walke no longer in the flesh but in the spirit or good way of life and lanch foorth Luke 8.22 or saile forward as a Ship gone out of the Hauen from the shore of the new birth to the Hauen of our peace in death Many are at a stand in knowledge and rather goe back-ward then forward in the way of grace Such grow but vntowardly and prooue dwarfes and not men of any stature in Christ But in viâ virtutis non progredi est regredi in the way of true vertue not to goe on is to goe backe and as it cannot be a member of a growing body that groweth not as the body doeth so neither can it bee any liuely member of a true Church that prospereth not as that Church doth with the increases of God All non proficients therefore in the degrees and schoole of regeneration are bad Christians and not members growing into Christ but members pro forma that is for fashion onely and so are as farre from the end as they fall short of the meanes of being as it followeth An holy Temple in the Lord c. For how can that bee a fit Temple or habitation for God by his Spirit to dwell in which groweth not into a building What man can conueniently and will contentedly dwell in a house that is but begun to be built and before it haue any either roofe or couer And will the high God dwell in any house in his Ierusalem below whose neither wall is builded nor roofe couered but to proceede the words that follow haue two points in them of speciall consideration as the qualitie of this Temple it must be holy and the reason thereof it is the habitation of God by his Spirit It is called a Temple by allusion to the Temple that was at Ierusalem which was a type of the spirituall Ierusalem and Church of Christ and this is either of all the stones together which is the Church framed with the corner-stone which is Christ or of the stones considered separately by themselues euery one of which makes a singular temple as all together makes an vniuersall in Christ So many Christians therefore so many liuely stones toward the building of the generall Temple and yet euery true Christian is a Temple to God 1 Cor. 3.16 6.19 And this Temple both the whole and euery stone in it must be holy that is endewed with holinesse and purged from the lust of concupiscence which was the lust of those which knew not God 1 Thes 4.4 5. which worke of reformation though it shall be hindred by many as the second Temple at Ierusalem had many aduersaries Neh. 4.1 2 7 8 2.19 20. yet shall it proceede to the perfection of the body of Christ as that other building went forward and was finished notwithstanding all that either malice or craft could doe against it Onely let vs not hinder it our selues by liuing in vncleannesse and by neglecting to purge our selues that wee may be a peculiar people to God zealous of good workes Tit. 2.14 And what we beleeue let vs practise wee beleeue a holy Catholique Church let vs therefore practise holinesse that our practise be not against our faith Let vs labour to be holy as hee is holy that hath called vs. 1 Peter 1.15 16. And seeing hee hath washed vs who hath giuen himselfe for vs let vs not plunge our selues againe in the mire Ephes 5.25 26. to wit in the mire of our first corrupt nature VERS 22. In whom you all are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit FOr who will prepare for a great man his friend in a foule house or lodge him in a stable And is any person greater or friend better to vs then God Or is any house or roome of the house fowler then an vnpurged conscience And what stable is more loathsome then the loathsome stable or rather stie of a wicked heart But how doeth God dwell in vs Resp Ministerially by his Word and Sacraments and principally by his Spirit For his Word therefore seeing hee dwelleth in vs by it wee must resolue to giue to it as to himselfe our best entertainement lodging it in the best roome of the house the heart and not in the out-house of the eare And for the Sacraments chiefely that of the Supper the chamber must be trimmed wherein Christ will eate that Sacrament with his Disciples Marke 14.15 16. And for that which is chiefe and expressed in my Text the Spirit seeing it is the Spirit of God and very God wee must take heed how wee sinne against it that is the good motions of it in our hearts wilfully and dispitefully for that is a sickenesse to death for which there is no Phisicke by repentance This is a sinne of men enlightned with the trueth The Gentiles without God cannot commit it neither the Iewes that are without Christ A sinne wherein a man falles away generally and malitiously from God yea for euer and vtterly from him in all the effects of a reprobate heart and heart that cannot repent This is that great sinne which Satan hath so blacked that it can neuer bee made white a sinne that shall not bee forgiuen to a man either in this World or in the World to come that is neuer Mat. 12.32 Quest But is not the sinne against the holy Ghost a sinne against the Father and Sonne as well as him Ans This sinne if we consider the person of the holy Ghost it is no more against it then it is against the persons of the Father and the Sonne but because the holy Ghost immediately both conuinceth conscience and enlightneth it therefore when we sinne against knowledge and the light of our hearts we are said properly and directly to sinne not against the Father or Sonne but holy Ghost But a Christian may sinne against the Spirit though in a farre lesser degree of sinne against him then by this which is so bitterly offensiue against all his graces in our hearts To know how wee must first know how and in what respect the holy Ghost may be said to dwell in a Christian or God by him And this is not in regard of substance for the whole substance of the holy Ghost which cannot bee diuided cannot bee shut vp within the body or soule of man but in respect of some particular worke or operation Now a Christian may sinne against this worke of the Spirit in him either when grace is offered and not accepted of or accepted of and not well vsed For example grace was offered to the old World by Noah and hee warned them for a hundred and twenty yeeres by preparing the Arke but they had neither eares to heare it nor hands to receiue it and so the Arke that is the time of repentance offered by it condemned them Heb. 11.7 Sodom was exhorted to repentance by iust Lot and a pleasant land yet shee reiected the Spirit that spake by these vnto her 2 Pet. 2.6
Word into our hearts as into some prison-house holding the trueth in vnrighteousnesse Rom. 1.18 or behead it as Iohn was in prison Mat. 14.10 Secondly if we shall not receiue a great man our friend chearefully or with good well-come wee shall giue him good cause with contempt to passe by vs another time so if we shall not receiue gladly and willingly the Spirit of comfort how can wee but driue away the Comforter If wee doe not flow vnto him as the Sea after such an ebbe and low-water of knowledge and true goodnesse how can wee retaine that God who will not tarry any while but where he findes a cheerefull giuer Thirdly though a man receiue his great friend into his best roomes yet if he doe not dresse vp those roomes and make them sweete remouing all noisome sauours he shall greatly offend that person his friendly stranger so though wee should receiue the Spirit into our hearts in some graces yet if wee prepare not for his comming nor make ready our hearts for his abode among vs remouing our filthy and vnsauory sinnes that offend so much how can wee but giue iust occasion to that same Spirit to forsake vs For what greater despit can bee offered to the Spirit of Grace and of Glory then to see sinne his most deadly enemie in his owne habitation 1 Sam. 2.32 Fourthly though a man receiue some great man his friend into a house swept and garnished that is well prepared for him yet if afterwards hee bring his enemie the greatest hee hath to out-face him and to vexe him in the same place how can hee but bee mooued against and offended with such an host So though we entertaine the Spirit for a time in some good motions and in a heart reformed in many things as Herods was yet if after some time wee returne being thus washed to our wallowing againe in the mire and begin to licke vp the vomit that wee cast how can wee thinke to reteine the Spirit and this forme of sinning together For as if one should set vp a rebell in that Kings owne dominions so are they who bringing sinne into the heart Gods owne Throne or further into any of their outward senses his owne dominions doe vexe him as it were at home in his owne possession Fiftly though one receiue a noble man into a faire and well furnished house and possesse him quietly of it yet if hee prouide not conueniently for his person and traine how can hee please him So who can please the Spirit though hee make neuer so godly a shew of being zealous in the Law if he abridge him of the diet and ordinary that belongeth to his good keeping in him If hee care not to nourish his good motions at Sermons and in the point of hearing scantle him by attending vpon the Word but at certeine times onely and so become as Master Latimer merily said but a Straw-berry-hearer And may not the Spirit say to such as Christ to those on his left-hand at the last day I was hungry and yee fed me not thirstie and ye gaue me no drinke Mat. 25.42 Lastly though this great man should bee receiued in all conditions and manner answerable to his great place and companies yet if after a day or two as being weary of our Ghest before he bee willing to leaue vs wee withdraw things necessary from him wee cannot but much offend him so howsoeuer wee begin in the Spirit yet if waxing weary of well doing with those foolish Galatians that ranne well c Gal. 3.3 we end in the same in the flesh wee must needes grieue the holy Ghost and shall heare the last state of these men is worse then their first Luke 11.26 then shall wee bee seuen fold more the children of the Deuill And thus wee haue heard how many wayes the Spirit after it is receiued may bee made sad by vs and caused with griefe to leaue vs. Let vs bewar how wee so offend lest we turne the habitation of God into an habitation or hold of vncleane spirits And now to conclude with that which is full of singular comfort seeing wee are the habitation of God by his Spirit we may learne that God is not in vs as a stranger in another mans house but as at home in his owne and therefore will not loose vs as no man will loose his inheritance that is able to keepe it and who so able as hee that is Almighty Neither being the habitation of God can wee lacke any thing that is good that is that is good for vs. For what want can there bee in the Kings house And as all good things are brought to the court so what so euer is excellently good is to bee had here Here is loue ioy peace long-suffering gentlenesse goodnesse faith meeknesse temperance against which there is no Law Gal. 5.22 23. Here is no Winter nor fall of the Leafe but a perpetuall Spring-time and hee that would haue what hee can wish if hee will wish lawfully and well let him come hither Let him build in grace and set his house vpon Wisedomes pillars Prouerbs 9.1 and no enemie shall hurt him For it is the Bethel of God or house vpon the Rocke Matthew 7.24 And hee that is in it will keepe it when they that come against it shall fall downe before it for who dares interrupt Gods possession Or if hee dare shall not perish Thus the securitie is great and the walkes are strong where God is the inhabitant and hee that is a wall of defence about his people will bee a wall of fire against his peoples enemies Zecharie 2.5 Esa 4.5 Hee that builds Sion will throw downe Babel and hee that saues Ierusalem will ouerturne Palestina The reason is his Tabernacle is in Salem and his dwelling at Sion Psal 76.2 But Babel and Palestina were Countries wherein hee neuer vouchsafed either to dwell or bee as in his Church So I conclude make God your inhabitant and yee are sure but if hee dwell not in you by his Spirit yee shall neuer dwell in safetie And now hee that dwelleth in vs and in his elect by promise keepe vs and his whole Israel yea blesse vs and saue his Israel the Church which hee hath purchased with his owne blood that being the habitation of God by his Spirit it may bee a temple of holinesse dedicated to his glory in the grace of Christ and loue of God the Father to both which with the holy Spirit of both be rendred and giuen all praise and glory now and euer Amen FINIS THE CHRISTIANS GVIDE TO A wise Conuersation EPHES. 5. VER 15 16. Take heed that yee walke circumspectly not as fooles but as wise Redeeming the time for the dayes are euill TAke heed that yee walke circumspectly c. It is written of a Cardinall Pole Cardinall Pole that being demaunded which was the best way to vnderstand the Epistle of Saint Paul to the Romans answered to begin with the
7 8. The ghests that were bidden to the supper were bidden by the Spirit to it but they refused to come Luke 14.18 19 20. Steuen spake by the Spirit to the Iewes but they stopped their eares Act. 7.57 neither vouchsafing to heare him nor the Spirit by which he spake Many times the Ministers of the Gospel knocke at our hearts by their exhortations and warnings to repentance yea many biddings wee haue by sickenesse and other wayes and wee doe as much But this is to refuse grace when the Spirit offereth it which cannot but grieue the Spirit by the which wee are sealed to the day of our redemption Ephes 4.30 And this is one kinde of sinne against the Spirit another is when wee make the Spirit weary of vs hauing receiued it or grieue it by our wicked behauiour not vsing our Ghest well Which made the Apostle in the foorth Chapter of this Epistle and the thirtieth verse as wee heard to exhort these Ephesians not to grieue or make sad the Spirit in them Where hee compareth the holy Ghost to a ghest and our bodies and soules to Innes Now as men will vse their ghests well that they may come againe so would the Apostle haue all Christians in these Christian Ephesians so to entertaine a good motion as a good ghest when it is offered that it may come againe and bring more company with it to enrich this shall I say Inne Nay Temple of the Spirit the heart with the aboundance of spirituall wealth and blessings in heauenly things in Christ But the children of God themselues doe not alwayes keepe one tenure in receiuing the Spirit when by it grace is offered to them for the auoiding of some euill or the doing some good For sometimes they are lesse apt to pray lesse sit to heare and lesse prepared to the Sacrament then at some other times they bee Yea they may haue lesse feare of sinne care of well doing zeale in prayer and comfort in the Word at one time then another This indeede is a tempting of the Spirit which though it make him not desirous to be gone yet somewhat cooles his loue toward vs as in Dauid and others And therefore we must striue with prayer against all manner of decay in these spirituall riches and omit no oportunitie to doe well as hee that meanes to bee rich in his trade will omit no meanes of gaining by it And here let vs consider what a shame it is for the children of God though they cannot loose the Spirit to loose for some season any graces which they once had of the sanctifying Spirit For was it not a shame for Lot who was so chast in Sodom to commit such incest out of Sodom in a Caue in the Mountaine Gen. 19.33.35 And did it not greatly blot Dauids Chronicle that in the dayes of peace which hee did not in the time of warre hee should fill his eyes with adultery and staine his hands with blood 2 Sam. 11.2 3 4 5.15 How weake was Sampson that was so strong and how ridiculous that was so feared when the Lord departed from him Iudg. 16.20.25 So Peter loosing by the deniall of his Master much of that courage hee had when hee cut of Malchus right eare Iohn 18.10 how was he posed and ouercome of two silly maydes Mat. 26.69.71 And surely if it bee a matter of discredit being rich to become poore in worldly substance what greater shame is it being rich in grace to decay in the Heauenly treasure This should make vs to purge our selues daily from all filthinesse of the flesh and spirit 2 Cor. 7.1 not to be carelesse as if in prosperitie we could not be moued Psal 30.6 7. for a man may take a dangerous surfet after a full feast of grace and to be humbled when wee haue done our best confessing that we are vnprofitable Luk. 17.10 the best haue their infirmities and in euery Christian wombe as in Rebeccahs there is an Esau of flesh and Iacob of spirit strugling together Gen. 25.22 we are sanctified but in part and corruption goeth not out but with our last enemy In a word in all the regenerate there is a mixture of sleeping and waking Cant. 5.2 of sinne and grace it concernes vs therefore that put on our harnesse not to boast as he that putteth it off 1 King 20.11 and so to take heede that we giue the spirit no occasion by fainting or becomming secure in that warre which is betweene the flesh and spirit in euery Christian soule Gal. 5.17 It is sure that the elect can neuer quite loose the spirit that is the sauing graces of the spirit that dwelleth in them and yet it is as sure that the same may by sinning against it sundry wayes loose the feeling the comfort the ioy and peace of it for a season which made Dauid to pray vnto God that he would not take his spirit that is the ioy of his spirit from him as appeareth Psal 51.11 12. They that take him to speake otherwaies say that he spake but as a distempered sick-man who speakes he knowes not well what himselfe and what maruell that a guiltie prisoner at the bar the water standing in his eyes should misse in reading of his owne pardon But I take it that Dauid was come to himselfe when hee penned that exemplary Psalme of his sinne for the Churches instruction and that therefore hee knew what he said not distrusting any totall losse of the spirit of adoption but onely desiring that his feeling might come againe vnto him and that he might haue as he once had both a free and ioyfull spirit in worshipping toward God Yet let his example be a warning to vs who haue receiued a farre lesser portion of sanctifying grace then Dauid had for where such a Cedar fell let him that standeth take heede least he fall 1 Cor. 10.12 if so excellent a man so highly exalted as vpon his strong hill Psal 30.7 was so quickly vpon the loe ground in his adultery and murder as appeareth by his penitentiall Psalme wee had neede to take heede that we grieue not the spirit who stand vpon so loe a banke already How this may bee and how this our most worthy Ghest may bee grieued after wee haue receiued him into house and so our light eclipsed though not quenched as in the darknesse it selfe wee may see it though somewhat darkely in certaine earthly similitudes for as if when some noble Ghest should offer to come vnto vs we should receiue him but in some out or backe house not in our best lodgings wee should constraine him with indignation to leaue vs. So for this Lordly Ghest the Spirit who commeth to vs in his Word gloriously as in his Charet if we turne both it and him contemptuously into some forsaken corner as it were backe-romes of the heart what hope is there hee should tarry with vs and his Word any while abide among vs How much lesse if we receiue his