That the Holy Ghost is the Inestimable gift of God 2. What a Horrid sin it must needs be to think it may purchased with money 1. The Holy Ghost is Gods Inestimable gift 1. 'T is 2 Gift of his 14 Joh. 16 17. 11 Luk. 13. Infinitely beyond all merit and so 't is well It is a Gift we must have gon without it else 2. 'T is Gods special Gift 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Gift of God The Gift of all Gifts not Datum as Bp. Andr. distinguisheth in serm 14. on Whitsun pag. 748. any worldly good thing but Donum bonum perfectum That good and perfect gift that this day came down from above from the Father of lights 1 James 17. In this Gift are contained all the excellencies of nature and grace 1. Of Nature such as Reason Knowledge Understanding Arts Policy Government Stength Courage c. 2. Of Grace such as Faith Love Joy Peace Long-suffering Gentleness Temperance c. Every Feather of this Dove 3 Mat. 16. is of Gold Every drop of this Ointment this Water precious 1 Joh. 2.27 7 Joh. 38. Every spark of this Fire beautiful 2 Acts 3. Every gale of this Wind perfumed v. 2. O si donum Descires saith our Saviour 4 Joh. 10. if we knew but this Gift which cannot be but by receiving it 2. Rev. 17. how shoâ—â—d we prize it In this Gift God formerly gave Apostles Prophets Evangelists verse 11. The Gift of Healing Miracles c. And in this Gift God still gives us Pastors and Teachers for these we keep this Holy-day saith Bp. Andrewes and so ought to have for them more then a Working-day accompt Again The Gifts which proceed from this Gift such as Preaching Administring the Blessed Sacraments and Prayer c. are as good as no Gifts but for this Gift to the Holy Ghost The Word 2 Cor. 3.6 is but a dead Letter except the Spirit quicken it There can be no Regeneration or New birth at Baptism except as in the First Creation 1 Gen. 2. the Spirit move upon the Water In the Lords Supper the Flesh 6 Joh. 63. profiteth nothing if the Spirit be away nor can we Pray as we ought except the Spirit help us 8 Rom. 26. The Gift of God Eternal Life through Jesus Christ is Communicated to us by the Gift of the Spirit for though Christ on his part hath finished the work of our Redemption 19 Joh. 30. by setting his hand to it his undertakings on the Cross yet this deed is not forcible to us without the seal 4 Eph. 30. and witness of his Spirit 8 Rom. 16. In this Gist God giveth peace to the dissenting 4 Eph. 3. instruction to the ignorant 14 Joh. 26. guidance to the erronious 16 Joh. 13. comfort to the disconsolate verse 6 7. memory to the forgetful 14 Joh. 26. To speak all at once in this Gift God giveth us rich discoveries of himself 1 Cor. 2.11 nay Himself withal hereby the Almighty dwells among us 68 Psal 18. see Bp. Hall 's Paraph on the place 2. The Holy Ghost now being so Infinitely Inestimable a Gift of God as you have heard what a horrid sin must it needs be to think it may be purchased with money What Ingratitude is this to the Giver what Indignity and affront offered to the Gift it self A Gift be it what it will as a Gift 't is absurd to value it much more to put a temporal and corruptible price upon an incorruptible and Eternal purchase a thought of this cannot be endured Thy money perish with thee because thou hast thought that the Gift of God may be purchased with money Application Is the holy ghost so inestimable a gift not to be thought on with a money purchase 1. This condemnes Romes marketting it by selling Crowns Miters Braiers Pardons c. as Mantuan testifies Venalia nobis Templa Sacerdotes altaria sacra Coronae Ignis Thura Preces Caelum est venale Deuique What doth the Apostle here whom they so boast of as their prime Metropolitan refuse Simons money and will he now have Peter-pence The Pope only hath coyned these exactions for himself he desires them not 2. A Gift is such in relation to the Receivers have we then received this Inestimable gift which we may know thus 1. By Sanctity of life The Holy Ghost the third person in the Trinity is peculiarly termed Holy for that besides the holiness of Nature in which respect the Father and the Son are also holy his Office is to Sanctify the Church of God to whom it agreeth in a speciall manner for where the Father Sanctifieth by the Son and by the Holy Ghost the Son from the Father and by the Holy Ghost the Holy Ghost Sanctifieth from the Father and from the Son by himself immediately Where this 1. Spirit of holyness is breathed into any man it creates in him a life of holyness and as the natural Spirit doth at the heart it will beat at the mouth it will breath at the pulse it will be felt In the heart it will cause new thoughts new desires sanè novum supervenisse spiritum nova desideria demonstram saith St. Bernard In the mouth new talke new communication in the hands works of new obedience These are the effects of that new Spirit the holy Ghost God promised to give 36. Ezek. 26. This Spirit when it makes a new creature it begins at the heart as the heart they say in any Animal is primum vivens ultimum moriens lives first and dies last It Sanctifies the heart from all inward defilements 15. Mat. 19. the Lips from evil speaking 4. Ephes 31. the Hands from any unlawful actions 2 Pet. 2.8 Thus if sincerely surveying our thoughts words and works we find them holy we may thence inferr We have received the Holy Ghost And as by Sanctity of life we may judge of the receiving this Inestimable Gift for this Dov will not light on Carrion This Water will cleanse this fire will refine this wind will fan thorowly a clean box it must be that is to hold this Ointment 2. By Humility 57 Isa 15. This Dove implies meekness this water forsakes the Hills to visit the low Valleys the less we think of our selves the higher esteem God hath of us a meek and quiet spirit is with him of great Price 1 Pet. 3. c. 4. to whom he sends this rich present the Holy Ghost 4 James 6. 3. By Boldiness in suffering for Christ this we see in the Apostles Peter and John 4 Acts 8.13 and the rest 5 c. 40 41 42. and Stephen 7 c. 54 55. Yet let men beware here the Spirit of contradiction obstinate gain saying of Magistrates and speaking evil of Dignities correcting Delinquency be not mistaken for the Spirits Magnanimity in persecution 4. By charity 4 James 5. Do you think that the Spirit of God saith the Apostle which we profess to have dwelling in us lusteth to envy so Bishop Hall in his Paraph. on the
place This fire from Heaven 2 Acts 3. is to melt us into pity not like that mentioned 9 Luke 54. to destroy presently all who dislike us who savoureth of the gall of bitterness v. 23. hath no part nor lot in this Gift Lastly Where this Gift is received the love of God hereby so shed abroad in the heart 5 Rom. 5. will necessarily run out at the mouth in all joyful Expressions of gratitude saying Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable Gift 2 Cor. 9. c. 15. This effect it wrought on the Gentiles on whom it was poured out 10 Acts 46. they presently found new Tongues to magnifie God They that have taken this Gift cannot but be taken with it and for the Gift sake with the day it descended on Therefore let us keep the Feast 1 Cor. 5. c. 8. 3. Let us labour after this inestimable Gift 1. By Prayer 'T is called the Spirit of Supplication 12 Zech. 10. not only because it helps our infirmities in Prayer 8 Rom. 26. but also by it it is attained we draw in this Holy Breath 20 Joh. 22. by opening our mouths in Petitioning to God for it 11 Luke 13. 2. By Hearing Thus St. Peter's Auditory 2 Acts 1. and Cornelius and his Family received it Acts 10. c. 44. As in naturalibus in things natural faith Bishop Andrews the Breath and the voice go together so the Spirit and the Word in the practice of Religion The Lord was found most chiefly in the Voice 1 King 19. c. 12. His Spirit is an Instructive Word 30 Isa 21. and descends as on this day in Tongues 2 Acts 3. 3. By the Sacraments The Spirit of God moveth upon the Water in Baptisme and necessarily accompanieth the Body and Blood of Christ in the Lords Supper 2 Act. 38. Repent and be baptized and ye shall receive the Gift of the Holy Ghost So is this Gift given us by Christs giving us himself to eat 6 Jo. 57. He that eateth me he shall live by me now if the breath and the spirit be all one 20 Joh. 22. so is the breath and life 2 Gen. 7. and the spirit and the life 6 Joh. 63. They then that can make Christ a Body in the Eucharist must make him his spirit too since they cannot be severed for saith Bishop Andrews The flesh that was conceived by the Holy Ghost this is never without the Holy Ghost by whom it was conceived and so they can do more for him than they can for themselves for who can give himself life or Being No the Body and Blood of Christ whereby we receive his Spirit are verily and indeed saith our Church-Catechism taken of the faithful spiritually not by sence 2 Cor. 5. c. 16. in the Lords Supper Thus is our Soul refreshed by his flesh in the bread and his blood in the wine and ever with this blood there runneth an Artery with plenty of Spirit in it This cup is a cup of the Spirit 1 Cor. 12. c. 13. as may easily be perceived by that strange enlivening wrought in us after the drinking it then how lyes the Soul prostrate with joy at the feet of her dear Saviour ravished with the sence of her pardon and the assurance of Gods love now she hath received a fresh life of devotion whereby she casts off her old corruptions resolves upon new obedience and is transported with thankfulness These are the effects of Gods inestimable Gift the Spirit received in the Sacrament which though it cannot be found in the Veins of the richest Mines not to be purchased with Money yet here it is to be found in the streams of Christs blood and that we may so find it God of his infinite mercy grant c. FINIS
we might have been apt to have concluded out of sight out of mind Pharaohs chief Butlers re-advance made him forget Joseph 3 Gen. 13 14.23 But the height of Christs place doth not make him unmindful of us he remembers us in his Kingdom 23 Luke 42. and from thence sends us rich presents gifts and graces Temporal and Spiritual blessings 1 Ephes 3. for whatever we receive as a pledge of Gods greatest love towards us must be through his mercy in Christ 3. To prepare a place for all that believe in him 14 Jo. 1 2. This blessed Harbinger 6 Heb. 20. is gone before in our flesh to take possession for us of our Heavenly Mansions most glorious certainly and Magnificent as provided and appointed by such Infinite Majesty and Bounty Prepare us dear Jesus for those happy habitations which thy love hath so painfully and carefully fitted and prepared for us The Relation that is betwixt Christ in heaven and his Church on earth gives us a full assurance that he will bring that thither The Head is not compleat without its members 5 Eph. 23. nor the Bridegroom without his Bride 2 Mar. 19 20. Christ therefore shall undoubtedly unite to himself his Body Mystical and take to the same place his beloved beauteous Spouse She shall be brought to the King her Husband in raiment of needle-work with gladness and rejoycing shall she be brought into the Kings Palace 45 Psal 14 15. What Christ prayes for 17 Joh. 24. himself is also able to perform where-e're the man dwells he may Command his wife none can detain the Church from cohabiting with her Lord in Heaven As all Christs undertakings in the flesh his Birth Death Resurrection he was Born for us 9 Isa 6. 2 Luk. 11. Dyed for us 4 Ro. 25. Rose again for us so at his Ascension we come in too he ascended for us he is gone up on high far above all Heavens to prepare there a place for us 4. To send the Comforter down unto his Church 16 Jo. 7. It is expedient for you c. There lyes an expedience that Holy Thursday should preceed Pentecost Christ must go before the Holy Ghost can come down for which Bishop Andrews alledges excellent Reasons gathered from the fathers 1. On the Holy Ghosts part who came to manifest himself as God by shewing great â—â—gns and wonders now had Christ stayed they might have attâ—ibuted these to him which had been an impeachment of the others divinity but Christ ascending all such immaginations cease 2. On Christs part A little impeachment it might have been to Christs equality to the Father for he not going to send him but staying still here till he was sent the sending of the Spirit might have been ascribed to the Father alone as his sole act That he had been sent for Christs sake had been the most but being ascended his love and power is apparent to be equal with the Father in sending him and we alike beholding to them both Now the Fathers sending him 14 Jo. 26. and the Sons sending him from the Father 15 Jo. 26. is all one 3. On our part 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that he might fill all things by his Spirit which he could not by his Body that he might be present with every particular member of his dispersed Church thus is he with all Christians in all places at all times even unto the end of the world 28 Mat. 20. See Piscator on the Text Hoc Sophistae Ubiquitarâ—s sic exponunt quasi diceret Paulus ut omnia loca impleret suo corpore Sed Apostolus se ipse declarat duobus versibus sequentibus ex quorum Collatione perspicitur Apostolum hoc velle dicere Christum ascendisse in coelum ut indè misso spiritu sancto impleret illius donis omnia Ecclesiae membra Again say they Christ withdrew his Bodily presence to draw us off from sence or fleshly fondness of him which his nearest and dearest followers were too much prone to as we see in Martha 11 Jo. 21. attributing the greatest power to his Corporal residence Lord if thou hadst been here my Brother had not dyed As if absent he had not been able to have prevented it The Disciples are upon building of Tabernacles for his stay in the flesh As if in that only consisted the Co summation of their happiness 17 Mat. 4. Mary would fain be embracing him with a carnal contract 20 Jo. 17. which Christ strives to beat her off from with a Noli me tangere touch me not putting her in mind nereupon of his Ascension After that he sends his Spirit whereby we are to apprehend him spiritually Seeing the invisible by faith which the moâ—e abstract from sence the more notable blessing it hath pronounced to it 20 Jo. 29. Blessed are they hat have not seen and yet have believed Lastly The Fathers stick not to say that at Christs Ascension before the Coming of the Holy Ghost it was necessary that he should withdraw himself for some time as to his Bodily so his Spiritual presence likewise 1. That the Disciples growing faint and tepid whilst he was with them should now become more vigilant and watchful after him on the sense of the loss of him like the Spouse 5 Cant. 2 3 5 7. 2. That they might grow less carnally secure in their thoughts of keeping him who were apt to presume upon a non moveber 30 Psal 7. a never be moved though I dye with thee will I not deny thee saith Peter 26 Mat. 35. and all the rest yet we find the contrary v. 56. 3. The consideration hereof as also the sence of their necessary falling into sin without Christs Spiritual presence drives them to humility a fit posture to invite the Holy Ghosts Descent and abode 57. Isai 15. Thus Christus abit ut Paracletus veniat Christ is gone up on high far above all Heavens to send his Spirit down on Earth even the lowest among men Lastly To appear in the sight of God to interceed for us 9 Heb. 24. 8 Ro. 34. c. 1 Jo. 2. c. 1. 8 Rev. 3. Now we may come with boldness unto the Throne of grace 4 Heb. ult since we hâ—ve such a prevailing friend in the Court of Heaven whatsoever you shall ask the Father in my name he shall give it you 16 Jo. 22. Blessed Jesus we will not robb thee of thy Mediatorship interceed for us still as thou didst once on earth 17 Jo. 23. That where thou art there we may be also whil'st we are here let our Souls our affections be above 3 Col. 2. and hereafter receive us both Souls and Bodies unto that unspeakable glory thou now enjoyest with thy Father where thou art ascended up far above all Heavens SIXTH SERMON ON Whit-Sunday OR The Inestimable Gift The Holy Ghost 8. Acts 20. But Peter said untohim Thy Money perish with thee because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with Money THis day of
up a f Kingdom a g Synagogue a h Legion f 11. Luk. 18. g 3. Rev. 9. h 5. Mar. 9. The great Belzebub can command thousands of his Ministers if God permit to vex and trouble us witness that poor Gadaren so infested with this i hellish Rout we are many may the chief Commander of those forces seem to answer in respect of those that were in or about the possessed i 5. Mar. 1 2 c. For though Christ rebuked the spirit whereby the person was principally actuated in the k singular number yet this Captain-agent was attended no doubt with a sufficient rabble of the black Regiment as appears by their several seizing the word once given on their several preys in that great herd containing about l two thousand k 5. Mar. 8. l verse 13. A multitude of Daemons as one observes without violence to their natures may lodge in the Body of one man These spirits being able to draw themselves out of their usual extent into a far narrower compass and perhaps wholly to quit their own vehicle to make use of anothers and so many may unite with the blood and spirits But wherever this throng of Feinds did bestow themselves whether in or about one man Gods bounty was never the less in suffering them to possess no more nor Christs power in driving them away from hence the Devils being nothing the weaker for not appearing each one harnessed with a several humane body By what hath been said we may gather there is a damned Militia the Devils march about in Troops and Armies to torment us and conspire our ruine yet we know how to disband them all no number of them can withstand Prayer and Fasting This kind goeth not out but by Prayer and Fasting 2. In the malady 2 Their Malignancy there is considerable in the evil spirits as their Multiplicity so Malignancy Hoc genus This kiud As it includes a numerous Combination so a Combination of more stiff and tenacious spirits See Bishop Hall's Paraprase on the place Having a more stubborn non egreditur a vix discedit goeth not forth and a hard departing 9. Luk. 40. stamped on them Hoc genus This kind are noted for a sort of bold abusive most extraordinary fierce and cruel Devils That valued not a bare n Apostolical command that ceased not to shew their malice in the o face of Christ himself p taring and bruising the possessed making him foam gnash with his teeth pine away q cry out suddenly fall or wallow on the ground Oft times casting him into the fire and into the waters 9 Mark 23. Seeking Extremities to destroy him without the least pity or respect on a s child and an t onely child n 9 Luk. 40. o ver 42. p 9 Mar. 18. q 9 Luk. 39. r 9 Mar. 20. s 9 Mar. 21. t 9 Luk. 38. Now Hoc geuus this kind be their number never so great their nature never so malign is to be ejected Christs way though no otherwise This kind goeth not forth but by Prayer and Fasting 2. 2 Remedy Prayer and Fasting not to be sevred The Remedy Prayer and Fasting not to be severed 1. Because Christ hath coupled them and what God hath joyned together let not man put asunder 19 Mat. 6. 2. It was the Custome of the Church of old to Joyn them as we see in u David in w Esther the x Israelites y Daniel in Anna 2 Luk. 37. So in the Epistle appointed for this day the Proclamation goes z Sanctifie a Fast gather the People and let the Priests say spare thy people O Lord. u 2 Sam. 12.22 75 Psal 13. w 4 Ch. 16. x 20 Judg. 26. y 10 Ch. 3. z 2 Joel 15 16 17. 3. 'T is the present practice of our Church On our Wednesdayes and Fridayes Dayes of Abstinence for the Bridegrooms taking away grounded on the command of our Saviour see Mr. Browning on that text p. 176 177. 2 Mark 20. to his Disciples that then they should fast in those dayes our Church enjoyns 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 12. Act. 5. Instant earnest Prayer peculiarly applyed to the Letany Id. p. 148. as the Eastern Church testifies 4. Because saith Bishop Hall in his Paraphrase on the text Efficax est oratio praecedente Jejunio Cyp. de Jejur Tent. cap. 6. Devotion in Prayer is apt to grow dull and faint there must be an exercise of fasting and abstinence to set an edge upon it and stir it up Prayer may prevail without Fasting but Fasting without Prayer 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. S. Chrys in Psal 145. is to small effect and when they both joyn together they make the strongest assault on Heaven as can be Wherefore the Servants of God in their highest concerns would not separate them 8 Ezr. 21.13 Act. 3.14 Act. 23. Prayer and Fasting render us most acceptable unto God and like unto the Angels Prayer saith Reverend Hooker The excellency of Prayer Eccl. Pol. lib. 5. Papagr 23. p. 23. are those Calves of mens lips 14 Hos 3. Those most gracious and sweet odours 5 Rev. 8. Those rich presents and gifts which being carried up into Heaven do best testifie our dutiful affection and are for the purchasing of all favours at the hand of God the most undoubted means we can use And again a little further the knowledge is small saith he which we have on earth concerning the things which are done in Heaven notwithstanding thus much we know the Saints in Heaven that they Pray and therefore Prayer being a work common to the Church as well Triumphant as militant a work common unto men with Angels what should we think but so much of our lives is coelestial and divine as we spend in the eyercise of Prayer So for Fasting if it be right is it not a chosen duty The excellency of Fasting an acceptable time unto the Lord 58 Isa 4 5. Again Fasting saith St. Chrysostome Ser. de Jejunio Tom. 5. is an imitating or following the very Angels in Heaven so far forth as we are able c. Fasting is the life of Angels so St. Ambrose Tom. 4. de Jejun cap. 3. p. 239. Qui jejunat Angelorum ritu vivit c. St. Basil Hom. de Jejun These two now linked must be of exceeding vertue and efficacy 5. Prayer from Fasting cannot be sundred for what is Fasting it self but silent Prayer where in our Humility without which vocal supplication is but an empty sound God effectually reads our wishes and the peices of a broken spirit are to him pleasing and prevalent Petitions 51 Psa 17. A broken and a contrite heart O Lord thou wilt not despise My next business shall be to enquire why Fasting should make Prayer so powerful and Secondly Why Fasting makes Prayer so powerful what Fasting it is that doth so For the first Fasting makes our Prayer more powerful Reason 1 1. As it helps us to the greater watchfulness hereunto sobriety and