the Spirit of Christ is the Spirit of adoption and that to the Greeks as well as to the Jewes and the Spirit perswades that now the sonnes of God are not onely of the Jewes but the Gentiles and that hee is a Father to all that call upon him in Truth whether Jewes or Greekes and therefore the Apostle here speaketh in the language both of the Jewes and Greekes viz. the whole world Abba Father the maine that we note here to our purpose is that the Spirit of Christ is a Spirit of prayer and it cheares the soule in time of trouble by enabling it to powre out it selfe unto the Lord in prayer which is a sweet supporting exercise God commands in nothing to be carefull but in every thing to let our requests be made knowne unto him in giving of thankes Philip. 4.6 God would have his people live in quietnesse not in anxious troubles and solicitous cares of the minde be so carefull for nothing turne not your troubles into cares but into prayers in every thing by prayer and supplication let every thing occasion prayer and supplication and let your prayers be alwayes dasht with thanks-giving your present wants may move your prayers and earnest requests your supplications and your present enjoyments calls for your thanks-giving This God commands in many places in the holy Scriptures Open thy mouth wide I will fill it Psal 81.10 we cannot out pray Gods power and goodnesse No he is able and therefore willing to doe abundantly above all that we are able to aske or thinke Ephes 3.20 I might bring in many more places as that in the Canticles 2.14 Let me see thy face let me heare thy voice and againe Call upon me in the day of trouble I will heare thee and turne thy prayer into prayses thou shalt praise me Psal 50.15 The Spirit puts the soule into an improvement of these incouragements in this duty And here againe let me appeale unto you Oh ye afflicted and persecuted Saints did you ever feele the Spirit of prayer so swectly breathing in your souls as since your troubles Have you not found that freenesse and inlargednesse of spirit which you neuer found in all the dayes of your pilgrimage cannot many a secret corner witnesse such pantings such movings such powring forth of prayers and teares and holy and heavenly affections as you never knew before and hath not this been a most sweet strengthning ordinance unto you though God hath touched you as it were in the hollow of your thigh I mean your estate your friends and outward comforts that perhaps you may halt all the dayes of your life in respect thereof yet have you not had such a blessing through your wrastling with God as that you would not want it for all your former wonted comforts That is the fourth particuler Fiftly as the Spirit of God doth minde the soule of God his tower of Jesus Christ the doore into it gives strength to come unto it enables to pray and prevaile with God for protection and supplies so in the last place the spirit proves in the soule grace sufficient to support to uphold during the trouble it lies under 2. Cor. 12.9 The Apostle Paul lying under some great pressure of spirit what it was is the different judgement of many godly learned yet it drove him unto God in Christ and his answere was that the grace of God was sufficient for him the grace of God that is the favour of God is sufficient to appease and satisfie his conscience from guilt and the grace of God that is the Spirit of grace is sufficient to support and keepe up the heart notwithstanding the power of the affliction This Spirit of Christ convaies as it were the influence of Gods attributes his power goodnesse and mercy and the influence of Christs Offices and Merits and applyes and brings home the sweet and luscious promises and the strength of supporting ordinances in that experimentall and sutable manner unto the condition of the soule that no man knowes the meaning hereof but spirituall Christians indeed And tell me againe O ye afflicted of the Lord have you not felt the secret workings of the attributes of God Offices Blood and Merits of Christ the Promises of the Gospel and Ordinances of Gods Worship like the still dew of heaven dropping upon your soules and making you fruitfull in all peace and joy in beleeving filling you with patience meekenesse and all other graces of the Spirit to the praise of his grace And have not you beene in respect of your inward and spirituall security like God himselfe a bove all storms and troubles belowe able to laugh them to scorne have you not felt such refreshings to come from the presence of the Lord which have been as waters out of a rock in a thirsty land Have you not been hereby able to see all things beneath you and your selves like God in securitie when clouds and darknesse have beene round about you solacing your selves in your God pertaking of that fulnesse of joy and drinking from those rivers of pleasure which are in his presence for evermore And that is the fourth generall
though little children yet able to grapple with and overcome the whole world how so because they are of God viz. of his antient love and the birth of his Gospel Secondly because God is in them viz. by his Spirit and greater is he that is in them viz. to support to comfort to incourage to preserve then he viz. Satan the prince of the power of the aire the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience Ephes 2.2 that is in the world viz. carnall and wicked men to cast down to grieve to discourage to destroy We have another Scripture for this in the third to the Ephes 4.16 I how my knee to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ that he would grant you according to the riches of his glory to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man this our God grants unto beleevers first because he is the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ and in him their Father and so interressed in the same power by which he was strengthened in the inner man in the daies of his flesh and sufferings upon earth Secondly because it is according to or falling in with the riches of his glory viz. the glory of his grace by which he hath the revenews of his glorie coming in even in the highest degree Luke 2.14 and whereof there are riches even treasures wherein he hath abounded towards them Ephes 1.8 Thirdly because this is the joynt request of all the Saints in each others behalf I viz. Paul how my knee viz. in prayer unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ that he would grant you c. the person of the Lord Jesus Christ intercedes in heaven for all his Saints Hebr. 7.25 and the Spirit of our Lord Jesus Christ intercedes in the earth for the same Saints Rom. 8.27 and the Father heareth him who did his will interceding both by his blood and Spirit in heaven and earth Joh. 9.31 this is that divine nature 2 Pet. 1.4 and that power of God 1 Pet. 1.5 whereby the Saints are kept against all their discouragements even unto salvation this is that whereby the Saints are comforted in all their tribulation 2 Cor. 1.4 and whereby their consolations do abound in them beyond the abounding of their afflictions vers 5. it is the Spirit of comfort called the Comforter Joh. 14.16 which shall be as a continuall streame or waters of life in the bowels of the Saints to refresh and chear them in all their losses and troubles of this life the comforts whereof the Spouse of Christ prayeth for Cant. 2.5 Stay me with flaggons and comfort me with apples for I am sick of love all the troubles sorrows and afflictions of the Saints are sicknesses of love as they are from God they proceed from love are steered by love love is the root and rule and end of all as they proceed from man they are because of their love to God therefore in all their afflictions they may be said to be sick of love What is her prayer why stay me with thy flagons and comfort me with thy apples with thy flagons viz. of wine which cheareth the heart Prov. 31.6 Comfort me with thy apples viz. the glorious fruits of Jesus Christ the tree of life under whose shadow the Saints do sit with great delight and whose fruit is pleasant unto their taste vers 2. what are all these expressions but the setting forth of those sweet Consolations of the Spirit of Jesus Christ supporting their hearts in evill times This is that whereof the Church reports Cant. 2.6 His left hand is under my head and his right hand doth embrace me See here the Churches posture in the time of her trouble is lying in the bosome of her beloved grasping her like a tender husband between his arms Jesus Christ hath bosome consolations for his sick Saints watens of life for fainting fits Manna is reserved for the wildernesse and the best wine when all is spent when all forsake the Lord stands by he is light in darbuesse Psal 112.4 Act. 12.7 and mans casting into dungeons is but Christ bringing into his banqueting house where his banner over them is love his left hand is under them and his right handimbraceth them Christ hath left hand mercies viz. the comforts of this lift which though they be contracted within a small bulk even into a little oyl in a cruce 2 King 4.2 five barley leaves and two fishes for five thousand Joh. 6.9 that is a poore something next to nothing to support and maintain a great charge why this is Christs left hand and yet this shall be sufficient if he puts but the effecacie of even his left hand it shall be enough but his right hand mercies are most high and spirituall and when the Lord doth any thing with his right hand he doth it most dextereously even unto perfection as appears if you look Psal 60.5 That thy beloved may be delivered save with thy right hand And so Psal 20.6 45.4 c. So when God imbraceth or comforteth with his right hand he doth it so as none can discourage when all secondarie means of comfort are gone the Lord Jesus doth then comfort most immediately and therefore most perfectly for whatsoever God doth without secondary causes alwayes are without imperfection When he made all things at first coming immediately from between his hands behold all were very good so it is in his immediate consolations Hence it is we read of joy unspeakable and glorious 1 Pet. 1.8 even in the time of heavinesse through many temptations vers 6. thus Jesus Christ viz. by his Spirit becomes a hiding place from the wind and a refuge from the tempest as rivers of water in a dry place and the shadow of a great rock in a wearie land Isa 32.2 Jesus Christ is a sutable good unto all his people and what he is he makes good unto his people by his Spirit So that as Eliiah stretched himself upon the dead child 1 King 17.21 and the soul of the child came unto him again and he revived so when the Saints are as it were kill'd and slain at the first encounter with troubles and persecutions and losses of all their comforts why then doth the Lord Jesus Christ by his Spirit as it were stretch forth himself over them and then their life and joy and peace returns again yea like unto that of the resurrection after death in that perfection that the weak flesh is scarce able to bear it Comforts indeed sutable unto glorified Saints Thus the Spirit chears and comforts the hearts of the Saints by his naturall genuine and proper strength and influence the Spirit of God being in it self a Spirit of comfort Secondly the Spirit chears the hearts of beleevers in evill times by presenting God in Jesus Christ as a deare and loving Father unto them a most sweet and glorious vision and assurance whereof for the most part he vouchsafeth unto them in the dayes
of their trouble When Jesus Christ was to leave the world whose absence was the sorrow of the hearts of his Disciples Joh. 14.1 he comforts them by telling them that he was going to his Father and their Father to his God and their God And Philip lookt upon this as a sufficient means to stay the heart Lord saith he shew us the Father and it sufficeth ver 8. it cannot suffice that God is a Father except he be a revealed Father shew us the Father And as no man cometh unto the Father but by Christ so no man hath seen the Father but the Son and he unto whom he will reveal him Therefore saith he Lord shew us the Father and this he doth by the witnesse of his Spirit Rom 8.16 The Spirit it self beareth witnesse with our spirits that we are the sons of God and this he doth chiefly in a suffering condition for so the next verse sheweth If so be we suffer with him we shall also be glorified with him The bowels of parents yearn towards their sick children and the sweetest language and most tender expressions of their affections are then little enough Luke 15. The Prodigall had more serious thoughts of his father when all was gone then it seems he had when he first received his portion and so the Saints have the sweetest thoughts of their heavenly Father in the saddest times When Abraham had bound Isaac and was readie to slay him Gen. 22. yet the child could look him in the face and cry out my father ver 7. And his father could as tenderly and with as yearning bowels as ever he spake with all in all his life reply Here am I my son v. 8. So when the Saints of God seems as it were to be bound to be sacrificed unto the good will of God in suffering yet they can look in the face of God and cry out Father and hear the voice of God by his Spirit answering here am I my children The Spirit of God worketh a threefold conviction in the hearts of his people in the times of their suffering from this dear and sweet relation First that he will correct in measure Jer. 30.11 What ever I do saith God to other Nations I will not make a full end of thee but I will correct thee in measure the Lord poureth forth his furie upon the heathen but corrects his people in judgement and not in anger Jer. 10.24 25. he corrects in measure in respect of the matter of the afflictions he will visit the transgressions of his people with the rod of a father and their iniquity with stripes Psal 89.32 but he will break the wicked with a rod of iron and dash them in pieces like a potters vessell Psal 2.9 Secondly he corrects in measure in respect of time O my people that dwellest in Sion saith God be not afraid of the Assyrian he shall smite thee with a rod and shall lift up his staffe against thee after the manner of Egypt for yet a little while and the indignation shall cease and mine anger even in their destruction viz. of the Assyrian Isa 10.24.25 Heavinesse may endure for a night but joy shall come in the morning Psal 30.5 His anger endureth but for a moment in his favour is life even in the perfection both of happinesse and duration the Spirit of God convinceth the soul that yet but a little while he that shall come will come and will not carrie Hebr. 10.37 that what God doth in afflicting he will do it in measure that God is faithfull who will not suffer his to be tempted above what they are able to bear that is in respect of the matter of their suffering but will with the temptation make a way to escape there is measure of time 1 Cor. 10.13 Secondly the Spirit convinceth that God as a Father doth afflict them in love not in passion for their good not simply his owne will the Apostle calls for submission unto the will of God in chastising us from that consideration Heb. 12.9.10 c. Our naturall fathers chastened us after their owne pleasure but God for our profit that wee might be partakers of his holinesse c. Wherefore lift up the hands that hang downe and the feeble knees verse 12. the Spirit convinceth Rom. 8.28 that all things shall worke together for the best that out of the eater shall come meat and out of the strong shall come sweet that God will smite this rock viz. of hardship and trouble and sweet waters shall issue there from and that he will make this wildernesse viz. barren conditions in respect of ontward comforts like the garden of Eden in respect of divine and spirituall Consolations that blessed is the man whom he chasteneth Psal 94.12 that it is good for him that he is afflicted and that God will make it a mercy unto him in the latter end and that hee shall cordially and not complementally blesse the Lord for that suffering condition and the sweet experiments of his love therein that bowels of love directs the rod and infinite goodnesse guides the hand Thirdly the Spirit of God perswadeth that God as a father will but discipline him by afflictions and thereby make him meet for his inheritance an ingenuous beleever is not satisfied that glory is purchased for him by the sufferings of Christ but is willing also to be made meet for that inheritance by his owne sufferings forasmuch as it is the will of God that through many afflictions we must enter into the kingdome of heaven the Lord Jesus himselfe sanctifying that road by his own sufferings for this cause the Apostle Paul with the rest of the suffering Saints did not faint because though the outward man did perish yet the inner man is renued day by day 2 Corinth 4.16 What a beleever is in estate he is in spirituals And he reckons himself to rise and fall as is the condition not of his outward but inner man and herein is the difference between a formall and reall Christian Let the formalist abound in the outward man he hath his will but a beleever rejoyceth in his increase and thriving in the inner man although it be gained by the perishing of the outward man and therefore they will rejoyce even in affliction knowing that their affliction worketh patience and patience experience and experience hope and hope maketh not ashamed because the love of God is shed abroad in their hearts This kindly working of their afflictions caufing them to thrive in the inner man and thereby fitting them for glory makes them sweetly submit to the will of God herein it makes them say with sweet submission of heart Shall I not drinke of my Fathers cup and ought I not first to suffer and then to enter into glory as Christ did the soul looks upon these outward afflictions which are but for a season as working for them a farre more exceeding and eternall weight of glory 2. Cor. 4.18 See here
Spouse of Jesus Christ I have heard of some Indians that being scorched with the heat of the Sun have thrown up their darts to hit it which have returned upon themselves all their power and endeavours this way being tokens of their malice and madnesse And just so the holinesse of the lives of the Saints dazling the eyes and scorching the reputes of wicked men moves them to cast their darts of malice and persecution against them to their own ruine but they are as the Sun in the firmament which God himself hath established and all the world cannot remove it Prov. 18.10 The Name of the Lord is a strong tower the righteous run into it and are safe The Spirit of God leadeth them into this tower yea and quickly conveighs and carries them into this tower in time of trouble so that they can enjoy themselves in securitie God hath no more for his own securitie but the Saints have the same What hath God for his securitie peace and glorie but his own blessed self and infinite attributes and that is the portion of beleevers This made the Prophet David to say God is our refuge and strength a verie present help in troubles therefore will not fear though the earth be removed though the mountains be carried into the midst of the Sea Psal 46.1 what is the Reason vers 7. The God of Jacob is our refuge of Jacob that is of the Saints in their lowest estate and condition For so often in Scripture when the Saints are set forth in their weaknesse it is by the name of Jacob as Isa 41.14 Fear not thou worm Jacob now the God of Jacob is our refuge and so Psal 18.2 The Lord is my rock and my fortresse and my high tower Why now carnall men and meer formalists observes the letter of these things but know not the meaning of it It is common and ordinarie to say the Lord is our help and our defence our shield our tower c. but it is rare to find a man able to shew from his own inward and personall experience how the Spirit of God conveighs him in the time of troubles thus unto God as unto a tower which is I conceive after this method First when troubles do arise the Spirit of God presently minds the soul where is his securitie where he must be safe as the poore Conies which makes their houses in the Rocks Prov. 30.26 when she is in danger she presently minds her hole so doth Beleevers at the first approach of trouble for this indeed is naturall in time of sudden surprise to think upon that which we make our stay and our hope Carnall men minds many things when they are surprised and God in the last place and after the meanest and lowest thoughts and hopes with such thoughts that yeelds poore relief But the Spirit of God minds the Saints of God in the first place and this presently yeelds peace and quietnesse and other means of comfort are minded in subordination unto him When sad and miserable times were revealed unto Habbakkuk the hearing whereof made his belly to tremble and rottennesse to enter into his bones to consider that the fig-tree should not blossom nor fruit in the vine the labour of the olive should fail no meat in the fields no flocks in the fold nor heards in the stall his heart presently thought upon the Lord in whom he would rejoyce and joy in the God of his salvation Habak 3.16 17 18. And many the like instances from Scripture may be given to prove that the Spirit of God so soon as troubles do begin lifts up the thoughts and minds of beleevers to consider where must be their securitie they hear the Spirit of God say unto them as Isa 26.20 Come my people enter thou in thy chambers shut the doores upon thee hide thy self as it were for a little moment untill the indignation he over-past My people the spirit speaks most comfortably and in most assured language in troublesome time enter into thy chambers chambers are places of rest and quietnesse chambers in the plurall number that is Consider the severall grounds of your peace the attributes of God the blood of Christ the promises of the Gospel Shut the doores that is lock thy self up in God by faith keep out unbelief Hide thy self viz. in God untill the indignation viz. these troubles and sorrows be gone That is the first thing Secondly as the Spirit of God minds the soul where his securitie is so it minds him of the way whereby he may come at it and that is Jesus Christ It were to little purpose to be nigh a Rock and cannot find the hole to run in unto it to be neer a Castle when we are pursued and cannot find the doore that leadeth into it God he is a Rock and Jesus Christ is the hole of the Rock God is a tower and Jesus Christ he is the doore in unto him Joh. 10.9 I am the doore saith Christ viz. unto the Father By me if any man enter he shall be saved viz. from sin and sorrow here and hereafter and he shall go in and out and find pasture Poore carnall men are like the blinded Sodomites about Lots house they grope and buz up and down but cannot find the way in They are neer unto God and God is neer unto them and they run about thinking to come in at God by their prayers and their good meaning and their duties and qualifications But alas they cannot find the doore No man cometh unto the Father but by me saith Christ Joh. 14.6 Vnto the Father that is God in his relations of love and mercie for other wayes every man good and bad shal come before God at the last day So that the Spirit of God when troubles do arise minds the soul of God wherein is his securitie and of Jesus Christ as an open doore into his God Tell me you that have experience of the secrets of God did you ever find more sweet and precious thoughts of Jesus Christ then when troubles have arose Did not the Spirit of God as it were drive force you against your secret unbelief and backwardnesse in through Jesus Christ unto the Father Thirdly as the Spirit of God mindes the soule where is his security and the way to come at it so in the third place it gives inward secret life and strength and spirituall abillities to flie unto God in and through Jesus Christ It is in vaine for a man to see a tower when the enemy is pursuing and to see the doore open if he hath no legs nor strength to runne in unto it but the Spirit of God gives spirit and life and strength to make use of God through Jesus Christ for his support and comfort That fore named place of Habakuk 3.19 when he looked upon God as his salvation he addeth hee shall make my feet as Hindes feet viz. swift and speedie to carry mee to my high places viz. unto
her great belly this was that renuing in the inner man day by day which made Paul and the rest of the suffering Saints to rejoyce though their outward man did perish 2 Cor. 4.16 And hence it is that they count it all joy when that they fall into divers temptations knowing that the triall of their faith worketh patience and patience having its perfect work maketh them perfect and intire wanting nothing Jam. 1.2.3 A spirituall growth in the inner man is so much the more acceptable unto a beleever above all outward injoyments by how much the more it is more precious in it self then they Outward blessings are Esau his portion but God is the portion of his Saints and the more of God they have viz. of his divine communicable nature the richer they are if they can see the light of Gods countenance shining upon them and the work of his Spirit thriving in them they have enough and will rejoyce in that condition wherein these prosper though it be most irksome to their frail flesh and here again I call for your experiences you refined Saints by the fiery triall did you ever feel God so powerfull in you the work of his Spirit so strong in you in patience meeknesse humilitie gentlenesse dependance upon God c. as you have done since you have been stript of your late comforts Did you not know the time that the smallest crosse and trouble in your estates made you peevish passionate and froward and now you can look upon the spoiling of your whole estate with joy Did you not know the time when the best food easiest lodging costly garments and many friends with many other accommodations could not satisfie and content you and you are now satisfied and can blesse God and thank your friends for a meals meat a suit of clothes a little money a nights lodging a mean house to hide your heads in and now brown bread and the Gospel is good fare with you The time was when you thought your selves high and great men and that every man wrong'd you if he came not to you with cap and knee at everie word looking haply upon your inferiours in estate though superiours in grace with mean thoughts and disrespect but now you hugge them in your bosoms and blesse God for their societie and Christian company and is not this a sweet chearing Would you want this precious spirituall work upon your hearts for all your glorie Well this is the last way that I shall note whereby the Spirit comforteth Beleevers in evil times viz. by furnishing them with and enabling them unto the exercise of those suitable gifts and graces fit for a suffering condition And so much for the second generall Question how the Spirit comforteth Beleevers in evill times The third generall Question is How the Spirit of Christ may be discerned from the spirit of delusion This indeed is one of the most concerning Queries in all the world as will appear if you note these brief considerations First If any man hath not the Spirit of Christ he is none of his Rom. 8.9 viz. for the present in his own knowledge and to his own satisfaction Secondly if any man hath not the Spirit of Christ he cannot worship him in spirit and in truth so that to kill an ox in sacrifice is no more acceptable unto God then killing a man His sacrificing a lamb is as if he cut off a dogs neck his oblation is as swines blood his incense is as blessing an Idol Isa 66.3 that is not onely not acceptable unto God but every way as abominable as these provocations Thirdly if a man hath not the Spirit he is left alone in all his troubles and perplexities for there is no meet help and comfort for a man but the Spirit When God made man at first having made the world behold all was good save one and that was for man to be alone Genes 2.18 But now among all the creatures was not found an help meet for him verse 20. Even so it is not good to be alone Eccles 1.10 that is alone to bear all his crosses and troubles Now among all other comforters is not found an help and comforter meet for man and therefore God gives his people the Spirit Adam was above the capacâ—…ie of all other creatures here belowe and therefore he must have an help of his own qualitie and consideration just so the whole world is beneath the soul of man and therefore it must be something like it self that must be a suitable good and that is the Spirit of Christ which indeed differeth from Adams help in this chiefly ☞ viz. that when God made man at first his help was the weaker vessel by occasion whereof he fell but now in restoring man God intending to make his recoverie more glorious then at first his help is the stronger viz. the strong God himself by his Spirit within Fourthly confider if a man hath not the Spirit of Christ the day of his death will be a bitter day unto him even the houre and power of darknesse when the whole world shall vanish in his own vision being sensible of nothing but fear and dread and a guilty Conscience and of Satan readie to prey upon his trembling soul readie to expire Digest these considtrations with such like seriously in your thoughts and let them have their own proper working upon your spirit Consider are you able to bear it that Christ and you should have no interest each in other that all your prayers and tears and duties of all kinds shall rise up against you one day have you not sin enough to damne you but your duties must do it are you able to be alone in your miseries are not the Heavens black over your heads and the Earth bloodie under your feet do you not see the hils to quake and the mountains hurl'd into the midst of the Seas is there not such a Concussion of Kingdoms Cities Countreys which threatens a confusion of all Do you not see God coming like an armed man against you attended with a black guard of bloodie warre famine plagues pestilences and the bitter consequences of these Do you not expect death every day when God is coming with his judgements as with a fieth to mowe down the kingdom before him and can you bear the thoughts of death without the Spirit to chear you and support you How might all this put us all upon inquisition whether we have the Spirit of Christ Before we come to the solution of this grand Question Ssme things are to be premised by way of caution First that there are many in the world that think they have the Spirit of Christ and it is nothing so Secondly that some there are that have the Spirit of Christ and know it not Thirdly that it is very possible to know that a man hath the Spirit of Christ Fourthly that it is a very hard and difficult thing to find it out All and
every one of these premises and cautions may be clearly argued out both from manifest Scriptures and Reasons and Demonstrations which will if prosecuted accordingly be a too great digression from the thing intended and besides much conviction in them all is extant in the Labours of many godly and holy mens writings There is a great deale of difference in the judgements of some godly men whether a mans Justification may bee knowne by his Sanctification and by the markes and fignes of Sanctification It were to bee wisht that both the one partie and the other yea the whole generation of holy ones the Sonnes of unitie would studie unitie among themselves and make conscience of that Apostolicall Injunction so far as in them lieth 1. Thess 4.11 Studie to be quiet and 1. Pet. 3.8 Be ye all of one minde having compassion one of another love as brethren Surely if we had compassion one of another especially in these times when our divisions are both the studie and advantages of our bloody enemies we would be all of one minde at least so far as we reveale our selves to the world it is very sad to see men even holy doubtlesse and godly to be so farre from studying to be quiet that they study to oppose and to differ and it is a very acceptable thing unto them to differ from their brethren and to blaze the same I would not be mistaken a tender conscience an inquiring and searching Spirit after the things of Jesus Christ is very commendable but yet with speciall respects to the Community of Christ and all his Churches and the truth is we suffer much disadvantage by our neglect this way But to returne to the businesse in hand this I think will be granted that for a man to know his interest in God and the truth of the Spirit in his heart is a part of Sanctification whether it be by the testimony of the Spirit or any other way and therefore at least in some sence it is to be granted that the knowledge of our Justification is by the knowledge of our Sanctification Againe this I thinke will be likewise granted that no man can be assured of his Justification and not be sanctified that hee cannot know his Justification without Sanctification it is very true that it is a very hard and difficult thing to finde out the truth of holines and supernaturall worke of Gods Spirit in the soule the heart of man being so deceitfull above all things and there being so many counterfeit quallifications and common gifts and it is to be granted also that many deluded hypocrites think great matters of their conceited holinesse from such and such quallisications wrought within them and such and such things done by them and many also whose hearts are most upright with their God yet through ignorance of Jesus Christ and consciousnesse of their owne guilt misjudge of their owne happie estate and so erre on the other hand yet this I thinke is not to be denyed viz. that the meanest Saints have peculiar and fingular workes of the Spirit in their very worst condition of soule which the most glorious hypocrites in the world never had in their best condition and greatest inlargements in their hearts These considerations being premised the result herein will be this that as inward quallifications are to be heeded I meane in using them as satisfactory markes of an undoubted condition ☞ sound and good in Jesus Christ so on the other hand they are not altogether to be neglected as uselesse for such a purpose for doubtlesse if men will take that paines with their spirits as they may doe they may in a very probable if not certaine way have much satisfaction in respect of the state of their soules otherwise I know not how to use and improve that place of the Apostle John 13.20.21 If our hearts condemne us God is greater then our hearts if our hearts condemne us not then have wee confidence before God So in Pet. 1.10 2. Cor. 13.5 and many such like places and therefore I take leave to give my answer to the question in hand with a very speciall respect to what the Spirit of God worketh in the soul To the question therefore how a man may know the truth of the Spirit in his heart I answer First The Spirit of Christ in the heart is Christ spiritually in the heart that is Consider Christ in every respect and there is an answerablenesse thereof in the heart of the beleever Christ is considerable in his Natures Conception Birth Life Death Buriall Resurrection Ascention and Intercession at the right hand of God the Father and in his Offices and there is a certaine consimilitude of every particuler in the heart of a spirituall man First for the Natures of Christ he was God and Man 1. Cor. 15.47 Heb. 1.10 So beleevers as they are true men so likewise are they partakers of the divine Nature so farre as Communicable God himselfe dwelling in them viz. by his Spirit 2. Pet. 1.4 John 14.17 Secondly For the Conception of Christ hee was Conceived by the holy Ghost not by any meanes of the Virgin yet not against or without her Luke 1.35 Even so Christ in a beleever is Conceived Not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man but of God John 1.13 Thirdly Consider Christ in his Birth elected before the world by the Father but borne in fulnesse of time Gal. 4.4 even so beleevers according to the good pleasure of God which he purposed in himselfe in fulnes of time are gathered together as the Apostle hath it Ephes 1.9 10. Fourthly Looke upon the Life of Christ from first to last hee did and suffered all things and that with all delight and complacency with reference to his Fathers will John 4.33 John 5.30 Luke 22.42 Even so the Spirit of Christ frameth the whole of man so farre as he is spirituall to do and suffer all and that with delight in reference unto the will of God Ephes 6.6 Galat. 4.12 c. And as the Law of God was written in the heart of Christ which made him naturally content and willing to do the will of God Hebr. 10.7 Even so the Law of God is written in the heart of beleevers which makes them willing and chearfull in doing the will of God Hebr. 8.10 11. Fifthly Look upon the sufferings of Christ that hath a manifold influence and operation in the soul as first to pacifie and quiet the heart Christ by his eternall Spirit tendreth his blood to pacifie God sitting in the throne of Justice in the seat of glory Hebr. 9.14 And the Spirit of Christ tendreth as it were the same blood unto the conscience Gods vice-gerent to the satisfaction and pacification therof All the oblations in the world though they had been ten thousand rivers of oyl could not have satisfied Divine Justice nothing but the blood of Christ nor that too had it not been offered
up by the eternall Spirit which was as it were the Altar sanctifying the gift and offering So no means in the world qualifications duties promises ordinances can satisfie a sin-seeing conscience but the blood of Christ and that also must be tendred unto it by the Spirit of Christ The truth is nothing can satisfie an enlightned conscience but that that did satisfie God himself which is Christ discovered in the excellencie of his merits and this is by the tendring the same through the Spirit by which Christ is thus discovered Rom. 8.1 Secondly the death of Christ hath another influence and consimilitude in the soul and that is the crucifying of the body of sin and that first by way of a holy revenge for the shedding of Christs blood Sin persued Christ even unto the Crosse the Spirit persues sin even to the Crosse also Galat. 5.24 They that are Christs have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts thereof And again Rom. 8.13 If ye through the Spirit mortifie the deeds of the flesh ye shall live Secondly there is conveighed a certain secret ennergettical power and derived in a sweet spirituall manner from the death of Christ viz. by serious contemplation and belief thereof to kill and mortifie sin Rom. 6.6 Our old man was crucified with him that the body of sin might be destroyed And Paul saith Galat. 2.20 I am crucified with Christ Thirdly the blood of Christ is as it were a secret and yet sensible bath wherein the soul is healed and cured and cleansed steeped and rinsed from the filth and guilt of sin This blood is that fountain opened for sin and for uncleannesse to wash in Zach. 13.1 wherein the Saints are washed 1 Cor. 6.11 and this purgeth their consciences from dead works to serve the living God Hebr. 9.14 Lastly the blood of Christ is the life of the soul that is the provision for the life of the soul His flesh is meat indeed and his blood is drink indeed Joh. 6.55 indeed that is in respect of everlasting nourishment that flows from it for saith he he that eateth me shall live by me vers 57. He that drinketh my blood shall never thirst Joh. 4.14 because Christ died we live viz. in respect of Justification and because he liveth we shall live in respect of sanctification Joh. 14.19 Thus in many particulars the death of Christ hath a blessed influence in the hearts of the Saints which is the fifth Consideration concerning Christ in the soul in respect of his sufferings Sixthly consider Christ in respect as of death so of his buriall the very grave of Christ hath an operation in the heart We are buried with him Gal. 6.4 Colos 2.12 The old man doth by little and little moulder away as it were in the grave of Christ Seventhly the resurrection of Christ hath likewise an influence in the soul viz. to raise it up to a new spirituall and holy life We are said to be raised up together with Christ Ephes 2.6 He that raised up Christ from the dead shall quicken your mortall bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you Rom. 8.11 The truth is there are most glorious and various operations and influences of the resurrection of Christ in the heart which would be too large now to insist upon Eightly the ascention of Christ is seen also in its operation in the soul viz. to draw up our hearts and desires and expectations heaven-wards Col. 1.2 this is by the Spirit Ninthly and lastly the very session of Christ at the right hand of God and his interceding there for us is felt in the soul the Spirit of God leading it into the presence of God and setting it as it were at the right hand of the Father among the sheep not among goats Matth. 25. giving it all boldnesse even as a right hand favourite and there making intercession with sighs and groans that cannot be expressed Rom. 8.16 Thus you see the first generall Answer to this third generall Question viz. how might we know the Spirit of Christ in the soul from the spirit of delusion Answer The Spirit of Christ in the soul is Christ spiritually in the soul viz. in the sence before spoken of Secondly The Spirit of Christ in the soul doth alwayes act and bias the soul towards Christ by this means the intrincicall bent and frame of the heart is toward Christ the Spirit having a most strong and effectuall work upon the will in answer unto that great defection of the will through Adams fin in the Commission of sin That which I do saith Paul I allow not Rom. 7.15 And in the 19. verse The good I would do I do not the evill which I would not do that I do Will you see the reason of both why vers 22 23. I delight in the Law of God after the inner man but I see another law in my members warring against the law of my mind and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members Sin was his sicknesse his complaint his captivitie goodnesse his desire his delight his endeavour the ground of both was the law of God in the inner man viz. the Spirit of life by Christ Jesus Rom. 8.2 This did still bias the soul contrary to that principle of corruption of nature So that look how naturall instincts do act and work in severall subjects here below as in elements the fire to ascend upwards the earth to fall downwards c. or in all vegitatives to yeeld fruit according to its kind whatsoever Or in all sensitives to forbear that which it knows hurtfull and to feed upon that which is proper for its particular nourishment The little kid to suck his mothers milk c. as the holy Ghost termes it Exod. 23.19 Or in rationals to preserve it self from known evill and to seek after known good Even so an holy spirituall instinct is in the heart of beleevers to do with delight that which is holy just and good and to be very heedfull of that which is sinfull and wicked and its interruption in both is its sorrow its complaint and its pain as it were It is too true that the best of Gods people are obnoxious unto many disturbances and hindrances in the inward man but it is as true that these are their complaint unto God and their indeavour for cure The Spirit in Scripture is compared to anointing oyl 1 Joh. 2.27 oyl we know hath a naturall property to be uppermost if it be put into any liquids whether they be hot or cold yet the oyl will alwayes ascend and though there might be some interruption while you powre water upon the oyl yet stay but a while and you shall see it settle again and keep all under it Just so the Spirit of Christ doth as it were raise up the heart above all in the soul and though interruptions may be through violent temptations and strong passions and corruptions yet at last all will
1. Cor. 2.14 15. Fiftly The Spirit of Christ gives a being unto the word of God in the soule and this doth steare and guide the heart and life this is sweeter unto them then the honey or the honey-combe it maketh them set to their seale that God is true that his word is tried Psal 18.30 setled in beaven Psal 119.89 that God hath magnified his Word above all his Name Psal 138.2 That the word of the Lord shall stand Esai 40.8 That heaven and earth shall passe away before one jot or tittle of his word shall faile Matth. 5.18 This is setled in the heart by the Spirit and there it frames the heart according to it and this is called Gods writing his laws in the heart of Beleevers Heb. 8.10 Hence it comes to passe that they obey from the heart that forme of doctrine that is delivered unto them Rom. 6.17 So that they rejoyce at the word of promise as one that findeth great spoiles Psal 119.162 And they stand in awe of the word of threatning verse 161. and the word of instruction direction consolation reprehension from the mouth of God hath most deepe weight and roome in the heart This is one of the most clear durable and effectuall evidence of the Spirit of Christ so that when many other quallifications faile and there is no difference in the soules apprehension between it selfe and the vilest of sinners when little or nothing at all of the fruits of the Spirit appeare when instead of faith hope patience meeknesse c. the soule is apprehensive of nothing but unbeliefe and feare passion pride hardnesse of heart c. Yet then the word of free grace and the promise of healing mercy this stayeth and supporteth the heart Now this is differenced from that vain common pretended dependance that meere formalists have of the word of God in such particulers as these First Beleevers in and through Christ waits for the fulfilling of the Word in him they expect all to be Yea and Amen So that being acquainted with the manifold mysteries of God in Christ through him they expect the performance of all his word so that though flesh faile and heart faile yet God through Christ is his portion and help for ever and this is unto him as good as currant money in his purse which answers every condition whatsoever whereas meere formalists in a sleight general and confused notion of God and Christ very faintly professe faith in the word but their eyes and their hopes are after carnall and secondary supports which failing their spirits faints Secondly The whole Word of God hath a proportionable being and power in the hearts of beleevers The word of promise of threatning of terror of comfort of command of prohibition consolation direction c. each of these hath its proper work upon the heart of Beleevers so that there is a sweet commensurable and proportionable influence thereof in the heart making it to rejoyce with trembling and to tremble with rejoycing Every notion of God hath a particular work upon the heart working up the whole frame of the soul unto a sweet and blessed posture of the inward man But it is not thus with Formalists they haply may be affected with the word of promise and sometimes terrified with the word of threatning but the word of direction and instruction seldome takes hold upon their hearts they are sometimes tickled with flashy raptures of joy in a conceitednesse of their interest in the promises and again as deeply cast down with unbelief and despair when a threatning of the word seiseth upon their hearts but they are not proportionably ballanced with ingenious constant mutuall and sutable affections from every part of the whole Word of God Thirdly the Word of God is a Beleevers meditation his study and that for obedience and conformity sake here unto insomuch that it hath an influence throughout his whole course of life Look upon him in his relations whether master servant husband wife father child c. or in his conditions whether poore or rich high or low or in his calling in buying selling working c. the Word of God runs in his mind and how he might conform unto that as may be clearly shewed from the Scriptures in many instances but that it would leade into too large a discourse But now it is not thus with formalists the Word of God runs not in his thoughts but his ends and aimes and not the will of God steers him in his whole conversation so that we may conclude it an undoubted character of the presence of the Spirit of Christ viz. it s giving a being unto the whole Word of God in the soul which is the fifth Testimony of the Spirits presence in the Saints Shall we apply this with reference to the comfort of those whose outward comforts are lost and gone is it thus with you do you find Christ in you spiritually in the sence formerly spoken of Do you find your hearts alwayes by a sing towards Jesus Christ in respect of the bent and frame thereof do you find the Spirit of Christ trading with you for God as Christ with God for you do you find your hearts affected with spirituall objects hath the whole Word of God a being in your hearts is it not thus with you in some sweet and precious measure Oh do not deny God in you I know it is thus with you lift up then your hanging-down hands and strengthen your feeble knees rejoyce and be exceeding glad great is your portion in heaven be not cast down at your present condition God hath taken away the lesser testimonies of his love that he may clear it up by greater and is this your sorrow You have heretofore offered up your selves and your estates unto God he hath accepted of your offering is this your complaint He hath taken away his ordinarie and common favours that you might partake of his extraordinarie and speciall grace and shall this grieve you He hath taken away your shels and husks the creature that he might feed you with kernels even himself and is this your dejection Chear up then you children of the most high sitting haply for the present in sackcloth and ashes forget not your consolation which speaketh unto you as unto children My son despise not the chastening of the Lord neither faint thou when thou art rebuked of him for whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth and scourgeth every son that he receiveth Hebr. 12.5 6. Though you are afflicted and tossed up and down yet behold now you are the sons of God and it doth not yet appear what you shall be but when Christ which is your life shall appear then shall ye appear with him in glory 1 Joh. 3.2 All your present troubles extend no farther then your meer carcasse your vile bodies which God shall one day change making it like unto the glorious body of Jesus Christ Philip. 3.21 Yet a little while and the Lord shall wipe away all tears from your eyes yea he that shall come will come and will not tarry In the mean while take these directions for your present practice the fruit whereof will be sweet and comfortable to your souls First take heed of sinning in the time of your affliction this will torment more then any thing Secondly study not your losses pore not upon your miserie little good will come by that but melancholly and afflicting thoughts Thirdly study the severall grounds of comfort mind your Consolations it will be a heart-raising work Fourthly observe every dayes providence and the Almighty his carefull provision for you this will heighten your experiences and fill you with joy Fiftly be frequent in prayer and in nothing be carefull but in all things let your requests be made known unto God in prayer and supplication with giving of thanks And the peace of God which passeth all understanding shall preserve your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus Philip. 4.6 7. FINIS