The Word of Christ is the Instrument the Spirit maketh use of to beget life in the soul by working Faith Christs very Sermon could do no good in order to the producing of life in the soul were it not accompanied with the Spirit of Christ § 6. I shall onely hint at one place more It 's very observable that St. Paul calls the Gospel The Ministration of the Spirit 2 Cor. 3.8 because of the Spirits Presence with the Word and because it hath the efficacy of the Spirit joyned with it For the understanding of this observe a twofold opposition betwixt the Law and the Gospel First The Law is called the Ministration of the Letter the Gospel the Ministration of the Spirit The Law is called the Ministry of the Letter because whilst it commands or forbids us any thing it affords no inward strength at all whereby the heart may have an inward obedience wrought in it but onely propounds the external command written in Tables of Stone and therefore called the Letter But the Gospel whilst it declares remission of sins and life eternal through Christ it administers also the help assistance and presence of the Spirit by which Faith is stirred up in our hearts whereby wee apply Christ himself and all his benefits unto our souls and therefore 't is called the Ministration of the Spirit Secondly The Law is called the Ministry of Death the Gospel the Ministry of Righteousness and Life The one the Ministry of Death because of the Letter for the Letter killeth whilst it giveth no inward strength or assistance to yeeld obedience to those commands it layes upon us and so the flesh and corrupt nature is more and more provoked and becomes more obnoxious to death and sin than before This is clear from Rom. 7.11 The Law gives occasion to sin to slay the man The Gospel is the Ministry of Life because it affordeth power and the help of the Spirit which produces Faith by which Christ is applied to the soul for life and salvation so that by the Spirit the Gospel affordeth life to the beleeving soul This made Paul say Gal. 2.20 the life which I now live is by Faith in the Son of God Take a Christian without Faith and you do unchristian him hee is left as an ordinary man So take the Gospel without the Presence of the Spirit and it is but a dead Letter That there is such a Presence of the Spirit I have shewed by Scripture The next thing is to shew it from reasons grounded upon undeniable experiences For the better apprehending of them I have moulded them into so many practical Queries § 7. Qu. 1. What makes Gods Children that have excellent Teachers yet pray for the opening of their eyes and spiritual illumination It is from their sense and sight of the want of the Spirits teaching to be superadded to the preaching of men Though David had Nathan and Gad excellent Teachers yet hee begged of God that hee would open his eyes that hee might see the wonderful things of his Law All the light in the world cannot make a man see if hee want a seeing faculty The most raised Preaching can do as little good to the souls of men if they have not spiritual eye-salve bestowed upon them to open the eyes of their dark understandings Barrenness in Prayer is seldome without unfruitfulness in hearing because they seldome get much good in hearing of the Word that are not often begging the Spirits Presence in the Word § 8. Qu. 2. What made so many that heard our Saviour Christ in the flesh yet remain in their unbeleef Was it not because they onely heard the Word of Christ but had not the Spirit of Christ going along with it How blinde were the Jews even after Christ brought light into the world They loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil When the good Word of God comes to had hearts unless the Spirit sets it home effectually to make them better they ordinarily become worse For wicked men are much like Swine turn their eyes up to the light and they fall a crying and bring the light of the Word to wicked hearts and they fall a railing and reviling Thus the Jews dealt with our Saviour You would think it were an admirable way for conversion to have heard Christ preaching to men and truly so it was yet wee see many beleeved not You may be ready to think the Ministers preaching foolishness as many do yet many have been converted by their teaching Is it not strange that ever any that heard Christ should go away unconverted that was God as well as Man and that any should be converted unto God that hear sinful men preach Truly not at all because the Word of Christ went to some men and was not set home by the Spirit And the same Word and Gospel-Truths though preached by sinful men is accompanied with the Spirit and that makes it effectual § 9. Qu. 3. What made Peter so successful in his Ministry that at one Sermon hee converted three thousand souls Act. 2.41 And yet wee never read of such a plentiful harvest gathered in at once by our Saviour Christ That chapter tells us God had just then poured out the Spirit which was the fruit of Christs Ascension Vers 33. There were the same Truths before and one would have thought a better Preacher when Christ himself was in the Pulpit And see how Christs Sermon takes with the people From vers 16. to vers 31. â—uke 4. Is not this Josephs Son Instead of looking well at the Doctrine they fall a cavilling at the Person a poor mean inconsiderable fellow a Carpenters Son Hee was then upon as precious matter as any in all the Book of God Hee told them what hee came into the world for it was to do good and to save souls vers 18 19. Enough to have melted the hardest hearts and humbled the proudest sinners if meer words would have done it and 't is said they all wondred at his gracious words vers 22. Well! but see the issue of all Vers 28. They were filled with wrath Vers 29. They thrust him out of the City and indeavoured to tumble him down the Hill You see here their good will to Christ notwithstanding all his pains and preaching Hee came to break their hearts and they in recompence would have broke his neck Hee preached to save their Souls and they would have taken away his life Certainly if Christ had so bad successe then Peter who denyed his Master would have had far worse if worse could be had No such matter There was the Spirit powred out and did powerfully set home the Word by Peter's ministry which Christ was not pleased to let work powerfully upon the hearts of his hearers for reasons best known to himself And that is the reason of that kind welcome the Word received Now when they heard this Acts. 2.37 they were pricked in
their hearts and said unto Peter and to the rest of the Apostles Men and Brethren what shall wee do § 10. Quer. 4. What makes the same Preacher successeful at one place and not at another Onely this that God accompanies his Word with his Spirit at one place and not at another Wee may suppose the same Word Preached to a different people to a very different event The one mock raile revile The other prove humble meek yea true converts The Word is the same all men by nature have the same vilenesse in their hearts and opposition to the Word and truths of the Gospel The difference then lyes in the presence of the Spirit of God And now that God is not alwaies present by his Spirit to set home the Word upon all This should not make us sleight and neglect hearing but make us more diligent in praying that the Spirit may alwaies bee present with the Word to render that which wee hear truly and really effectual to our souls § 11. Quer. 5. What makes the same truths heard by the same man at several times produce different and several effects Is it not wholly from the Spirit of God One hath often heard of Christs death and passion and sufferings for mankind of his tendernesse love and compassion for the good of lost and undone souls And this perhaps hee hath not onely once or twice but many times heard and yet no profit Hee can still boldly sleight Christ carelessely neglect his soul and highly contemn the Gospel that offers him Christ and salvation by Christ At another time perhaps this makes him quite another man Is Christ dead for mee and my sins and shall I love sin more than my dear Saviour Did Christ bleed to cure the wounds of my Soul and shall I wound Christ again by my cursed lusts Did Christ descend from Heaven to save mee out of Hell and shall I sleight his infinite condiscension of love follow sin and vain lusts upon the earth and sink into Hell and ruine at the last What makes this great change upon hearing the same truth is it not Gods Spirit The same truth hath no life at one time no effect upon the soul At another Oh! the most precious truth in the world the Soul would not part with such a truth such a promise for all the world when the spirit sets it home upon the heart Thus 't is in reading we sometimes reap much benefit from that portion of the Word when God sets it home which we often read before in the Bible and found no comfort from it took no notice of it at all § 12. Quer. 6. What makes the same passages delivered at the same time to men of the same profession temper and opinion produce differenteffects That the one is affected the other not the one trembles the other not the one is converted by it the other not The Word is the same and the parties supposed the same as to temper education profession and the like Yet the Spirit works on the one and not on the other and that makes the difference § 13. Quer. 7. What makes men of the same age living under the same powerful ministry to bee converted and brought home at divers years distance Is it not because the Spirit sets home the Word betimes on some and not on other mens souls Conversion when ever it is wrought is the irresistible work of the Spirit of Grace it is the gift of God when ever effected Yet the Holy Spirit that bloweth where hee listeth bloweth also when he listeth on some sooner on others later § 14. Quer. 8. What makes the same truths working conversion in diverse persons work not one and the same way But in one it causes many terrours and in another sweet Gospel meltings of Soul and both by it are brought home to Christ It is certainly to bee resolved into the Spirits arbitrary working upon the soul in order to conversion Conviction of sin is necessary to every mans conversion but terrours are not The spirit works the former more or lesse in all But the terrours of conscience and ratlings of the chains of Hell are not alike in all And the same spirit may use the same truths in a different manner to bring home diverse souls to God Great sinners have oftentimes the greatest terrors Yet the spirit of God may use the same Gospel truths to bring home some to God by strong terrours and others by a Gospel sweetnesse and pouring in much comfort at first conversion § 15. Qu. 9. What makes the Gospel Preached to bee a savour of life unto some and a savour of death to others in the same Congregation perhaps in the same seat 'T is because some are left to the hardnesse of their own hearts and the Spirit comes powerfully with the Word unto the hearts of others In a plain and powerful Sermon Christ stands at the door and knocks at the hearts of all that hear it in a Congregation Now the Spirit that hath the Key of mens hearts in his hands opens some and lets others alone lockt fast up in their impenitency and unbeleef Thus God opened the hearts of Lydia and the Jaylour And others again go to Hell unconverted perhaps unconvinced from under powerful Preaching Of whom I say as St. Paul did If our Gospel be hid 2 Cor. 4.3 it is hid to them that are lost § 16. Qu. 10. What makes diverse truths set home upon diverse men produce one and the same effect Is it not from the Spirit of God that different truths should bee set home in order to Conversion If in the Word onely why not the same portion of it alwaies a means of conversion But wee see one place for one and another place for the conversion of another Fr. Junii viâ—â— p. 11. c. 2. Junius reports it of himself that hee was converted by reading the beginning of the first chapter of St. Johns Gospel Austin after his hot fits of Lust Hears an Eccho sounding in his ears Tolle lege tolle lege Take up the Book and read Hearing a voyce but seeing no Person he presently takes up the New-Testament Reads Rom. 13. Not in Rioting and Drunkennesse not in Chambering and Wantonnesse and by this Scripture brought home to God Luther was first wrought upon by Rom. 1.17 Therein is the righteousnesse of God revealed from faith to faith This now must needs bee the work of the Spirit which can produce one and the same effect on diverse Subjects by different Truths CHAP. XII Quest How does the Spirit teach Removendo Removing impediments unwilling to bee taught Fleshly lusts Pride Curiosity Five waies Satan promotes Curiosity Suggerendo Suggesting Gospel Truths to the Soul 1. John 2.27 John 16.13 Expl. Illuminando By enlightning the mind Ephes 5.8 Opened Inward light of the Saints stated Corroborando By strengthening the Soul Recolligendo By raising Truths Heb. 2.1 John 14.26 Explained § 1. HAving shewed by Scripture
unnecessary Jewish and meerly Ceremonial 2. Tithes are abolished as Jewish and Ceremonial a burden to the Saints of God and a discouragement of Industry and Tillage 3. Ministers are abolished as Antichristian and of no longer use now Christ himself descends into the hearts of the Saints and his Spirit enlighteneth them with Revelations and Inspirations 4. Magistrates are abolished as useless now that Christ himself is in purity of Spirit come amongst us and hath erected the Kingdome of the Saints upon the Earth besides they are Tyrants and Oppressors of the Liberties of the Saints and tye them to Laws and Ordinances meer humane inventions 5. Shewing them a Bible hee said here is a Book you have in great veneration consisting of two parts the Old and New Testament I must tell you 't is abolished it containeth beggarly rudiments Milk for Babes But now Christ is in glory amongst us and imparts a fuller measure of his Spirit to his Saints than this can afford and therefore I am commanded to burn it before your faces so took a Candle that hee had in a Lanthorn and set fire on the leaves Oh horrid and monstrous blasphemy Are not these New Lights think you such as are kindled with some sparkles from the fire of Hell When such Revelations and Visions are admitted then the Word is vilified and decryed And the same Spirit wee see that witnesses in the Saints as they call themselves against Tithes witnesses also against Sabbath Ministers Magistrates yea and against the very Bible too So true is that observation of Aristotle Grant one absurdity and many will unavoidably follow Admit once of New Lights and Visions of the Spirit as they are termed and you cannot keep out the most devilish and damnable errors from following after To return therefore from whence I have a little digressed when I say the Spirit teaches gradually It is thus to be understood that hee sets home Old Truths with New Light and Discoveries of them made to the soul which were not experienced before Gradual progress and such growth in grace and knowledge is the Christians duty as well as the donation of the Spirit of God Grow in grace and in the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ 2 Pet. 3.18 God in the Gospel commands us and hee by his Spirit helps us to grow in grace and knowledge And though the Spirit teaches in the Word that there can be no absolute perfection in this life telling us in the Words of St. John 1 Joh. 1.8 That if wee say wee have no sin wee deceive our selves and the Truth is not in us Yet the Spirit teacheth the soul of a true Christian gradually to breathe after Perfection Hee makes him come to God in and through Christ for justification and absolution from sin ne damnet that the condemning power of sin may be taken away hee breathes after sanctification ne regnet that sin should not reign in their mortal bodies hee breathes after glorification ne sit that sin should not exist or have any being at all in him that hee may be wholly freed from sin CHAP. XIV Practical Deductions from Gods Presence by his Spirit Matter for examination and tryal Seven Rules to try whether wee are taught by Gods Spirit Exhortation to own the Spirit as our Grand Teacher Motives and Directions Matter of Reproof to those that are all for the Spirit and nothing for the Word To Formalists To Carnal Persons Matter of Consolation to true Christians The Spirit teaches them the best lessons Especially four They are taught to walk in the best way To aim at the best ends § 1. FRom the Presence and Teaching of the Spirit of God many practical and profitable inferences may be raised Some few that are most material and most subservient to the design of this Treatise I shall propound and prosecute in this chapter as the Conclusion of the whole I. If God be present to teach his Children by his Spirit If wee would know then whether wee are the Children of God let us examine and try whether wee are taught by the Spirit or no. There is an easie way for our being deceived herein Natural parts may carry men far in the knowledge of the things of God and common illumination of the Spirit may carry us much further and yet all this while wee may come far short from the saving teaching of the Spirit of God 'T is worth while then to examine our selves by such Rules as may clearly undeceive us in a matter of so great concernment § 2. Rule 1. That Knowledge of Divine Truths that drives us off from God comes not from the teachings of the Spirit The very end and main design of the Spirits teaching is to bring us home to God and Christ Now if any Truth drives us off from God how can this come from the Spirits teaching Conviction of sin and self-abhorrency under it may and usually do come from the Spirit of God but then these drive the soul to God for the pardon of sin And when the Spirit is come he shall convince the world of Sin Joh. 16.8 and of Righteousness When the Spirit sets home sin upon the soul in order to conversion and salvation hee also clearly discovers the Righteousness of Christ for the removal of it But when sin is discovered so as to drive us to despair or to tempt us to presume upon Gods mercy without any consideration at all that the Justice of God also must be satisfied this is no teaching of the Spirit Coming unto God in a way God never owned nor prescribed is a direct running away from him So that though wee come to God to presume upon his mercy wee do in reality run away from him because God cannot shew mercy to the eternal dishonour and ruine of his Justice Mercy cannot be exerted on poor sinners till the breaches of Gods honour are repaired and his Justice satisfied Coming to God by Faith through Christ makes way for both and then both Mercy and Justice shall triumph and rejoyce together in the salvation of rebellious sinners § 3. Rule 2. Hee that pretends to much new knowledge and yet continues in his old sins is not taught by the Spirit of God To pretend to the Spirit and live in the flesh is double iniquity Simulata sanctitas est duplex iniquitas The Law of the Spirit frees the soul from the Law of sin and death Rom. 8.2 Vers 5. They that are after the Spirit mind the things of the Spirit read 6 7 8 9. verses Gods Spirit teaches none to continue in the constant practice of known sins Hee doth not allow them to sin and then teach them that that is to be spiritual to deem nothing sin that wee possibly can commit Hee doth not allow souls to live as they lift and then teach them that God sees no sin in his Children How can you be taught of God and yet follow your old courses of sin
Because mens hearts are naturally rebellious against it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ab Hebraico 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 reâ—ellis Is Casauh Exer. 16. ' § 23. For so a learned Author derives the word for Foolish from an Hebrew word which denotes rebellious When the Word of God Preached should command our hearts they rebelliously do rise against it and so condemn it as folly 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Origen con Cels P 12. ed. Cant. Rom. 3.3 4. Well! let carnal hearts and deluded souls think and say what they will this foolishnesse of Preaching God hath appointed to save those that do beleeve When many hear the word Preached and few there are that are saved what is the reason is it in the Word No 't is in themselves because they do not beleeve Deus vult omnes salvos fieri sed non vult omnes salvos facere sed solum credentes God would have all men that hear the Word to be saved but he will actually save those onely that do beleeve Mans unbeleef does not make the Word of God of no effect The Presence of God is sufficiently discovered to bee with his Word in that some by it do beleeve and are saved If God and the Gospel yea if God in the Gospel be hid to any 't is onely to those that are lost 'T is neither Gods nor the Words fault but their own if any hearers of the Word are not saved So that it may bee truely said of those that perish under the means of Grace Yee have destroyed your selves To clear this further take that full place of St. Paul I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ Rom. 1.16 for it is the power of God to salvation to every one that beleeves to the Jew first and also to the Greek Understand hear the Gospel read preached meditated upon So 't is the Power of God not his essential but instrumental power which effectually moves the hearts of Gods elect ones helps to convey the Holy Spirit to stir up faith to the obtaining Righteousnesse and Salvation through Christ Gods Power and Gods Presence is abundantly manifested by the Gospel in mens salvation Calvin And they do plainly set Gods Power at defyance who do withdraw themselves from the preaching of the Gospel The Arm of the Lord is ordinarily revealed in the conversion of souls not in any secret revelations but in the open preaching of the Word This is the power of God unto salvation and a convincing argument of Gods Presence with his Word § 2. 2. Gods Presence is discovered in his Word in that it reaches to the very heart It is Gods priviledge to be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a knower and searcher of the heart And if at any time the heart bee troubled and affected with the Word of God must wee not needs say of a truth 1 Cor. 14.24 25. God was present with his Word 1 Cor. 14.24 25. If all Prophesie that is those that are in Office and appointed by others for that purpose which is clear from 1 Cor. 12.28 29. And there come in one that beleeveth not or one unlearned hee is convinced of all hee is Judged of all vers 25. And thus are the secrets of his heart made manifest and so falling down on his face he will worship God and report that God is in you of a truth This is the work of the Word of God Preached to convince mens hearts to judge them for their sins and those thus wrought upon must acknowledge Gods special Presence in his Ordinances such will say God is in you of a truth No greater sign of a barren fruitlesse and senselesse heart in the things of God than to condemn the Word Preached as barren and unfruitful When any have been carelesse and did not profit under the means they have sadly and uncharitably judged the Word it self carnal and unprofitable when alas Lapwing-like they keep far enough off from the eggs of iniquity that are hatching within they look not to their own hearts where all the fault lyes Oh! what thin Congregations should wee have throughout this Nation if all should throw off Ordinances or bee compelled to leave them that never yet profited by them How much better were it to sit down and mourn over those wretched base and rebellious hearts of ours that have been the cause of all our fruitlessenesse under the powerful Preaching of the heart-searching and soul-risling Word of God Let us be sure to look well to the Word what it is in it self and not what it proves by reason of our corruption if ever wee would have right apprehensions of the Preaching of the Gospel and not undervalue and sleight the publick means of Grace because some men either have not been bettered or do not at present profit under them § 3. But I shall further evidence that the Word reaches to our hearts upon this four-fold consideration 1. The VVord doth discover mens very thoughts take them in the fullest latitude all sorts of thoughts Have you not been sometimes at a Sermon where you have plainly heard those very things that have been formerly working in your thoughts Nay have you not sometimes foolishly suspected that some one or other hath told the Preacher your very state and condition or else hee could never have spoke so closely distinctly and directly to it Lay by all such fond jealousies and foolish suspitions for the future and know 't is the VVord of God that is preached to you and this reaches to your very thoughts without the help of humane information It is a discerner of the thoughts Heb. 4.12 2. The VVord discovers the most secret sins of mens hearts Hath not the VVord told you of that many times which you thought none in the world knew you were guilty of Have you not sometimes heard those secret sins and miscarriages reproved in publick that you have been guilty of in private and you thought till you heard it reproved that none was ever guilty of such sins but your self As I have known a very gracious Christian when he heard fearfulnesse of the Devil in secret Prayer reproved as a great peece of our unbeleef and that some were so fearfully miscarrying as to this that they would sometimes start aside and look behind them to see whether the Devil were not really present there or no hee told the Minister that this was his very miscarriage and withall thought that none had ever been thus foolishly fearful and guilty of that but himself VVhat made Felix to tremble when hee heard Paul discourse of Temperance Righteousnesse and Judgement to come VVhy 't was the VVord of God that hee heard preached that came close to his conscience and told him of his intemperance and unrighteousnesse that caused this collick in the conscience that produced this Aguish sit of trembling in the Noble Vice-Roy VVhen the VVord powerfully rifles a mans conscience and sets his bosome sins in order
such of all other men they are the worst and their condemnation will be the greatest Let mee leave with such one Latine sentence out of which they may easily pick plain English Arrows Tas. Sacra Pessima creaturarum visibilium est homo degener pessimus hominum pseudo-Christianus Christianorum vero pessimus nequam Verbi Minister The above-named particulars are some qualifications of Gospel-Stewards Christ is signally present in his Ordinances when his Stewards are faithful dispensers of the Word § 6. 3. Gospel-Ministers are co-workers together with God this speaks Gods Presence with them 2 Cor. 6.1 1 Cor. 3 9 Wee therefore as workers together with him beseech you not to receive the Grace of God in vain For wee are labourers together with God 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 If Ministers are fellow-labourers together with God in the doing good to souls then certainly God is present in his Worship by his Ministers Mark 16. â—0 They went forth and preached every where the Lord working with them 1. Ministers do work together with God Behold here is infinite condiscention of God towards Ministers that God who can with one word convert and save souls as well as create a world yet should vouchsafe to admit men his fellow-workers for the conversion of souls 'T is true Grotius in Ep. ad Philem v. 10. Dei opus est regignere hominem 't is Gods work to regenerate and convert souls but God pleases to use the Ministers as his Instruments in the work And God by the secret grace and virtue and power of the Spirit works in them and by them Hee joyns himself to the Ministers resigns not his right but only communicates his power with them and graceth his Instruments with the honour and title of the work Thus God doth not onely speak to us after the manner of men but also by the Ministry of men Rom. 11.14 and that so that they by their Ministry are said 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to save us Therefore 2. The Lord truly works together with the Ministers Mark 16.20 The Lord working with them It is an high priviledge onely to be the Servants of God in the work of the Ministry but this is common to us with other Saints But to be Fellow-labourens with God in the salvation of souls this is a peece of singular favour God vouchsafes to Gospel-Ministers The Angels are Gods Servants too being his Ministring Spirits but to which of the Angels hath God said at any time they are his fellow-labourers Both waies the Presence of God is evidenced with the Ministers of the Gospel § 7. Object But is it not derogatory to God to have Man as a co-worker with him in the conversion of souls is not Faith by which wee are saved the gift of God Answ 1. God is the principal cause man onely by the Ministry of the Word is the instrumental cause and so Gods glory and mans duty may very well stand together 2. In saving Faith wee must distinguish these two things First There is the knowledge of the things to be beleeved Secondly An assent of the heart to those credenda or things to be beleeved First Then the knowledge of things to be beleeved ariseth from the word preached by Gospel-Ministers Gospel saving knowledge is not communicated now adaies by revelations and immediate inspirations but by the Word preached and heard Rom. 10.14 See Rom. 1.16 How shall they beleeve on him of whom they have not heard and how shall they hear without a Preacher Now Ministers are co-workers with God because Faith depends on the Word preached by them as a necessary Instrument for its production as to the knowledge of things to be beleeved Secondly As for that Internal Assent of the heart whereby a Beleever doth firmly apprehend and comfortably apply the Doctrine propounded of things to be beleeved this ariseth from the habit of Faith infused by Gods Spirit The Doctrine of Faith is preached and promulged by men herein they are co-workers with God But the habit of Faith that is infused and implanted by God alone without any concurrence of the Preacher Thus it is the gift of God Man propounds truths to the soul by his preaching God by his Spirit makes us beleeve those Truths preached and propounded Thus have I cleared the third Argument CHAP. X. Practical deductions from Gods Presence with his Ministers The Ministers dignity Their duty As Embassadours As Stewards As Co-workers with God People must eye God and not men Prize Gospel truths Not be prejudiced against nor undervaluers of Gospel Ministers Good grounds for Ministers to Preach and people to hear § 1. FRom this third Argument to prove Gods Presence in Religious worship as being represented by the Ministers of the Gospel These practical deductions might be prosecuted and enlarged upon which I shall briefly name and come to the fourth and last Argument 1. It informs Ministers of two things First Of their Dignity That God should set them in the Church to represent the Majesty of Heaven This ought not to puff up pride in Ministers but to cause humble admiration of Gods goodnesse to honour their weaknesse so farre as to be the representatives of God himself This may vindicate them from contempt amongst men An affront is offered to the Prince by affronting of his Embassador So God is affronted by any indignities that are offered to His Ministers He that despiseth 1 Thes 4.8 despiseth not man but God Corinth was ruined by the Romans for abuse of Embassadors And it were just with God to destroy any place or person for the contempt of his Ministers § 2. Secondly it informs Ministers of their duty Gods Presence with them calls for a three-fold duty from them 1. As Embassadors they must eye that mainly that God sent them about viz. The salvation of Souls Wee pray you in Christs stead be yee reconciled to God 2 Cor. 5.20 Here is the main end of our Preaching and your hearing that you may be reconciled How then can any have so impudent a face as to pretend they are sent of God who make railing and reviling of others to bee their work with a neglect of the salvation of Souls and holding out the VVord of reconciliation § 3. 2. As Stewards of the mysteries of God they must bee faithful 1 Cor. 4.2 It 's required in Stewards that they be faithful That is that they keep nothing back from the people of God but discover to them according to their ability the whole councel and will of God that they deal faithfully with them in all things that they may render a good account of their Stewardship at the great Audit Now this faithfulnesse of Gods Stewards is seen in these two things First Davenantius in Col. c. 1. v. 7. that they seek Gods honour and not their own praise Hee seeks the glory and honour of God that speaks as the Oracles of God that God in all things
may bee glorified through Jesus Christ 1 Pet. 4.11 Hee seeks praise of men that so speaks that hee may please men that hee may fan to himself some praise from them for his wit eloquence and learning Of this hunting after vain glory and popular applause St. Paul with disdain enough thus speaks Gal. 1.10 Do I seek to please men For if I yet pleased men I should not bee the servant of God Secondly That to their utmost endeavour they promote the spiritual good and eternal welfare of the Flock committed to their charge by watching over them preparing suitable food for their souls according to their capacities and conditions omitting nothing that is necessary and doing nothing that is prejudicial to their salvation An example of this wee have eminently in St. Paul 1 Cor. 10 33. Even as I please all men in all things not seeking mine own profit but the profit of many that they may be saved § 4. 3. As Co-workers with God They must be diligent If wee work with God we must be diligent in our employment least wee ruine our selves as well as wrong other Souls and dishonour God by our carelesnesse and indiligence Prayer Meditation and Affliction contribute much to the making of a Divine The two former speak that care and diligence that is requisite to the Ministerial Office the other God uses as his lash to prevent lazinesse and as a Spur to quicken to Duty He that works together with God for the good of Souls had need bee very diligent In that men must have more than Sermons to lead them The visible Preachings of Ministers lives must 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 co-operate and joyn in the work of drawing sinners unto God or else will hardly prove successeful § 5. II. Gods presence with the Ministers teaches the people to eye God more and men lesse in the Ministry of the Gospel It is an ill sign of a squeamish Stomack not to take meat down unlesse it be dressed by such an hand And as ill a sign of a distempered heart not to receive the Word cheerfully and readily unlesse delivered by such and such Ministers This wee have by eying men more than God Three directions First Own and prize Gospel truths by whom ever they are delivered An unclean hand may convey to you a precious Jewel A wooden pipe may convey to you rich and generous Wine Wee must have truth in admiration for Gods sake and not entertain Gospel truths because wee have the persons in admiration that do deliver them Secondly Let not prejudice against mens persons cause in you a prajudice against the doctrine they preach The best way is to keep all prejudices against any out of out hearts the next is to throw them out suddenly when wee perceive they have cunningly crept into us Prejudices against Ministers if harboured in our breasts any time will bee very apt to make us contemptuous against God And to contemn the truths of God if upon any private grudge wee condemn the party that brings them It 's weaknesse to entertain groundless prejudices against Ministers but it is wilfulnesse then to take revenge upon our own Souls And either in a pet to throw off hearing wholly or not to embrace the word heard chearfully Thirdly Let not the meannesse of mens parts cause you to sleight or undervalue Gods Ordinances There are divers gifts yet but one spirit There is much of Gods power seen in mans weaknesse If good men are without great parts they are without that great pride that does attend them And then those Sermons that have onely the plain trimming of Holinesse and Humility as most befitting the simplicity of the Gospel are most operative upon hearers How ordinary is it for great and learned Doctors to leave their people meer dunces in Religion Now others what they want in learning and parts God many times helps out by their tendernesse of affection for the good of Souls and this is ordinarily accompanied with Gods blessing § 6. III. Gods Presence with his Ministers affords good ground enough for Ministers to preach and people to hear Ordinances will continue as long as Christs promise continues and presence with the Ministers and that is to the end of the world If any do absent themselves or would with-draw others from hearing the Word publickly Preached let them first prove that Christs promise is out of date then may wee have reason to beleeve that hearing and preaching are out of date too Till that bee done let us assure our selves that the enjoyment of Publick Ordinances and the Presence of Christ in them is the onely safe and sure way for us to walk to the new Jerusalem in CHAP. XI Gods Presence in his Worship by the Holy Spirit The Presence of the Spirit proved by sundry Texts of Scripture The Word and Spirit go together The teaching of the Spirit no plea for Enthusiasm The Word of the Gospel the ministration of the Spirit Ten Reasons grounded on experience evidencing the Presence and teaching of the Spirit in the Word § 1. THe Fourth and last Argument to prove the Presence of God in Places of Religious Worship Arg. 4 is drawn from the efficacious and powerful working of the Holy Spirit The Spirits assistance is necessary in all duties of Gospel-Worship As vital and animal spirits are necessary for all operations of life and sense in the body so the Holy Spirit for works of the soul in all Gospel-duties Before Christs coming the great thing under promise and in constant expectation was the coming of the true Messias After Christs Ascension the great thing under promise and in constant expectation was the full manifestation and shedding abroad of the Spirit of God Now this was abundantly fulfilled after Christs Ascension But what I have to speak to lyes mainly in this that there is the special Presence and Operation of the Spirit of God in his Ordinances especially in his Word This being manifested will fully evidence that the place of Gods Worship is the place of Gods singular Presence The Presence of Gods Spirit shall be cleared both by Scriptures and Reasons grounded upon undeniable experiences of the Children of God § 2. When God by the Prophet Ezekiel declared the promises of the Kingdome of Christ hee makes a gracious promise of his Spiritual Presence with them Ezek. 37.26 I will set my Sanctuary in the midst of them for evermore that is I will be present in my Grace Word and Spirit in their Assemblies See c. 4. § 11 14 and in their heart of which Spiritual Presence the Tabernacle and Sanctuary heretofore were signs and pledges And that this Presence of the Spirit is to be had and enjoyed in these times of the Gospel will be evident from these following places I shall begin with the Evangelical Prophet Isaiah Isa 59.21 As for moe this is my Covenant with them saith the Lord My Spirit which is upon thee and my words which
and experience the Presence of the Spirit and his teaching by the Word I shall to clear up this Argument further answer these two Questions Quest 1. How does the Spirit of God teach in the Word Quest 2. What are the qualifications of the Spirits teaching Quest 1. How does the Spirit teach in the Word Answ These five several waies 1. Removendo by removing of Impediments Before the Spirit of God doth fully dispatch his work hee removes all hinderances and impediments out of the way Though the Spirit of God be not the natural Agent yet herein hee much resembles them They remove hinderances ere they finish their work or can effectually compleat it The fire burns not till the moisture be consumed The Sun enlightens not till the darkness be expelled Thus the Spirit works not fully on the soul to teach it till the hinderances of our learning be removed Four Impediments removed § 2. 1. An unwillingness to be taught Job layeth down the character of a wicked man Therefore they say unto God Job 21.14 depart from us for wee desire not the knowledge of thy waies Observe here the particle Therefore it refers to the fore-going verse 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 They spend their daies in wealth or mirth the word denotes both or whatsoever may be deemed Bonum juaundum A pleasing good thing Therefore they say unto God depart from us Oh 't is wealth and worldly prosperity and carnal jollity that make many so unwilling to be acquainted with God and the knowledge of his waies that is of those waies that God would have them to walk in They are willing to be rich but unwilling to be holy They are forward to entertain jovial mirth but loath to give way to real sorrow for sin If they have but the blessings of Gods left hand they care not for the mercies of his right hand Gain is is their Godliness and Gold is their God But say they wee care not for thee wee desire not the knowledge of thy waies Mercerus in Locum God here rips open the hearts of wicked men They say that is as the Psalmists Fool did in his heart there is no God Few so grosly prophane as to say this openly that they care not for saving knowledge yea but this is in their hearts they are unwilling to be taught They love folly Prov. 1.2 and hate knowledge Now this is that the Spirit removes as a great hinderance of knowledge What Master can do good on any Scholar that is wholly averse to his endeavours unwilling to be taught yea that plainly hates learning Thus there is no good at all to be done on such who are wholly unwilling to learn saving Truths There is the cure Behold I will pour out my Spirit unto you Prov. 1.23 I will make known my words 'T is the Spirit of God must remove our unwillingness to be taught or else wee shall still be block-heads and dunces in the School of Christ Psa 110.3 Thy People shall be willing in the day of thy Power Till Christ send out his Spirit to prepare subjects for him they will not come unto Christ that they may be saved § 3. 2 Impediment Fleshly lusts These Barracado the Spirit of God out of the soul The Spirit of God takes no liking or pleasure in such impure houses Veniunt ad candida tect a columbae Doves come chearfully to white and clean houses The Spirit of God Ephos 4.18 19 the Dove of the Gospel abominates impure unclean and unchaste souls In Ephes 4.18 Wee read of those that are darkened in their understandings Vers 19. gives the reason They gave themselves up to lascivionsness to work all uncleanness with greediness The loss of God at first in Paradise left all men in a state of Ignorance and Darkness but our fleshly lusts and corruptions make us have an hard heart and a seared conscience and keeps us from renewing our acquaintance with God The natural man knoweth not the things of God 'T is true of every natural unregenerate man but most clear in those that are devoted to the worst sort of carnality to fleshly lusts The Spirit of God removes this Impediment § 4. 3 Impediment is Pride Ignorance and Pride ordinarily go together Though few are so sottish as to be proud of their ignorance yet usually ignorant people have so much of pride as to keep out the means of saving knowledge It is ordinary for much natural knowledge to be there where there is not a dram of saving grace Now knowledge without grace makes men devilish proud this was the very sin of the Devils Knowledge puffeth up 1 Cor. 8.1 Now the Spirit of God must make us humble ere wee shall be taught by him A proud Christian seems to be a contradiction when as all things in Christianity administers matter for our humility So that the Spirit must first remove our Pride ere hee will make us Christians indeed § 5. 4 Impediment is Curiosity Curious inquirers have alwaies layn under the lash of Christ Upon all emergencies he takes occasion severely to condemn them Peter is sharply taken up for this by our Saviour who would fain have known what should become of the beloved Disciple John Christ tells Peter If I will John 21.22 that hee tarry till I come what is that to thee follow thou mee A full example and instance wee have of it Act. 1.6 7. All the Disciples being together they asked Christ Lord wilt thou at this time Act. 1.6 7 restore again the Kingdome unto Israel Vers 7. And hee said unto them It is not for you to know the times or the seasons The reason why our Saviour alwaies checks this humour of Curiosity is because the great indulgers of this are most times neglecters of matters of necessity This is plainly hinted at and Curiosity it self reproved and condemned in that place of St. Luke Luke 13.23 24 One asks of Christ Are there few that bee saved What a curious question is here What profit if it should be known or how could this advance the inquirers salvation to know punctually how few or how many shall be saved Our Saviour sets him upon other work secretly yet sharply reproves this fond curiosity vers 24. Strive to enter in at the strait gate As if hee had said what is that to thee whether few or many here is your work if you would be saved you must strive your selves to enter in at the strait gate Bee rather conscientious in practice than curious in your enquiries this is the way to bring you to Heaven This is the most dangerous Engine the Devil uses to undoe souls withall For when the Spirit hath made souls willing to be taught and have thrown by lust and pride which made them slight and under value knowledge And the Devil sees they are in good earnest for knowledge they hear and read Scriptures to get knowledge then hee strives
is not in every man by Nature but conveyed onely to some by the Spirit of God who is called the Spirit of Wisdome and Revelation Ephes 1.17 Gospel Light in the soul that leads to salvation is the benefit of Christs Redemption and not of our Creation Therefore when Christ is spoken of to come into the world as Mediator to him is attributed this light of salvation The people that walked in darknesse have seen a great light Isa 9. Avenari Lex Hebr. Mal. 4 2. they that dwell in the Land of the shadow of death upon them hath the light shined Some observe that the Hebrew word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to shine hath great affinity with 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to heal It holds true here the light of the Gospel is an healing light where ever it comes All men lye sick in sin and ignorance till this light recover them No soundnesse in the Faith without a clear discovery of this light And it is worth our observation Luk. 4.18 that healing of the broken hearted and recovering sight to the blind are both joyned together and both as the effect of Christs undertaking his mediatory work If Christs as God enlightens every man that comes into the world with the light of reason yet we must not therefore beleeve that Christ enlightens every one by saving Grace as he is Mediator 'T is true all that are savingly enlightened are enlightened by Christ and his Spirit yet there are many that are never enlightened Yea and of all those that are thus savingly enlightned time was that wee might say of them Yee were sometimes darkenesse § 9. What hath been said may sufficiently serve to answer any that would bee satisfied about that inward Light so much spoken of now adayes of which I shall only propound these four things First Every man in the world hath an inward light of nature or light of reason call'd in Scripture Prov. 20.27 the candle of the Lord. According to which every man hath some seeds of the knowledge of good and evil This is the light of mans natural Conscience Rom. 2.14 15. This light serves to many good uses but not to bring Souls to Heaven Secondly Every true Saint one that is regenerated truly by the Word and Spirit hath an inward light of the Spirit the light of Grace This is light in the Lord. According to this Ephes 4.8 a Saint hath his Conscience savingly enlightned This light is not onely useful but necessary to all true Christians in their life here as Christians and will bring them to Heaven at the last Thirdly There is a middle light betwixt the light of Nature and the saving light of Grace that is the common work of the Spirit called illumination too which many in the visible Church do enjoy and yet are reprobates According to this Heb. 4.6 men may have an awakened conscience This light may bee useful to others but it will not advantage a wicked man at all if hee go no further than this common work Fourthly No man that receives inward saving light of the Spirit but was first in great spiritual darkenesse Thus S. Paul saith of the Ephesians Ye were sometimes darkenesse but now are yee light in the Lord. Ephes 5.8 So that it must needs bee a very grosse mistake to think that any a far greater to assert that all are born with this inward saving light And our Saviour was much overseen in sending Paul to open mens eyes and to turn them from darkenesse to light Acts 26.18 by preaching of the Gospel if so be they had this Light by Nature Wee grant you see and if need were would sufficiently prove with undeniable Arguments a Light within yet not such as many ignorantly enough plead for Vide Fr. Junium de Theol. vera c. 16. expl ss 32. T. 1. p. 1414. Let others therefore sit down and embrace that so much admired Darling of an Inward Natural yet saving Light in all wee know 't is but a Changeling and not the genuine off-spring of the Spirit of God Much like that Strumpet-Goddesse of the men of Ephesus Great is Diana of the Ephesians But in St. Pauls Language it proved a great cry about nothing For saies hee Wee know that an Idoll is nothing § 10. IV. The Spirit of God teaches Corroborando by strengthening the mind and understanding The mind of man is full of weakness as well as darkness The Spirit of God in his teaching brings not only light but also strength to the souls of Gods Children Paul prayes that they may be strengthened Eph. 3.16 with might by his Spirit in the inward man The inward man the soul of a Saint is the chief object of the Spirits care For the outward man that is many times weak and vile but the Spirit comes by his teaching to renew and streng-then the inward man that though the outward man decay yet the inward man may be renewed strengthened and confirmed day by day And if any shall enquire how God by his Spirit doth strengthen the minds of his Children Fr. Junius de Th. vera c. 12. p. 1403. T. 1. A learned and judicious Divine gives this solid satisfaction to his inquiry Whatsoever power is implanted in man by nature to apprehend that God by the power of his Spirit doth so possess that to those gifts of nature hee conjoyns the gifts of his grace that are answerable to them For to the Principles that are naturally placed in the understanding hee super-adds the Principles of Grace To Reason that arises out of those Principles hee conjoyns the increase of his Divine Light To the Conclusions and Determinations which reason hath attained to by the most imperfect light of nature hee super-adds supernatural and most perfect Demonstrations out of which heavenly Knowledge may be raised in the minds of godly men To conclude hee propounds heavenly objects to be apprehended by the mind and will after an heavenly manner and also raises the will to the apprehension of those objects that are propounded § 11. V. And lastly Recolligendo The Spirit teaches by raising and recollecting fallen Truths Mans memory is very slippery especially as to Divine Truths very apt to let them slip and leak thorow Therefore wee ought to give the more earnest heed to the things that wee have heard lest at any time wee should let them slip Heb. 2.1 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 lest wee let them run out as leaking Vessels are wont to do Or the Metaphor may be taken from Paper that lets letters sink in and the Ink run abroad that they cannot be distinctly read Thus Divine Truths either leak out or run abroad that they prove useless to souls at the greatest need Now the Spirit recollects and brings in Divine Truths upon several occasions as may be most for the souls advantage Hee shall teach you all things and bring all things to your remembrance what-ever I
and goodness of the Spirit of God is much discerned in his seasonable teaching of souls To speak in season is an high peece of wisdome words spoken in season are like Apples of Gold in pictures of Silver His goodness appears too in that hee helps when there is most need How suitable is a refreshing promise in the time of desertion a word of comfort in the time of affliction a word of establishment in the time of tentation And even thus seasonably is Gods Spirit wont to apply himself unto souls Sometimes the Spirit of God directs the Preacher from his Text to send some seasonable Truth home to a soul As I have read of St. Augustine as hee was preaching hee was suddenly carried from his Text hee knew not how to speak against the Manichees A little after one meets him and thanks him for that discourse of his it was a means of reclaiming him from those errors hee was preaching against And it hath been the experience of some good men that those Truths that have been suggested to them in preaching beyond their ordinary meditation have had some good effect and they have heard souls to be more affected with those than with other Truths delivered at the same time A digression in a Sermon sometimes proves a diversion in some mens thoughts which may help forward the conversion of some soul or other in the Auditory I have sometimes thought those affectionate Parentheses of the Spirits suggesting in preaching of Sermons well digested otherwise before-hand are much like that most exquisite story of the woman that had a bloody issue whose Faith made her whole that is inserted in the passage of Jairus his Daughter being healed of our Saviour Luke 8.41 The Evangelist sets down the beginning of that passage about Jairus the Ruler of the Synagogue as our Saviour was going to cure his Daughter the woman meets him in the way and hee cures her first and then raises Jairus his Daughter that was dead Thus the Spirit of God doth sometimes direct the Minister to such a subject that may raise a dead soul that may quicken dead affections but by the way hee meets with a soul that hath a bloody Issue of sin some reigning lusts or other here may be some Truths seasonably suggested to cure his soul and then hee is directed forward to raise and quicken those that may be overtaken with deadness and dulness This occasional and providential discovery of Truths that come close to the soul that receives them speaks very much the seasonable teachings of the Spirit of God As some by an occasional reading of such a place of Scripture or such an ones writings or such an one they have perhaps heard occasionally preach and such Truths have dropped into the soul so suitably as if God had immediately spoken from Heaven this must be resolved into the work of Gods Spirit that directs all for the best advantage of Gods Children § 5. 5. The Spirit of God teaches certainly A Childe of God is not lead by meer conjectures about the things of God that hee is taught The highest the Saints can arise to ordinarily is but a conjectural probability according to the Papists so that they may give some probable conjectures at their good estate But the Spirit of God where it comes and teaches leaves not the soul at such uncertainties How could St. Paul have bid the Corinthians examine themselves whether were in the Faith or no 2 Cor. 13 5 unless they could have known this certainly What made Calvin and Perkins and many others lay down the very nature of Justifying Faith in full assurance and certain perswasion Was it not their certain experience of it that made them oppose the Papists mainly who would lay it onely in a bare assent Though the middle way be the truest to hold out Justifying Faith as an act of recumbency yet the experience and certainty those good men arrived to made them the more violent in their opposition When the Spirit comes to teach the soul it comes in a demonstrative way 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 In the demonstration of the Spirit 1 Cor. 2. â— and of Power The plainest language is most peircing when the things of God are to be treated of the reason is because the Spirit sets it home with power Men must use flourishes of Rhethorick to perswade when matters of humane concernment are treated of they have then their 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 perswasives but when Gods Spirit comes with the Word hee brings his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 down-right demonstrations Thus when Celsus objected against the Christians the barbarousnesse of their original 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 â—rig con â—els p. 5 â—d Cant. Origen tells him by way of answer that the Christian Religion hath a demonstration peculiar and proper to it self of a diviner strain than that of the Greek Philosophers and this the Apostle calls the demonstration of the Spirit and power Demonstrations are the most certain kind of syllogismes with Logicians Aristotle tells us that it is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 it produces knowledge that goes upon the most certain grounds it hath an insight into things by their causes Thus Gods Spirit works in a most certain kind of way in the Soul that few or none but do or at least may know it if they are careful A Woman with Child hath such qualmes and distempers that she certainly knows it So they that have had the breeding of the Spirit in their hearts they know by the motions and stirrings of the Spirit of God within that they are those that are taught by the Spirit of God § 6. 6. The Spirit teaches profitably Let the Minister speak never so powerfully and plainly yet the heart of man cannot discern it and profit by it unlesse the Spirit strike in with it wee shall do little good This is the dexterity of the Spirit that hee tells you what use to make of such a Scripture such a Truth such a Providence such an affliction Isa 48.17 I am the holy one of Israel that teacheth you to profit Men are naturally ignorant and unprofitable they are all the Sons of Belial that is as the Hebrew derivation of the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 doth imply 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 without any profit at all unprofitable wretches good for nothing ignorant wretches that know nothing Now when the Holy one of Israel takes men in hand to teach them hee teaches them 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to profit Men that before were good for nothing neither profitable to themselves or others when he teaches them by his Spirit he makes them profit for their souls good and eternal welfare and most times they are made very profitable unto others The Spirit of God teaches profitably in that First He teaches practically The Spirit in his teaching directs souls to happiness now one part of a Christians happinesse here on earth lyes in this that hee learns his