the Testimony of the Spirit of God witnessing with their Spirits that they are his And here now is the Kingdom of God set up God ruling by his holy Spirit in our Hearts and Man obeying and walking humbly with him in Obedience and so enjoying his Comfortable Presence and Witness of his Holy Spirit as it was promised 2 Cor. 6.16 That he would dwellin his holy People and walk in them And thus the Kingdom of God is set up in his People For saith Christ Jesus The Kingdom of God is within you Luke 17.21 Now the way to this Kingdom is to be minded and entred into if Men would come into it For strait is the Gate and narrow is the Way that leads to it and so to Life and few find it saith Christ Jesus And on the other hand Broad is the Way and wide is the Gate that leadeth to Destruction and many there be which go in thereat And here many fall short of the Kingdom because they take the broad and easie way and forsake the strait and narrow way that leads to Life Mat. 7.13 14. But they that do humble themselves before the Lord and seek with their whole Heart to enter into the Kingdom of God to them God will open a way for them to find what their Souls long for For saith Christ Jesus Ask and ye shall receive seek and ye shall find knock and it shall be opened unto you Mat. 7.7 There be many that mind not their future Condition what will become of them They mind not another World to come and therefore they run on as it were hoodwinkt and mind not the way that leads to Eternal Happiness and so remain Strangers to God in their Spirits not considering the true state of Christianity now under the Gospel which is this namely To know the Lord and to walk in Fellowship with him in Spirit Heb. 8.11 and 1 John 1.3 6. But they think if they keep on in their Form all shall be well with them not condering that a Form of Godliness without the Life and Power of Godliness which consists in Living in the Spirit and Fruits thereof will not be sufficient For some had a Form of Godliness in the Apostles Days but yet without the Spirit and Power of Godliness from such saith he turn away 2 Tim. 3.5 Now lest any tender Spirits should be discouraged and think with themselves that they are far from this happy state of being the Children of God because they find themselves loaden and burthened with Corruption and with many Frailties and Infirmities which they are often overtaken with let them consider how low the Lord hath condescended to Mankind in order to bring us to Happiness He hath not spared his Beloved Son but hath freely given him up to become a Sacrifice for us that we might have boldness through him to draw near unto God And so far doth the Lord condescend to Mankind that he despises not the least faithful Drawings of Man's Heart towards him He will not quench the smoaking Flax nor break the bruised Reed The least true motions that are in the Heart of Man towards him he doth not despise but nourishes them and cherishes them that Men may grow up in his Holy Spirit which begets those holy Motions and Inclinations in them and Breathings after the Lord. Therefore let none think the Lord a hard Master to serve For he hath said and affirmed that he delights not in the Death of a Sinner but that he should turn from his Iniquities and live But the great difficulty lies here Men are so glewed to their sinful Courses that they will not be separated from them and so put the Lord from them afar off For he will have no Fellowship with Iniquity For what Communion can Light have with Darkness Or Righteousness with Vnrighteousness But he will draw near to them that draw near to him Jam. 4.8 And he will acquaint them with the true Paths and Teachings and Leadings of his Holy Spirit and will give them a Discerning to see a difference between the true Spirit and false Spirits And without all doubt this was one reason of giving forth the several parts of the New Testament that false and Erroneous Doctrines and Spirits might thereby with the Spirit of Christ opening them be detected and made known And therefore they that judge aright of Doctrines and Practices they judge according to the Holy Scriptures and not by Tradition or common Practice as too many do I may safely say That the Holy Spirit is the Standard of the Gospel and new Covenant and to that we must repair if we would come under the protection of the New Covenant For therein namely in the Spirit of Christ is the Sonship or Adoption established as is manifest from Rom. 8.9 14 15. For further Confirmation of this that our Happiness lyes in having Fellowship with God in our Spirits and in being led by his Spirit let these Scriptures following be well minded Rom. 8.1 There is therefore now no Condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus who walk not after the Flesh but after the Spirit This Chapter ought carefully to be minded especially the former part of it which speaks of being led by the Spirit of God unto Ver. 18. to which you may add Ver. 26 27. whereby you may see that the truly happy state of a Christian lies in being led by the Spirit of God and in having Fellowship with God therein Another Scripture to this purpose is this 1 Cor. 3.16 17. Know ye not that ye are the Temple of God And that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you If any Man defile the Temple of God him shall God destroy for the Temple of God is holy which Temple ye are Add to this the 19th and 20th Verses of the sixth Chapter where the words are these What know ye not that your Body is the Temple of the Holy Ghost or Holy Spirit which is in you which ye have of God And ye are not your own For ye are bought with a price therefore glorifie God in your Body and in your Spirit which are God's Again 2 Cor. 1.22 and Chap. 5. Ver. 5. It 's there expressed that the Spirit is the Seal and the Earnest of our Inheritance that is of our Heavenly Inheritance Now an Earnest is the ensuring of a thing to one and so is a Seal And Men are very careful to keep their Seal entire and safe tho' it be but for an Earthly Inheritance how much more ought we to be very careful to keep abiding in the Spirit which is our Seal and Earnest for an Eternal Inheritance Again let these words be well minded Gal. 4.6 And because ye are Sons God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your Hearts crying Abba Father And again Gal. 6.8 it 's there said He that soweth to the Flesh shall of the Flesh reap Corruption but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap
Life Everlasting So then our Everlasting Life must spring from the Spirit how careful then ought we to be to be acquainted with the Spirit of God and to walk humbly with him in the Holy Spirit And therefore Eph. 4.30 the Apostle admonisheth us saying Grieve not the Holy Spirit of God whereby ye are sealed unto the Day of Redemption And in 1 Thes 5.19 we are admonished not to quench the Spirit And therefore again I say how careful ought we to be that we do not grieve or quench the Spirit of God which is the Seal of our Heavenly Inheritance Lastly I shall add to these but one Scripture more which is 1 John 4.13 Hereby know we that we dwell in him that is in God and he in us because he hath given us of his Spirit Thus you may see that the Spirit of God is the great thing that we are to labour for and submit unto and to seek of the Lord to be endowed therewith that we may be led thereby now under the Gospel which if any Man have not he is none of Christ's saith the Apostle plainly Rom. 8.9 But Christ Jesus hath promised for them that love him and keep his Commands That he will pray the Father for them and saith he He will give you another Comforter that he may abide with you for ever even the Spirit of Truth whom the world cannot receive because it seeth him not neither knoweth him but ye know him for he dwelleth with you and shall be in you John 14.15 16 17. Here he makes a clear distinction between the World and his People who love him and keep his Commands The World seeth not neither knoweth the Spirit of Truth but ye know him saith he for he dwelleth with you and shall be in you Here 's a comfortable Promise to the true Servants of Christ And happy is that Person that submits to such a Companion which will be a continual Guide to him and which will check him when he turns to the Right Hand or to the Left out of the way Thus we are in those times wherein the Spirit of God is made the Guide and Leader of his People who know him And therefore so many false Spirits are come forth to divert Man from following the true Spirit For Satan hath bestirred himself to withstand Man's Happiness I say we are in the times of the Ministration of the Spirit which gives Life to them that obey him as you may read plainly expressed in the third Chapter of the second Book to the Corinthians The whole Chapter is worthy to be minded for it speaks manifestly of the change of the Ministration or Covenant And there the first Covenant is called the Ministration of Death written and engraven in Stones Ver. 7. And the New Covenant which we are or ought to be under is called the Ministration of the Spirit Ver. 8. And again the first Covenant that is the Law is called the Ministration of Condemnation and the New Covenant that is the Spirit is called the Ministration of Righteousness Ver. 9. of that Chapter in these words For if the Ministration of Condemnation be glorious much more doth the Ministration of Righteousness exceed in Glory And Ver. 11. it said thus concerning these two Ministrations For if that which is done away was glorious much more that which remaineth is glorious Thus you may see it very plain that there is a change of the Covenant and that we are under the times of the New Covenant which is the Spirit And further That none are actually in the Sonship or Adoption and reputed the Sons or Children of God under the New Covenant but those who are led by the Spirit of God or hungring and thirsting after Righteousness which the Spirit is the Author and Nourisher of And this is the true state of Christianity in the which God hath a number who walk with him therein tho' little discerned by the World He hath also others who are pressing forward striving to overcome and them he carries as Lambs in his Arms Isa 40.11 And these are as little Children whose Sins are forgiven 1 John 2.12 And others there are who did run well but faint and flag before they come to their Journeys end And some turn back with the Dog to his Vomit and with the Sow that was washed to her wallowing in the Mire 2 Pet. 2.22 And some content themselves with a Form of Godliness without the Life and Power thereof The Law had many Precepts but the Gospel hath contracted all good Precepts under one Head and that is as hath been shewed under the guidance of the Spirit of God And this was their Rule they were guided by and led by in the Primitive Time as it is plainly expressed Gal. 6.15 16 Verses in these words For in Christ Jesus neither Circumcision availeth any thing nor Vncircumcision but a New Creature or New Creation as the words 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 do properly bear Mark 10.6 And as many as walk according to this Rule viz. this of the New Creation Peace be on them and Mercy or Peace is upon them and Mercy for so the words do as well bear and they do enjoy Peace and Mercy who walk according to that New Creation of the Spirit of God in the Heart and they are now the true Israel of God Rom. 2.28 29. I say this was their Rule they were guided by in the Primitive Time For the Scriptures of the New Testament were not fully writ until a many Years after Christ's Ascension but the Spirit was their Guide and Leader and then from that Holy Spirit they gave forth the Writings of the New Testament not to divert Men from following the Spirit but to guide Men in Obedience to the true Spirit and to avoid those false Spirits that were then come forth into the World For that 's the chief tendency of the New Testament to direct and guide us in our Obedience to the true Spirit of God and to avoid all false Spirits In the time of the Law they were under the Letter but when Christ the Minister of the New Covenant came he brought them on by degrees to the Ministration of the Spirit giving forth first of all Precepts suitable to the Spirit while he was here in Person upon Earth And then after his Ascension he ministred to them by the Spirit as he had promised while he was with them John 14.15 16 17 18. and Chap. 16.13 14. and Chap. 15.26 This is the great condescention of the Lord to Mankind to lead gradually those that love him as they are able to bear For as there is a gradual going forward of his publick Dispensations so also in his leading of particular Persons from step to step When he had chosen a People out from the rest of Mankind namely the Israelites the Seed of Abraham Isaac and Jacob he gave them Carnal Ordinances suitable to their Condition Heb. 9.10 and after that he raised up
Prophets among them to raise their Minds and Hearts a little higher after a more Spiritual Walking with him Then after that he sent John the Baptist to prepare the way for greater things which were to follow For the Kingdom of Heaven was then at hand And thus way was made gradually for the coming of Christ Jesus that Men might believe on him when he came Thus the Lord carried on his publick Work gradually and thus also he frequently carries on his Work in particular Persons from step to step And it is well for them that follow him in his Leadings and Drawings and take not up their Rest or stop in the Way but hold on to follow the Lord. For he doth not usually communicate all at once to his People altho' he may give much Comfort sometimes at the first turning of Man's Heart faithfully to him But he communicates by degrees to them that truly follow him and as they are capable to receive and able to bear To his Disciples Christ said I have many things to say unto you but you cannot bear them now John 16.12 so he communicated to them as they could bear And so he did to Paul Acts 26.16 he did not make him a Minister and a Witness of all at once but appeared to him to make him a Minister and a Witness of those things which he had seen and of those things in the which he would afterwards appear to him Thus the Lord doth condescend to take us by the Hand as it were to lead us on from one degree to another where there is a willing Heart to follow him And there may be still a going forward and growing up in the Lord while we are in this Life Paul that Eminent Servant of the Lord after all his Visions and great Attainments and Perfections still saith I press forward Phil. 3.14 15. And thus the Ministry of Christ was and is to lead us forward by degrees Not only to bring us on thorough the Ministration of the Law or of the Letter as it 's called but to bring us under the Ministration of the Spirit so as to be led thereby and to grow up therein and so to establish us in the Sonship or Adoption Thus under the Ministration of the Gospel the Work is cut short in Righteousness namely in subjecting the Heart of Man to the Spirit of God which works all Righteousness in us gradually if we be faithful thereunto And it will admit of no Iniquity if we faithfully follow the guidance thereof For God hath comprehended all Righteousness in the Spirit and in the Fruits thereof It is the Spirit that leads into all Truth This is the great Dispensation of the Lord under the Gospel This Satan knows and therefore was he and yet is so busie to suggest other Spirits whereby to divert Men and turn them aside from the true Spirit by appearances of other Spirits and with some resemblance of the true This he did very early in the Apostles Days as we may observe by the Writings or Epistles of the Apostle Paul in which we may see how he was constrained to vindicate himself and his Ministry against those false Teachers who desired occasion against him 2 Cor. 11.12 False Apostles may despise and vilifie them that are in the Truth and may transform themselves as the Apostles of Christ Satan himself can transform himself into an Angel of Light therefore it is no great thing if his Ministers also be transformed as the Ministers of Righteousness 2 Cor. 11.12 13 14 15. I do not speak this to vilifie any faithful Ministers but to shew the great subtilty of Satan And for this end that we may be all careful to keep close to our true Guide the Spirit of God which leads into all Righteousness and out of all false Appearances and gives the comfortable Testimony of his presence in the Hearts of those that faithfully obey him and walk humbly with him But some perhaps may say How shall we know these deceitful Workers these false Spirits I Answer I write not this so much to discover any such but that every one may be careful to examine themselves and be stirred up to beware of Satan's Wiles It is a hard matter to know deceitful Workers by their good Words or fair Speeches or Ministerial Gifts and Parts which they once had given them It 's said That Gifts shall be given also even to the Rebellious Psal 68.18 Thou hast ascended on high thou hast led Captivity Captive thou hast received Gifts for Men yea for the Rebellious also that the Lord God might dwell among them And some will so rest upon their Ministerial Gifts and not upon the Giver that they will make them a plea for themselves when the Lord comes to judge as hath been shewed before from Mat. 7.22 But the Excellency of Ministerial Gifts will not shelter Workers of Iniquity altho ' such Gifts be very serviceable and worthy to be desired And it is the Apostle's Exhortation 1 Cor. 12.31 to covet earnestly the best Gifts But yet saith he I shew unto you a more excellent way and that more excellent way he expresses at large in the whole Chapter following that is in Chap. 13. where he saith thus Though I speak with the Tongue of Men and of Angels and have not love for so it may and ought to be Translated from the Greek words 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and have not Love I am become as sounding Brass or a tinkling Cymbal That that word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ought to be Translated Love in this Chapter I shall shew by and by with Reasons for it If any insist still upon that Query before mentioned and say How shall we know these false Spirits these deceitful Workers that have been spoken of We would fain know them I Answer still Where it may be a hard matter for us to distinguish aright of others Our best course is to approve our own Hearts to the Lord and to walk so that we may have the Testimony of a good Conscience in our selves that we are approved of the Lord Then shall we have rejoicing in our own Bosoms from the comfortable Witness of the Spirit of God For the Spirit will witness with our Spirits if we walk in Obedience that we are the Children of God Rom. 8.16 As for others it will be a hard matter to distinguish aright between Tares and Wheat They may take Tares for good Wheat or good Wheat for Tares if they keep not to the Holy Spirit True it is that some Mens Sins are open beforehand and go before unto Judgment and some Mens they follow after 1 Tim. 5.24 Some are so openly and manifestly wicked that they are judged of all Men but others they follow after I come now to shew that the words 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 mentioned before ought to be Translated thus in my Judgment viz. And have not love And in the first place I shall shew that the word
shall never fail Therefore this 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 this Love here spoken of shall remain for ever even to all Eternity when all Objects of Charity shall cease and not be found This Love here spoken of is greater than Faith or Hope for Faith and Hope cease when the things believed and hoped for the enjoyed but Love shall never cease And therefore I say this Love here spoken of is a higher and more continuing thing than that which is commonly called Charity And so therefore I say the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in this place ought to be Translated Love I would not have any one to think that I speak against Charity because I speak against that Interpretation of the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in this place I wish Charity were more abounding than it is among all Persons And that there were more tenderness in the Hearts of People towards the Poor and towards them that are in Distress than usually they meet withal For they that are open-hearted and open-handed towards such they will not lose their Reward if in singleness of Heart they supply their Necessities I shall only set down two or three places of Scripture to encourage People thereunto and so proceed Mat. 6.1 2 3 4. 1 Tim. 6.17 18 19. Heb. 6.10 11. which places of Scripture those that have a mind may see at their leisure But to return to the Subject I was speaking of which was pure Love it is of that power that it produces unity and so makes one As we commonly say of Persons that entirely love one another They are all one And so our Lord Jesus Christ prayed to his Father for those that believe on him That they all may be one as thou Father art in me and I in thee that they also may be one in us John 17.21 And again Ver. 22. he saith And the Glory which thou hast given me I have given them that they may be one even as we are one And again still further Ver. 23. he goes on in his Prayer for those that believe on him saying thus I in them and thou in me that they may be made perfect in one and that the World may know that thou hast sâ—nt me and hast loved them as thou hast loved me Thus we may see how Love bends or inclines towards Unity and brings into Unity And so herein it is greater than Charity and muchabove Charity For there may be Charity to a Person or for a Person with whom we cannot have Unity Charity doth not make one as Love doth And therefore the word Charity doth not so fully agree with the Expressions here used by Christ Jesus as Love doth neither doth it so fully agree with the Expressions used by the Apostle 1 Cor. 13. as Love doth Now this true and pure Spiritual Love springs from hence even from God's Love in some measure shed abroad in the Heart as hath been shewed before or which comes all to one from being made Partakers of the same Spirit of God And so thereby we are taught of God to Love one another 1 Thes 4.9 and not only so but to Love all Men yea even our very Enemies Oh! what an excellent Spirit and Temper doth the Spirit of God form in the Hearts of those who are brought down into Subjection to him as we may observe to have been in the Apostles of Christ Jesus after they were brought fully under Subjection to the Holy Spirit Now where this Foundation of the true Spirit is laid many sweet and precious Fruits thereof will follow besides Love as namely the comfortable sweet Dictates of the Spirit with many Openings of Truth and Enlightenings and Enlivenings of the Spirits of his Servants that walk with him in Faithfulness so as to make their Lives comfortable tho' they meet with outward Distresses and Troubles as we may see in the Apostle Paul's Example who though he met with great Troubles yet was born up in them all and above them And therefore this ought to have a deep impression upon our Spirits to beget a carefulness in us to walk faithfully and humbly with the Lord who is able to carry through all Difficulties with Comfort After the Lord hath Convinced the Heart of Man of Sin and turned it against it in Truth which indeed is true Repentance there is a fear and a care begotten in the Heart not to offend the Lord again together with a Sorrow for their former negligent and offensive Life And this fear of offending the Lord is the beginning of Wisdom Prov. 9.10 And this fear of the Lord is to hate Evil Chap. 8.13 And so it keeps the Heart of Man abiding with the Lord as it 's said Jer. 32.40 I will put my fear in their Hearts and they shall not depart from me Now this true fear of the Lord mortifies and deads the Heart to Sin and awakens it to Righteousness and till then Men are said to be dead in Sins and Trespasses even while they live and are as Strangers to God altho' they can talk of him and of the Holy Scriptures But they that come really and effectually into Obedience the Fruits of the Spirit Love Joy Peace and such like will spring up in their Hearts by degrees as the Lord sees good to nourish them up therein And thus the Kingdom of God which is within us begins in little beginnings many times but it is of a growing Nature it 's like a Grain of Mustard-seed at first but it grows to a great Tree Mat. 13.31 And thus by degrees usually we come to enjoy the comfortable presence of the Lord with us or which is all one the sweet presence of the true Comforter in our Hearts that is the Spirit of God For true Comfort springs up from the Spirit in Obedience to him And this is that which makes the Lives of the true Servants of the Lord Comfortable whatsoever Adversity or Contradiction they meet withal from the World For our Happiness and Consolation doth not depend upon an Opinion but upon our Union and Fellowship with the Lord which is enjoyed in Obedience and Faith which the Spirit of God works in the Hearts of the truly humble And this is agreeable to that which the Apostle saith 2 Thes 2.13 that we are chosen to Salvation through Sanctification of the Spirit and Belief of the Truth which in effect is the same with Obedience and Faith For the Holy Spirit sanctifies in Obedience not in Disobedience and Faith and Belief of the Truth or true Belief is one above such Belief as the Devils have who tho' they believe and tremble yet still unsanctified but such Faith as works by Love and hath Love springing up in it Such Faith with Obedience is that which accompanies or is a ground of our Justification Sanctification and Salvation POSTSCRIPT SInce this was writ I have seen in the Hands of a Neighbour a Bible Printed in the Year 1â—87 wherein the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is altogether Translated Love in this 1 Cor. 13. as I have rendred iâ— Therefore I hope my rendring it so will not be look'd upon as a Novel Conceit And let this be noted that I do not impute any blame to the Translators who have in our Bibles rendred the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by the word Charity For the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 comprehends Charity and it may be they might see that at that time there was need to reade it so to stir People up to so good a Work But that word Charity doth not fully reach to all the Expressions or Significations of the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 here in this Chapter as Love doth for Charity reâ—ches but to Man but Love râ—aches â—o God as well as to Man 1 John 4.19 Charity ceaseth when the Objects of Charity câ—ase but Love shaâ—l never cease or fail 1 Cor. 13.8 For so it may truly bâ— read Love never faileth or ceaseth William Tomlinson FINIS
A Short WORK But of Greatest CONCERN By William Tomlinson Rom. IX 28. For he will finish the Work and cut it short in Righteousness because a short Work will the Lord make upon the Earth London Printed and Sold by T. Sowle in White-Hart-Court in Gracious-Street 1696. A Short Work but of Greatest Concern The Lord will cut his Work short in Righteousness TIme hath been wherein there have been many Precepts Precept upon Precept Line upon Line under the Ministration of the Law Isa 28.13 But under the Gospel the Lord doth contract them and bring them under one Head and that is the Spirit of God to be led and guided thereby And he shall lead into all Righteousness and Truth John 16.13 and out of the Lusts of the Flesh Gal. 5.16 This I say then Walk in the Spirit and ye shall not fulfil the Lust of the Flesh And this Guide and Leader is promised to abide with the true Servants of God for ever John 14.16 17. So that if any Man have not the Spirit of Christ he is none of his Rom. 8.9 The time cometh and draws near at hand wherein People shall not be look'd upon as the People of God because they are of such or such an Opinion or because they are in such or such a Society or belong to such a sort of People and walk with them let it be under whatsoever Name is extant whether Papist or Protestant or any other Name Nor shall Eminent Gifts and Parts shelter any Man Many will say Lord Lord have we not prophesied in thy Name And in thy Name have cast out Devils And in thy Name done many wonderful works But what 's the Answer to them that can plead thus from the Ability of Gifts and live not Righteously The Answer is this I never knew you depart from me ye that work iniquity Mat. 7.22 23. Iniquity dashes all Excellent Abilities and puts one out of God's Acknowledgment of their Persons Whereby we may observe That it is not Eminent Gifts and Parts that states a Man in a happy Condition although these are good and to be prized Query Some may say then perhaps What is it then that makes us happy if such Eminent Gifts and Parts do not Answer I answer It is humble walking with the Lord as a Child in his holy Spirit Mat. 18.3 Verily I say unto you Except ye be Converted and become as little Children ye shall not enter into the Kingdom of Heaven This is also plainly exprest in other words before-named where the Apostle saith expresly If any Man have not the Spirit of Christ he is none of his Rom. 8.9 But on the contraty As many as are led by the Spirit of God they are the Sons of God So then it 's plain That our Sonship is established in the Spirit If we be led by the Spirit of God we are in the Sonship but if we be not in some measure led by that we are not in the Sonship but remain Strangers to God in our Spirits But if we be led by the Spirit of God the Spirit it self will bear witness with our Spirit that we are the Children of God Rom. 8.16 And here now is the Work cut short in Righteousness And hereby it is plainly manifest That our Happiness lyes herein namely in being led by the Spirit of God and walking humbly with him therein And this is the chief tendency and the very substance of the New Covenant and of the New Testament which testifies of it to bring us to this and build us up in this namely to bring us into subjection to the Spirit of God and to build us up therein that so we may come to walk in Fellowship with our God 1 Joh. 1.3 That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you that ye may have Fellowship with us and truly our Fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. And the words of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ are very agreeable hereunto John 14.23 where he saith If a Man love me he will keep my words and my Father will love him and we will come unto him and make our abode with him O happy State and Condition to have Fellowship with our God! This makes happy both here and hereafter And this the true Sons of God enjoy who walk humbly with him in Spirit And in this short work now in walking with him in the Spirit and having Fellowship with him in the Spirit all Iniquity is cut off and all Righteousness is comprehended and established for he leads into all Truth I say all Iniquity is cut off So that he that walks in the Spirit gives no real occasion of stumbling Walk in the Spirit and ye shall not fulfil the Lusts of the Flesh Gal. 5.16 And so hereby that which gives real offence is cut off It 's possible some may take offence where none is given as the Jews did against Christ So some may do now in these Days who are wedded to Tradition They may take offence at the Truth when their Traditions in which they are rooted and grounded are discovered reproved or contradicted thereby But this is not Truth that gives the offence but their Errour that take offence where none is really given as the Jews did take offence against Christ without just cause And as walking in the Spirit of Truth cuts off all Iniquity and all corrupt Lusts of the Flesh so it establishes the Obedient in all Righteousness For the Spirit leads into all Righteousness where he is faithfully followed and obeyed He will guide you or lead you into all Truth John 16.13 That is by degrees as he is obeyed There be many false Spirits gone forth into the World but the Spirit of Truth will discover them and by their Fruits they shall be discovered For saith Christ Jesus By their Fruits ye shall know them Mat. 7.16 to Ver. 20. A good Tree cannot bring forth evil Fruit neither can a corrupt Tree bring forth good Fruit therefore their Fruits shall discover them for God hath so appointed it Now then what are the Fruits of the true Spirit that thereby in some measure we may be able to discover false Spirits and may discern a difference For Christ Jesus tells us By their Fruits ye shall know them I answer with the Apostle's words Gal. 5.22 The Fruit of the Spirit is Love Joy Peace Long-suffering Gentleness Goodness Faith Meekness Temperance against such saith he there is no Law The Affections and Lusts of the Flesh they are hereby cut off as the next Verse expresses viz. Ver. 24. in these words And they that are Christ's have Crucified the Flesh with the Affections and Lusts This is the happy state of the true Children of God who walk humbly with him in his Holy Spirit and grow up therein to the stature of a perfect Man in Christ Jesus They are led by the Spirit of God in these true Fruits of the Spirit And they have
〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is most frequently Translated Love which is the first great Fruit of the Spirit of which we have been speaking and springs immediately from the true Spirit of God as an inseparable Fruit thereof Gal. 5.22 The Fruit of the Spirit is Love Joy Peace c. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. And so you may find the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Translated Love in all these places following besides others Mat. 24.12 John 13.34 35. and Chap. 15.13 And again Chap. 17.26 Rom. 8.35 and Chap. 12.9 and Chap. 13.10 2 Cor. 2.4 8. and Chap. 5.14 and Chap. 6.6 and Chap. 8.7 8 24. and Chap. 13.11 Gal. 5.6 13 22. Eph. 1.15 and Chap. 2.4 and Chap. 3.19 and Chap. 6.23 Phil. 1.9 17. and Chap. 2.1 2. Col. 1.4 8. 1 Thes 1.3 and Chap. 4.9 and Chap. 5.8 2 Thes 2.10 1 Tim. 1.14 and Chap. 6.11 2 Tim. 1.7 Heb. 6.10 and Chap. 10.24 1 John 2.15 and Chap. 3.1 and Ch. 4.7 8 10 16 17. 2 John 6. Jude 2. Rev. 2.4 In all these places besides more the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is Translated Love And why it should be Translated Charity as it is rendred 1 Cor. 13. throughout the whole Chapter I see no reason But I shall shew what reason I have to the Contrary We take Charity sometimes in this Case to have a good Opinion of one or to have a good Affection to one and so to have a Kind Civil Society with them and this is good in its place And sometimes it is taken for a Natural Love as among Relations which is also good Sometimes also it is taken for an Affection of Pity to such as are in Distress and not only to pity them but to distribute to them and this is also called Charity and this is very good also and very acceptable with the Lord and agreeable with that Precept Heb. 13.16 To do good and to communicate forget not for with such Sacrifices God is well pleased But still there is something above these which is of a more uniting Property and that is the Love of God shed abroad in the Hearts of them that truly fear and love him And hence arises a more Spiritual Love and therein union of Spirit not only with the Lord but also with all those that love and fear him and walk in Obedience with him And this Love is not restrained to any one distinct Society only but extends it self to all that fear him and walk humbly with him in every Society of People True Spiritual Love is an Affection of Complacency arising from union of Spirit in true Spiritual Obedience Or to speak more fully True Spiritual Love which is here spoken of in this 13th Chapter of 1 Cor. is a Reflexion of God's Love shed abroad upon the Heart and springing up in our Hearts And it arises from Faith and is a true Fruit of Faith For true Faith works by Love Gal. 5.6 Neither Circumcision availeth any thing nor Vncircumcision but Faith which worketh by Love And we love God because he first loved us 1 John 4.19 He gives some sense or understanding of his Love into our Hearts or sheds abroad his Love into the Hearts of them that truly fear him and thence springs our right true Spiritual Love to him and to all Men. And this is that more excellent way which the Apostle said he would shew in the last Verse of the 12th Chapter immediately going before this 13th Chapter where he speaks so much of Love which he prefers before the best Gifts For saith he Covet earnestly the best Gifts and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way Observe A more excellent way than the best Gifts and that is Love For it follows immediately Though I speak with the Tongues of Men and of Angels and have not Love 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I am become as sounding Brass or a tinkling Cymbal And so it 's Love that is the more excellent way above the best Gifts and Parts viz. pure Spiritual Love It 's above the Gift of Prophecy tho' that be very desireable and profitable it 's above the Knowledge of all Mysteries It 's above Faith Oh! the high Value that is set upon pure Spiritual Love by the Apostle Paul and so also by the Beloved Disciple John For faith he He that loveth not knoweth not God for God is Love 1 John 4.8 And again Ver. 16. God is Love and he that dwelleth in Love dwelleth in God and God in him This pure Love is a Reflexeth of the Love of God shed abroad upon the Hearts of them that truly fear and love and obey him as hath been said As the Sun in the Firmament shining upon the Water gives a Reflexion of it self in the Water so the Love of God shed abroad upon the Hearts of them that truly fear him begets a Resemblance of it self in some measure where Clouds of Sin or Unbelief hinder not And so our true Love of God arises hence even from his Love in some measure made known to us and shed abroad in our Hearts that is in the Hearts of those that walk in Obedience and Faith before him Now this Love is a higher thing than Charity and is more extensive than Charity For Charity reaches but to Man but true Spiritual Love reaches forth to God as well as to Man He is the Object of the purest and highest Love and he is the Fountain from whence such Love flows We love him because he loved us first 1 John 4.19 and gave his Son Christ Jesus our Lord for our Redemption This Love that is so much spoken of in the 13th Chapter of the First of Corinthians is above Faith and above Hope Now abideth Faith Hope Love these three but the greatest of these is Love Ver. 13. Again the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 being Translated Charity in this place seems to bear a Contradiction in it to Ver. 3. of the same Chapter 1 Cor. 3. where it is said Though I bestow all my Goods to feed the Poor what 's this but Charity And yet saith the Translation and have not Charity but it were better exprest I think and have not Love according as the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 frequently signifies and is for the most part so rendred as hath been shewed And so that word Love would better agree with all the other Expressions following in Verses 4 5 6 c. than the word Charity and might be Read thus Love suffereth long and is kind Love envyeth not Love vauneth not it self is not puffed up doth not behâ—ve it self unseemly seeketh no her own is not easily provoked thâ—nketh no evil rejoiceth not in Iniquity but rejoiceth in the Truth beareth all things beliveth all things hopeth all things endureth all things And then ver 8. it s said Love never faileth or endeth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 But Prophecies they shall fail Tongues they shall cease knowledge it shall vanish away But Love