Selected quad for the lemma: spirit_n
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A49463
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The life of faith Wherein is shewed the general use of faith in all the passages of a Christians life. Together with a discourse of right judgment on Joh.7.24. By H. Lukin.
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Lukin, H. (Henry), 1628-1719.
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1660
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Wing L3477; ESTC R213826
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80,145
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275
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5.4 God leads us by his good spirit Psal 143.10 not by dictating to us as to Philip Acts 8.29 though I will not deny but the Spirit may sometimes powerfully determine a man to some particular act We read in the life of Mr. Dod that he was strongly inclined one night to go to his neighbours house and knew not why but God thereby saved a mans life So we read of one Aventroot who in very old age against the perswasion of his friends went from Utrect in the Low-Countreys to Madrid in Spain to tell the King of Spain that the Pope was Antichrist and to perswade him to destroy him for which he was burnt These are extraordinary cases and do not favour the ordinary pretences of Enthusiasme especially in things contrary to the Word of God see Voetites de probationibus spirituum p. 2 ap 1124. where you have the forementioned Story and what we are to judge in such cases Ordinarily the Spirit directs Christians by filling them with the knowledg of Gods will in all wisdome and spiritual understanding though it may sometimes awaken conscience to be as a voice behinde us saying this is the way walk in it when we turn to the right hand or to the left Isa 30.21 or direct us to such places of Scripture as may be for our turn or best serve our purpose as Austin to Rom. 13.13 Junius to John 1. see Austine's Confessions l. 8. c. 11. and Junius his life written by himself He that desires to read more concerning divine impulses or the voyce of Providence may consult Geo. Wither's cordial Confection p. 12. and Edw. Gee of the Right and Original of Magistrates cap. 3. to whom I had rather referre than determine any thing in so nice a point 3. Let us here also labour for an honest sincere heart otherwise it is as hard to judge of Actions as of Opinions Corrupt affections will blinde the judgement and turn desire into opinion so as a man shall believe that to be true which he desires to be true Hence it is that every mans way is right in his own eyes Prov. 16.2 Passions and Lusts endeavour to draw the judgement on their own side that so they may not be controled or interrupted thereby Reynolds on the Passions cap. 8. And for this cause some Philosophers have not thought young men especially such as were addicted to youthfull lusts to be fit for the study of Ethicks Wendelini Philosoph Moral l. 1.0.1 But further when men come to enquire of God with their idols in their hearts he will answer them according to their Idols Ezek. 14.4 7. that is When men like young people who ask their friends consent in marriage but are resolved beforehand what to do whether their friends will consent or no pretend to inquire the mind of God and have beforehand fixed their desires if not their resolutions God will answer such to their cost The Jews pretended a desire and willingness to know the minde of God and to be ruled thereby but they had before resolved to go down into Egypt and he tells them what should befall them if they went thither the sword and famine which they fled from should follow close after them Jerem. 42. read that Chapter throughout So Ahab had a minde to go to Ramoth Gilead yet he would enquire of God whether he should go God suffers the Devil by his Prophets to seduce him to go thither to his ruine 1 Kings 22. If we enquire of God it must be with an honest heart and sincere Resolution to follow his Counsel God will not be mocked we must seek to God an licet not ut liceat whether a thing be lawfull or no not that it may be lawfull 4. Let us take heed of rashnesse and precipitancy With the well advised is wisdome Proverb 13.10 We must ponder the paths of our feet Prov. 4.26 We are not of such present and comprehensive understandings as to make sudden Resolutions We see how oft we are put to change our Resolutions and make them give place to second wiser thoughts Gods immutability is an Argument of his perfection and is founded in his omnisciency his perfect understanding of all things by one single view directing him to such purposes as are not capable of any perfective alteration only consideration must not take up the time that should be spent in execution 5. Let us consult with those who are wholly unconcerned in what we would judge of such are like to make the best judgment How doth David pass sentence on himself when a case was represented to him only in thesi not as his own 2 Sam. 12.5 6. So the Jews Matth. 21.41 but change the persons and they are of Ploydon's minde That the case is alterred fo doth Interest corrupt mens mindes We see dayly proof of this hence the common saying That a good Arbitrator must displease both parties because interest makes them both think their own case right when a third person sees that both must yield Hence so many complaints of Oppression Interest makes both Plaintiffe and Defendant think himself wronged Hence is it so hard to finde a good Historian if he stand in the croud affection to causes or parties swayes him if he stand too farre off he cannot see well what is done Finally Hence it comes to pass that the present age seldome judges right but the succeeding age must judge of the actions of the age going before most men being some way concerned in publick affairs Matth. 23.30 Thirdly We must judge aright concerning persons I shall not here speak of judging our selves having elsewhere said something of it Now I shall speak only of our judgement concerning others we are not indeed rashly to condemn others this is the judgement which Christ forbids Mat. 7.1 Neither are we to usurp a peremptory judgment concerning mens final estate yet there is a private judgement of Prudence that we may yea must pass upon men 1. That we may know how to carry our selves towards them to some we owe only a common charity to others brotherly kindness or a more entire affection 2 Pet. 1.7 1 Pet. 2.17 Some are to be carefully avoided Rom. 16.17 Some there are of whom we may hope well yet are to carry our selves towards them as if we had a suspition of them 2 Thes 3.14 15. 2. That we may beware of men Mat. 10.17 Paul amongst other dangers that he was in reckons up false brethren 2 Cor. 11.26 Gal. 2.4 These indeed are the most wretched sort of men and an abhorring to all flesh Perditissimi hominis est illum fallere qui nou deceptus esset nisi credidisset Abundance of instances I could easily give of those who have very much suffered by their credulity and putting themselves too much into their power who have proved perfidious to them Christ would not trust all that trusted him Joh. 2.24 And some think it was Alexander that was like to lose his life
concerning this thing that those good men spake much their own experience God ordinarily giving them assurance whom he employed in more eminent services and who were to encounter greater trialls which he doth not ordinarily give to those who are not put upon such service it being his way to proportion his comforts to his Peoples trials and temptations 1 Cor. 10.13 2 Cor. 1.5 See Arrowsmiths Tactica sacra l. 2. c. 7. s 5. I could easily give many instances in the most Learned men of former and latter times of several opinions and perswasions of the influence that mens Passions and Interests have upon their Judgements hindering the sight thereof as a Cataract or suffusion hinders the sight of the eye I come now to the directions which we must observe if we will make a right judgement of Opinions or Doctrines And First Let us labour to have the Word of God dwelling richly in us in all wisdom Col. 3.16 It is not enough to be acquainted with the Letter of the Scripture but we must study the Sence of it and be able to find out such truths as are not in so many words therein expressed Ignorance of the Scriptures was the cause of the Sadduces errour concerning the Resurrection though the Doctrine of the Resurrection was not so obvious to every one in the place which our Saviour cited for the proof of it Mat. 22.29 Secondly Let us dayly apply our selves unto God by Prayer by humble addresses of our selves to him therein we may get more than by reading or study our Understandings as well as our Wills dayly stand in need of assisting Grace Homer doth say That men depend dayly upon God for the guiding of their minds See Ludov Vives in lib. 5. de civitat Dei c. 8. It is part of the Spirits work to guide us into all truth Joh. 16.13 though it do not immediately dictate to us what is truth nor by any extraordinary Revelation discover any new objects to us yet he is a Spirit of wisdom to make us quick of understanding in the fear of the Lord Isa 11.2 3. and to enable us to judge of spiritual things 1 Cor. 2 15. Chap. 7.40 Thirdly Let us labour to be well acquainted with the fundamental Truths of Religion which will be as so many phari or towers to guide us safe betwixt the rocks of errour and with some of which most Errours are some way or other inconsistent Fourâ—hly Let us labour for a sinceâ—e honest heart this conduces more to the keeping men right in their judgments than the learning of the Schooles Isa 35.8 Though men have not so much cunning as others yet if their hearts be right toward God they shall not so soon be misled if mens hearts be not sincere noâ—hing else will help them as Christ came into the world that those that see might be made blinde and that those that see not might see John 9.39 He was set not only for the rise but for the fall also of many in Israel Luke 2.34 So the Scriptures are a light to the feet and a lanthorn to the pathes of those who in sincerity make use of them for guiding their feet in the paths of uprightness Psal 119.105 But if we make use of them only for satisfying our curiosity or to passe our censure upon them they will be rather a stumbling block than a light to us Tertullian saith He is not affraid to affirm that the Scriptures are so ordered or disposed by the will of God that Hereticks may be misled by them adv Haer. 39. And if we pray to God for further illumination only that we may know and take no care to practise what we know God will not so far satisfie our curiosity They are those that do the will of God that shall know what Doctrine is of God and what of men John 7.17 There were three things that did so much advance Davids knowledge Psal 1â—9 1. The Word of God was with him that is he had it by him to read on and consult with according to the charge given Deut. 17.19 vers 98. 2. He meditated thereon ver 99. 3. He kept it or practised what he read ver 100. I might now as some do lay down some Characters for the tryal of Doctrines whereby men may know what comes nearest the truth as that which doth most promote Godliness and that which doth most detract from the creature and give to God is most like to come nearest the truth But I will not much urge these and otherlike because however these may be true Characters yet they are not so evident and there is as much controversie what doth most advance Holiness and the Grace and power of Jesus Christ as about any other mediums for the clearing of truth and all proof should be made per notiora by those things that are more evident than that which we would prove Secondly We should judg aright of Actions and that 1. Our own Actions 2. Other mens We should judge aright of our Actions 1. Beforehand in our intention that we may know what our duty is It is the wisdome of the prudent to understand his way Prov. 14.8 It is not sufficient that we do things in the simplicity of our hearts as those followed Absalom 2 Sam. 15.11 the will of God being the rule of our actions Ephes 5.17 not our own erroneous consciences And our ignorance will not altogether excuse us in what we do against the command of God no not at all if we be wholly supine and carelesse to informe our selves of the will of God Paul thought verily he ought to do many things against the name of Jesus Acts 26.9 yet this mistake of his made his sin only pardonable and he confesses himself the chief of sinners for it 1 Timoth. 1 1â—.2 post factum or in the reflection on our actions we must judge righteous judgement It was the sin of the Jewes that none did reflect upon their actions and consider what they had done Jer. 8.7 which we are to understand not only physically what actions they had done but morally of what nature the actions were as Gen. 3.13 the guilt of sin is taken away by justification the blot or stain of it by Sanctification but the fault is not taken away till Repentance and in a moral sence a man persists in the act of sin till he repent of it Primus felicitatis gradus est non delinquere secundus delicta cognoscere Cyprian Epist 55. next to innocency Repentance is the greatest happiness 2. We should judge a right of other mens actions not that we should be busie-bodies in other mens matters or severe Cato's censuring every thing which belongs not to us But sometimes we are concerned to make a right judgement of other mens actions 1. That we may not partake of their sin 1 Tim. 5.22 by approving that which is evil 2 John 10 11.2 That we may not condemn them and cast them out of our