Law might be fulfilled in us In the Law there is the righteousnesse of the commands and the righteous just damnatory sentence of threatnings against the transgressors of those holy commands Now God sent his Sonne and held the fore-mentioned course in laying our sinnes upon him that the whole righteousnesse which the Law requireth of us might be fulfilled in us who are in Christ by faith whiles by Jesus Christ it is fulfilled for us and for our sakes in our roome and stead and so the Law is while fulfilled for us fulfilled in us who are in Christ by faith And then secondly the holinesse and righteousnesse of the precepts is fulfilled in us whiles by this faith which unites us to Christ receiveth his Spirit draweth from Christ sanctifying grace and purifieth the heart a new obedience in all uprightnesse and integrity respecting the whole Law is begun and more and more encreaseth in us in this life is of that growing nature that it will go forwards hold on fight out its way persevere and overcome and at last be perfected in glory thus the righteousnesse of the Law is in us by faith Christs righteousnesse in obedience and sufferings for us reckoned to us as ours and by the same faith holinesse in truth begunne and growing up to perfection in us See here the Gospel fights not against the Law as the Law is not against the Gospel The Gospel acquits those whom the Law pronounceth guilty but not as considered nakedly in their guilt that were against the Jus the right of the Law but by the intervening of and the guilty considered in the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the price and satisfaction of the Sonne of God and this is agreeable to the jus the right of the Law The Gospel sets them free from condemnation notwithstanding their sinnes because it brings in God condemning their sinnes in the flesh of his Sonne and the Sonne bearing the condemnation of sinne laid on him of God in his own flesh The Gospel while it acquits from the Law purifieth the sinner and gives him an heart and power to judge himself to love the holinesse and righteousnesse which the Law requireth and in this work upholds him with delight in the inward man till holiness be perfected So the Gospel fulfills the Law every way in Christ and in us fulfills the righteousness of the Law for us and in us and while for us in us 6. The person applying and the manner of application of this salvation even the Spirit the Spirit of Jesus Christ who in all those that are delivered from condemnation by Jesus Christ is uniting them to Christ and regenerating and sanctifying them This Spirit sets himself up in the throne and pulls the flesh out of the throne and he reignes in them and orders their lives This person even the holy Ghost and his work making this salvation to come home with saving efficacy is mentioned implyedly in these words In us who walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit Thus the Apostle hath set out lively the second great Doctrine The third is a description of those for The third whom God sent his Sonne to become flesh to condemn their sin in his flesh and to fulfill the righteousness of the Law in them these persons are plainly and lively described thus they are those who walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit They are known by their walks that is by the tenour and course of their lives in which they deliberately set themselves with continuance and progress which course of life is framed after the guidance and rule not of the flesh that is of their corrupted nature but of the Spirit that is the Spirit of Christ which by the Word ingraffed in them dwells in them and orders their conversation 4. We have also a fourth point of excellent worth for the comfort of sin-burdened and mortified souls which the word of connexion for leadeth us unto There is no condemnation to them that are in Christ though there be much sin in them for the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus and from him coming into them is as a Law that hath delivered them from the Law of sin and so from the Law of death and all this is most evident for in Christ their sins are condemned and they justified and sanctified for see they as men set at liberty do walk after the Spirit and not after the flesh This then is the precious truth which lyeth in the coherence concerning the riches of their assurance and consolation who are in Jesus Christ The sins of those that walk after the Spâ—râ—t shall never be to their condemnation neither shall hinder from them the benefit of all the salvation that cometh by Christ nor â—et ought they in the least kind to hinder their full assurance their comfortable walking in their obedience their constant combating against the flesh nor their full dedition to the Law of the Spirit of life as to that which will give them full deliverance from the Law of sinne and death CHAP. II Containing the first great truth which is this that there is no salvation for any man by the Law or by any other means save onely by Jesus Christ. SECT 1. Having drawn up four choice truths of saving knowledge absolutely necessary to everlasting blessedness and sound comfort compactly delivered by the holy Apostle in this portion of Scripture I 1. Doct. No salvation but by Christ Gal. 3. 21 22. come now to handle those four truths at large the first of them is this There is no salvation for any man by the Law or by any other meanes whatsoever but onely by Jesus Christ. If there had been a Law given which could have given life Verily righteousnesse should have been by the Law but the Scripture hath concluded all under sinne saith this Apostle that the promise of faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that beleeve These are opposite the Law and the Promise the concluding of all under sin and the giving of life and righteousness the faith of Jesus Christ whereby we believe and the works of the Law the giving of the promise which is a reward reckoned of grace to him that believeth Rom. 4. 3 4 5 and the paying of a debt which is a reward to him that worketh If then the Law could save there had been no need of the Promise the Promise were in vain nevertheless the Law is not against the Promise but it shuts all men up to the Promise where life and righteousness is alone to be had by believing in Iesus Christ But may there not be found some other name besides or together with Iesus Christ by which a sinner may be saved for answer hear the Apostle Peter as the mouth all the rest of the Apostles saâ—ing to all men and to all the people oâ— Israel Jesus Christ Acts 4. 10 11 12 of Nazareth whom ye crucified whom God raised from the dead
all righteousnesse but nulled no Law he fulfills the Law in us whiles he enables ro believe that he fulfilled it for us The Ministry of the Gospel is the Ministry of Rom. 3. 31 life of righteousnesse and of the Spirit we establish the Law by faith we magnifie it and make it honourable we bring to glorious liberty not to base licentiousnesse which is most absolute slavery We advance godlinesse while our Doctrine forms it in power and destroyes a powerlesse form of it we maintaine good workes while through the Gospel the sinner is called to come to God through Christ alone and God takes him into his own gracious and powerful hands and makes molds fashions him in his own workmanship in Christ Jesus created anew unto good Eph. 2. 10. works O ye Pontificians ye Papists and all others to whom the Gospel comes know ye The Law is not against the Promise The Promise ingraves the Law in the fleshly tables of the heart This Doctrine also tries and differenceth 2. To try Professors Believers and Believers Christians and Christians upon the Believer and Christian indeed the former three sentences are deeply fastened and the answers are experimentally and sweetly resented in the heart that closeth with them and receiveth the mould of them such a heart is truly believing and Christian and no other Go over them again and again in thy thoughts and try how it is with thee CHAP. IX Sheweth that the fulnesse of salvation shines in the Person who maketh saving application thereof dethâ—oning corruption of nature and ruling the whole man even the Spirit the Holy Ghost the Spirit of the Father and of the Sonne SECT 1. THe person applying and the manner of his application of the salvation by Christ is implied in these words who walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit here the Spirit is the person that brings home this work with efficacy and power for here we have a double consideration of the Spirits work in the saved ones the first presupposed and implied namely that God the Father and Jesus Christ his Son do give to those that shall be saved the Spirit who applyeth savingly all the love of the Father and the grace of the Son who pulls the flesh or mans natural corruption out of the Throne and sets up himself to rule the man mention is made in these words of such a Spirit and who can be able to do such a work but the Spirit who is the power of the most High who will be willing but the Holy Spirit or as we usually speak the Holy Ghost likewise either sinners have this Spirit of themselves and so none have for if they had him in them by nature how is it that he ruled not how is it all by nature are under the power of the flesh living and walking in their sins or else he must be given and who can give him but God the Father and Christ his only Son this giving and working of the Spirit for the bringing home the Redemption which is in Jesus Christ is therefore necessarily implied in these words The second work of the Spirit is expressed in a Description of the Redeemed ones They walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit both these considerations are in the subject persons made partakers of that work of the Spirit two wayes commended in the words us who walk c. first that the Jews and the Gentiles the Apostles and all others that belong to God are all alike sharers in this mercy and work of the giving of the Spirit to them to apply savingâ—y this salvation and to reign in them and frame their conversation although they have not all alike this Spirit in the same measure and degree Us who walk saith the Apostle we Apostles we Jewes and you the believers at Rome to whom he wrote you that were sinners of the Gentiles us you as well as we who walk after the Spirit Secondly that neither the one nor the other of them have respect with God but in Christ No were he an Apostle not Paul himself nor do they look for part in this salvation upon lower or other termes but as they fall within this Description Hence therefore we have two things before us 1. The sixth branch of truth that proves the fulnesse of salvation in Christ 2. The third great doctrine which is The description of a true Christian The sixth branch is this The salvation of sinners by Christ is compleat Doct. 6. The Spirit of the as being savingly applied by the Spirit given of God the Father and of Christ Father and the Son applies the salvation by Christ dethroning corruption and ruling the whole man 1 Cor. 6. 11 his own Sonne to them that shall be saved In which application the Spirit dethrones the flesh and rules the whole man The sinners which are washed justified and sanctified in the name of the Lord Jesus have this so great a change wrought by the Spirit of our God saith the Apostle God who sent the Redeemer hath covenanted that his Word and Spirit shall be in the seed and seeds seed of the Redeemer to whom the Father gave them that he should save them as the Prophet Isaiah sheweth saying The Redeemer shall Isa 59. 21. come to Zion As for me this is my Covenant with them saith the Lord my Spirit that is upon thee that is upon Christ the Redeemer and my words which I have put in thy mouth shall not depart out of thy mouth nor out of the mouth of thy seed for whom the Redeemer gave his soul an offering for sin and went in travel with them on the Crosse nor out of the mouth of thy seeds seed from henceforth Isa 53. 10. Gal. 3. 14. 1 Joh. 4. 13. 3 24 and for ever Christ hath purchased it and the believer is possessed of it Hereby we know saith the Apostle that we dwell in God and God in us even by the Spirit which he hath given us This is that way in which he saveth even by the renewing Tit. 3. 3 5. 2 Thes 2. 13 14. 1 Thes 1. 3 4 5. of the Holy Ghost which he sheds on us abundantly through our Lord and Saviour and through this way even the sanctification of the Spirit God bringeth his chosen unto glory Hereby our election is known The Son of God the wisdome of the Father subdueth us by his Spirit poured out unto us by which he makes known his words to us This is called the Communion Pro. 1. 23. 2 Cor. 13. 14. Joh. 3. 3 5 of the holy Ghost And this is so absolutely necessary that unlesse a man be born from above of water and of the holy Ghost he can never see the Kingdome of God that is he cannot come into and enjoy eternal life in heaven he can never enter into it unlest he be born again of the holy Spirit now poured out as plentifully as water
and floods according to the promise of the Old Testament this our Apostle is peremptory If any have not the Spirit of Christ he is none of his There are three that bear Record in heaven Isa 44. 3. Rom. 8. 9. 1 Joh. 5. 7 8. and three that bear Record on earth unto the salvation of sinners by Jesus Christ and the Spirit is one of each three The Spirit is the witnesse that testifieth of Christ and the Spirit is the witnesse that testifieth in the true Christian that he is the child of God the believer hath the witnesse in himself the word of Scripture is the Spirits Testimony in this word as in his Chariot the Spirit cometh into the heart by this word engraffed which is the Spirits work he dwells there and in and by this word which he quickneth he gives in his witnesse that we are the Children of God Now it is the compleatnesse of this work of the Spirit which is here to be considered And this will be manifest if we observe diligently the opening of these seven things 1. Who this Spirit is Seven things unfolded touching the Spirit 2. What is his saving work in and upon the elect of God and the Redeemed of Christ 3. That the Spirit is in Office to do that saving work and his faithfulnesse in this his Office 4. The peculiar works of the Spirit in order to this saving work 5. The Inhabitation of this Spirit where he is thus given 6. The time of his coming And lastly 7. The peculiarity and appropriation of this work to the elect of God the Father and to the Redeemed of Jesus Christ SECT 2. 1. Who this Spirit is This Spirit is the holy Ghost for so the Apostle in this Chapter maketh it cleare 1. Who is this Spirit when he calls him the Spirit of God and the Spirit of Christ ver 9. and the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead the Spirit that shall quicken our mortal bodies in ver 11. and in ver 16. he distinguisheth this Spirit from our spirits in the point of witnesse-bearing Therefore the Spirit is the Holy Ghost or the Holy Spirit as our Translators also render it in the Epistle to the Ephesians Ch. 1. 13. ch 4. 30. which is all one in sense the word Spirit being from the Latine and Ghost an old English word Now that we may know who the Holy Ghost or the Holy Spirit is note 2. He is God he is true and very God equal in power and glory with the Father and the Sonne the same God in essence though a distinct 1 Joh. 5. 7 person in the God-head and the third person for there are three and these three are one three persons the Father is not the Son nor the Holy Ghost the Son is not the Father nor the Holy Ghost the holy Ghost is not the Father nor the Son they are three yet these three are one God not three Gods one God in essence the God-head of the Father of the Son and of the Holy Ghost is but one Spirit here is taken personally and not essentially as when it is said God is a Spirit and these three are one in bearing Record one God in bearing Record yet three that bear Record three persons and one God and that he is God is manifest The Lord is that Spirit or that Spirit is the Lord. We are transformed into the 2 Cor. 3. 17. v. 18 Image of God in beholding in the glasse of the Gospel the glory of God and this transformation is wrought even as by the Spirit of the Lord that is it is such a work as none can do but the Spirit of the Lord and such wherein the Spirit of the Lord is plainly seen an expression like that concerning Christ Jesus We saw his glory the glory as of the only begotten of the Father as is not of similitude or likenesse for no like is the same but as of specification of the very things as the glory that is no other or lesse than the very glory of the only begotten of the Father So likewise here as by the Spirit of the Lord that is by no other worker and by no lesse than by the very Spirit of the Lord and it may also be read which I most approve as most agreeing to the whole Context going before especially in ver 17. as by the Lord the Spirit Again To tempt the Spirit is to tempt Act. 5. 3 4. Isa 6. 9. with Act. 28. 25. God as we find in the History of Ananias and Sapphira The Lord Jehovah spake by the Prophet Isaiah and Paul saith the holy Ghost spake those same words by Isaiah The name Jehovah is the name of the true God only this his name which is his alone he will never give to another but here it is the name of the Holy Ghost Jehovah is the Holy Ghost who spake by the Prophets and who is as the Nicene Creed professeth The Lord and giver of life The properties also of the God-head are given to the holy Ghost as eternity Heb. 9. 14. Psa 139. 7. called the eternal Spirit Omnipresence or to be present in all places at once as David sang whither shall I go from thy Spirit Omnipotence to be Almighty and this the works of the Spirit do manifest he doth the works of God the works which only God can do as the work of Creation by the Spirit of the Lord were the Psal 33. 6 Job 26. 13 Job 33. 4. 32. 8. Gen. 1. 2. with Deut. 32. 11. Isa 61. 1. 48. 16. 1 Cor. 12. 8 9 10 11. heavens made the Spirit garnished the heavens and made man as Elihu said The Spirit of God hath made me and the breath of the Almighty hath given me life The â—nspiration of the Almighty giveth men understanding Likewise the work of preservation the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters or was moving with an hatching virtue as the bird sitteth upon the eggs and hovereth over her young to cherish and preserve them his work is the sending and anointing of Jesus Christ the gifts of tongues and miracles and the like which he distributeth as he will These works declare the deity of the holy Ghost and they declare it above Suae libertatis arbiter omnia pro authoritate propriae voluntatis dividens Ambr. l 1. c 2. de spiritu sancto 2 Cor. 13. 14. Rev. 1. 4. the force and reach of all cavills of sophistical blasphemers and to the strong Consolation of all believers he it is that applies with saving efficacy the love of the Father and the grace of the Son Divine honour is also given to him as to be baptized into his Name to pray and blesse from him to call upon him And in the second to the Thessalonians Ch. 3. ver 5. the Apostle prayeth thus The Lord direct your hearts into the love of God and into the patient
awake arise and live he is the Spirit of life the righteousnesse of Christ declared and set forth by God in the Gospel and brought home to the soul of an humbled sinner by the word attended with the Spirit and the Spirit is life because of this righteousnesse life from the death of condemnation which sin deserved life from the death of sin life true and joyful 3. He circumcises the heart with a circumcision made without Rom. 2. 29 Col. 2. 11. hands In this work the word is the circumcising knife this knife is taken into the hand of the Spirit the heart is the part that is to suffer and not the flesh or body of the sinner the fore-skin is the superfluity of maliciousnesse and wickednesse Jam. 1. 21. Deut. 30. 6. the skin upon the heart the skin of other loves which oppose the love of God as self-love the love of the world the love which is called lust and the love of superstitious vanities and mens inventions in Religion and worship and the cutting off this fore-skinnesse is when the word in the hand of the Spirit and by it skilfully used getting between our hearts and them it makes the heart to see them to be such as the word sayes of them and to judge it self for them and to cast them away as unprofitable and destructive even because of Christ circumcised and made under the Law for us and for our deliverance from the same Law Untill this work be done no love of God can be wrought in us strange loves have the heart and when this work is done it reacheth to the circumcision of the ears and of the lips and of the whole man Insomuch that the body of the sinnes of the flesh the whole frame of sinful flesh suffers and is destroyed 4. He gives us spiritual senses and a sagacity and quicknesse of sente whereby he makes us savour spiritual things and to smell out and delight to pursue spiritual wayes this work is so eminent that the Rom. 8. 5. Isa 11. 2 3 newborn babe can taste distinguishingly the sincere milk of the Word fit to feed batten and make to grow from all adulterate stuffe and can see and discern judiciously the things of the Spirit of God from all other things and make up a right judgement concerning them and can in hearing try the words of doctrine delivered and try the spirits in the teachers the Spirit of Christ and the spirit of Antichrist the Spirit of God and the spirit which is of the world the spirit of truth and the spirit of errour In ordering his Conversation he can sente and smell the wayes of holinesse from those of profanenesse so that he is of quick understanding in the feare of the Lord and is sensible and hath his feeling of spiritual mercies and plagues of sin that annoyes spiritual life and of the power and spiritualnesse of Ordinances and Administrations from ordinances of men in will-worship and formal out-sidednesse and shews and florishes in administrations All this the new born babe is able to do by a naturalnesse like an instinct though for want of Art or of strength of the reasoning ability or not yet having the wits the senses exercised in the word of righteousnesse he cannot shew to his own or others satisfaction where the fault lyeth much lesse is able to dispute it and by arguing convince the evil doers the opposer and the pleader for the evil the quicknesse of spiritual senses doth grow as age in Christ cometh on the Spirit in this work rested upon Jesus Christ as he was man in all fulnesse as became our head and it is on every living member of his mystical body according to his place of membership as becomes such a Member 5. He writes his law in our hearts The Law 2 Cor. 3. 2 3 Rom. 8. 2 that is the summe of revealed truth both of the Law strictly so called the Law of the ten Commandments and of the Gospel this is that which is written the writing is such an engraving of the truth with love of the truth upon our hearts made soft tender and fleshy as that it cannot be blotted out The soul may be torn from the body but the truth cannot be torn out of the heart And this impression of the truth is such that now it is the Law of the mind which Laws the man It is the Law of the Spirit of life which is in Christ Jesus as the Head and in them as the members this is an heavenly edition of the Bible so imprinted upon the soul that the man becomes a living walking Bible which print comes off so fair in the life of the regenerate and sanctified that they are the Epistles of Christ to be seen and read of all men 6. He gives liberty he sets us free from the law of sinne and death the title the dominion of sin is taken away that we may 2 Cor. 3. 17. Rom. 8. 2. Joh. 7. 37 38. 4. 14 become servants of righteousnesse 7. He is a spring and rivers of lâ—ving waters in our bellies flowing up within us unto eternal life Our hearts by nature are as a dry and barren howling Wildernesse not fit for habitation nor bearing any good plants untilled and horrid to the sight It is the Spirits work to be in us whom the Lord will save changing the very will breaking open springs and causing Rivers of sweet wholesome and healing waters of the blessings of the Gospel of all gifts and graces and grounds of comfort to flow within us even in the very heart and conscience in the belly of the man and there these waters to be not as standing lakes and ditch-water but ever streaming out and fed from the hid well-head of the holy Spirit When this work is in us then of Wildernesses we become fruitful Fields then we have within us Isa 44. 3. 49. 10. Joel 3. 18. Zach. 14. 8 that which will satisfie and will allay and quench our thirsts our souls will be as a well-watered garden whose waters never fail 8. He causeth all the fruits of graces fructifying to be in us and to abound in us all his fruits he maketh to break Ephes 5. 9 Gal. 5. 22 23. 2 Cor. 3. 18. 2 Cor. 4. 13. forth all goodnesse righteousnesse and truth love joy peace long-suffering gentlenesse goodnesse faith meeknesse temperance against which and such like there is no Law 9. He transforms us into the image of God from glory to glory 10. He enableth us to believe and Eph. 2. 18. Jude 20. Gal. 4. 6. to speak by confession to pray to the Father through Christ with gracious and fervent desires crying Abba Father to mortifie the deeds of the body our members that are on the earth and to be crucifying the flesh with the affections and lusts Rom. 8. 13 Gal. 5. 24. thereof that old bel-dame original sin the sinfulnesse of our natures in which we
the heart as ariseth from no lesse than the mighty working of the Spirit and that in a way Demonstration in which demonstration the Spirits light testimony and perswasion is so strong that faith is wrought faith in God and that faith stands founded and rooted upon the power of God 3. Such works of the Spirit as respect 3. Respecting the Church the Church of God Now these respect either Church-Officers or else the whole Church or those members which are called out to Martyrdome 1. As touching Church-Officers the works of the Spirit are these 1. He gives them their gifts which design them out to the Church unto their places and stations therein thus the Deacons Act. 6. 3. Rom. 12. 8 1 Tim. 3. 9. were pointed out by the holy Ghost in that he filled some members of the Church at Jerusalem with gifts of wisdome and of mercifulnesse and of simplicity and of knowledge of the mystery of faith held and kept by them in a pure conscience and this last was the special note of the foure by which the Church should be guided in the election of Deacons whom the Apostles upon such choice were to appoint and ordain that they might have those men in that administration whom the Holy Ghost had gifted and fitted for the work 2. He placeth them in their charges as you may see concerning the Bishops or Elders the Ministers of the Church of Ephesus of whom it is said that the holy Ghost made them Bishops over the flock of Act. 20. 28 God there Our Translators render the word overseers but in the Greek it is Bishops neither can any good reason be alledged why in this place as well as in others of the New Testament they should not use this word Bishops 3. He disposeth of them so that they are fit for one place rather than for another Peter was the Apostle of the Circumcision Paul had the uncircumcision committed unto him Although Peter first of all the Apostles preached the Gospel to the Gentiles as we read in Acts 10. yet Paul is called the Apostle of the Gentiles when neverthelesse the Apostles Mark 16. 16. all of them had the whole world given them in common as their charge in these words Go into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature And that the Holy Ghost doth in special and eminent manner dispose of the Ministers where they shall perform their Ministry consider these following Texts Act. 13. 4. 16. 6 7. 11. 12. 8. 29 39. Luk. 2. 27. there is not only a providential work of God about it who sets the bounds of mens habitations but there is a work of the Spirit which may be known by his work both upon the heart of the teacher and also upon the hearts and spirits of the hearers and lastly by the judgement and sentence of the Assembly of Pastors and Teachers the spirits work upon the teacher is his enclining and suiting of his spirit to the work of the ministery among them upon spiritual grounds and ends The Spirits work upon the hearers is his opening a door by enclining their hearts to 1 Cor. 16. 9 receive him by stirring up many with desires to heare and receive the doctrine although there be many adversaries and many difficulties The sentence of the Presbytery is also the work of the Spirit when it is done upon mature deliberation and is regular and impartial approving ordaining and appointing that Minister to dispense the Gospel to that particular people 4. He enableth them to their ministerial work with utterance and with a sufficiency for meditation and for ministration And this work of making able and sufficient to the ministery of the New Testament is necessary to the performance Act. 2. 4. 2 Cor. 3. 5 6. of every new acting of the Ministers who after abilities and gifts received still remain insufficient for the least action Ministerial yea for so much as a good thought in that way thus Paul acknowledgeth of himself so absolutely necessary is this concurrence of the enabling power of the Holy Ghost 5. He maketh their ministery effectual that is to be the ministery of the Spirit 2 Cor. 3. Rom. 15. 18 19. Rom. 15. 16. of life of righteousnesse and of glory ministering these and thereby to make some of the hearers obedient for God sends not his Gospel to any place where he hath none to call and save and to sanctifie the offering of the converted and obedient ones up unto God as an offering 6. He enableth to solve cases of conscience to the comfort and settling of Isa 50. 4. dejected humble souls and of doubting and trembling feeble-minded ones and weak in the faith this is of high price among the Saints to have a minister that knows how to speak a word in season to the weary soul 7. He guideth them in Councils and Synods while their debates and determinations Act. 15. 28 Mat. 18. 19 20. 1 Cor. 5. 4. are directed by the Scripture and he is present and guides in the Administration of Church-discipline unto the performane whereof Assemblies in Christs name ought to be kept up 8. He raiseth the slain witnesses which are called the two Prophets whose work is Rev. 11. 1â— with v. 2. â— to Prophesie and the dayes and time is the space of a thousand two hundred and threescore dayes which space is fourty and two months all which while the holy City is trodden under foot of the Gentiles even of those over whom the beast that ariseth out of the bottomlesse pit ruleth and his whore the whore of Babylon sitteth * Rev. 11. 7. with Rev. 17. 8 15. these are therefore not the Magistrates whose work by virtue of their office is never called Prophesying nor is it to Prophesie but to bear the Sword and they are not just two but the small yet sufficient number of faithful Preachers during all that space which in Prophetical computation makes 1260. years they shall be slain but that is the work of the beast that ascends out of the bottom-lesse pit It is the work of the Spirit of life from God entering into them to raise them and make them stand upon their feet These are the works of the Spirit respecting the ministery for the saving works sake 2. As concerning the whole Church the work of the Spirit is seen first in the Act. 19. 6. 1 Cor. 12. 4 8 9 11 7 28. gifts which he hath given for the good of the whole he hath given extraordinary gifts Apostles Prophets Miracles gifts of healing to speak with tongues to Prophesie or foretell things to come with the like Secondly in the gifts which he doth give they are divers making up the Churches rich embroidered garments and all of them for the edification of the whole society or body 3. As concerning the Martyrs he Act. 6. 10. Rev. 12. 11 13. 10. 14. 12. enables them to speak
with wisdome irresistible to witnesse to the truth with courage undaunted yet attended with love meeknesse and soundnesse of mind and to suffer for the truth with patience invincible of which it may be said Here is tâ—e patience of the Saints These are victors Renowned Conquerors the Churches Heroes the Lords Worthies the noble Army of the Lamb. 4. Such works of the holy Ghost as respect the Ordinances as The Word In the Word the Spirit speaketh to the Churches he gave the Rev. 2. 7. 3. 22. 1 Tim. 4. 1 Act. 11. 2 Rev. 14. â—â— Word by breathing it at first into the holy men of God he by Covenant goeth along with it breaths and works in it speaks in it writes it in the fleshly Tables of the heart every part of the Word is the speaking of the Spirit even that wherein he warnes of seducing spirits and doctrines of Devils And he saith yea to Gospel sentences The Sacraments Baptisme and the 1 Cor. 12. Lords Supper The Spirit accompanieth both as the band of union he maketh the partakers to be one body together of one head By one Spirit are all believers Baptized into one body and in the Lords Supper they all drink into one Spirit All these mighty works the Holy Spirit doth in order to the work of saving application of the grace of the Son our Lord Jesus Christ and of the love of â—od the Father This is the fourth thing proposed for explication The fifth followeth which also doth greatly commend the saving work and that is SECT 6. 5. The Inhabitation of the Holy Ghost Where the Holy Ghost is given manifesting his presence in his saving working 5. The inhabitation of the Spirit where he is thus given Rom. 8. 9 11. 1 Joh. 4. 13 3. 24. there he inhabiteth or dwelleth in them the Apostle distinguishingly and searchingly putting all believers upon the trial of their estates saith Ye are not in the flesh but in the Spirit if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you and this is so Characteristical that he adjoyneth now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ he is none of his He that hath the Spirit hath him dwelling in him hereby also we know that God dwelleth in us and that we dwel in God and they that have the Spirit given and dwelling in them they know it 1 Cor. 3. 16 Know ye not that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you And for this condescension of exceeding grace how great is it for he dwelleth in them first as in his Temple his holy consecrated house and habitation he knowes no Temple or house on earth but the broken and contrite heart the poor in spirit and when he had a Temple at Jerusalem it was to signifie this and not owned of God but with respect to this Temple The regenerate Isa 57. 15. 66. 1 2 3. are his Temples the Holy Ghost makes himself an habitation and then dwels in the Temple which he hath made the glory of the work is heavenly and excellent for this Temple is an house not made with hands no nor of this building 1 Cor. 6. 19. of this kinde of make of which is this fabrick of soul and body in this visible creation although it be reared and set up in this building Again The very bodies of the regenerate are the Temples of the Holy Ghost though they be houses of clay and the leprosie of sin is not clean washed and scraped out while they live in this world Secondly he dwelleth in them as in the living members of Christs Rom. 8. 2. mystical body he is the Spirit of life in Jesus Christ their Head and from him as from their Head floweth into each of them Thirdly he dwelleth in them as he is the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus Rom. 8. 11 from the dead even in the exceeding greatnesse of that power according to the working of the might of that power which he wrought and put forth in Christ when he raised him from the dead and set him at his own right hand in the above-heavenlies Ephes 1. 19 20 21 22 23. far above all principality and power and might and dominion and every name of Renown that is named and Renowned not only in this world but also in that which is to come and put all things under his feet and gave him to be the head over all things to the Church which is his body the fulnesse of him that filleth all in all Fourthly he dwelleth in them as the Spirit of the Father and as the Spirit of the â—onne he who taketh them to be his Sonnes by Adoption he sends the Spirit of his Sonne into their Gal. 4. 6. 1 Joh. 4. 8 9 10 13. hearts God is love here is love God the Father sends his Sonne into the world God the Father and God the Sonne send the Spirit into the hearts of those that shall be saved God the holy Ghost given unto them sheds abroad upon their hearts this love he dwels in them doing this work and by him the Father and the Son dwell in them from hence they cannot but say with the beloved Disciple Here is love that God through Christ by his Spirit should dwell in them that by the Spirit through Christ they should have accesse unto the Father Fifthly he dwelleth in them in all the fâ—re-named eminent and peculiar works of saving application in the presence efficacy of all his glorious salvifical Epithetes and Appellations Names and Titles he is in them the Spirit of faith the Spirit of truth the Spirit of grace and prayer the comforted the anointing the earnest and so of the rest and in this glory the Spirit dwelleth in them the Holy Ghost delighteth to fill his house with his glory and to rest there this is his in-dwelling which raiseth and advanceth all which hath been hitherto delivered SECT 7. 6. The time of the coming of the Holy Ghost Now for this great work there is a season 6. The special season of his coming in which the Spirit hath his day for as the Son came down from heaven in the fulnesse of time sent of God the Father according to the promises in the Old Testament delivered and had his day with the Church of God on earth so the Holy Ghost he came down from heaven in his proper time according to promise sent of God the Father and of our Lord Jesus Christ And although the Spirit of God was given and wrought by the Word savingly in the times of the Old Testament and from the first preaching of the Gospel to our fallen first Parents in Paradise and down-wards in the old world and from the flood till the giving of the Law by Moses yet in respect of the promised effusion or pourings out of the Spirit and in regard of the clearnesse eminency and ample largenesse of his presence and workings as such his giving
coming and sending hath a peculiar season therefore it is said the Spirit was not yet given because Jesus was not yet glorified and Joh. 7. 39. Christ saith If I go not away the Comforter will not come unto you but if I Joh. 16. 7. depart I will send him unto you This season began on the day of Pentecost next after the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead the History whereof we have in Acts 2. And this season of his presence and power hath continued and doth continue all the time of the New Testament Ministery and the glory of the season is according to the power plenty and purity of the preaching of the everlasting Gospel for seeing the Spirit accompanieth the Word look as the Gospel had its time when it began to be preached in all the world so the Spirit also was sent and as the Gospel goeth forth so is the Spirit given the Holy Ghost came upon the Apostles and endued them with power from on High that they might be able to deliver the whole Counsel of God all the secrets and mysteries of salvation that they might preach it to all the world to all Nations and it might bring forth fruit in the conversion of multitudes and in the planting of Churches every where and that they might leave the same in writing giving us the New Testament and perfecting the whole Canon of the Scripture and all this infallibly And in and with this Gospel to which never one line more shall be added the Holy Ghost is present and worketh and ruleth in the place of Jesus Christ untill this second coming to judgment Under the Old Testament the Spirit was as a Spirit of bondage because the Law was clearly delivered but the Gospel darkly Rom. 8. 14 15. under the whole form of shadowy Ceremonies under the New Testament the Spirit is as the Spirit of Adoption for the Gospel openly delivered the things themselves that were prophesied of shadowed out and promised are given and the great mysteries of the Gospel and all that concerneth them are fully and perfectly made manifest Now also are Converts born of water and the Holy Ghost that is of the Holy Ghost whose working was 2 Tim. 4. 1 2 4. 1 Joh. 4. 4 5. foretold to be like the pouring out of water and like the opening of springs in dry ground now are they baptized washed plunged dipped with the Holy Ghost and with fire that is with zeal answering the glory of the light The godly under the Old Testament had Gods holy and free Spirit but then agreeable to that Ministery Gal. 1. 8 9. and now as is agreeable to this And thus the Apostle teacheth in Gal. 4. 1 2 3 4. And as there is but one Gospel and but one Spirit and never any other coming of the Spirit so it is as sure there shall never be any other dispensation or ministration but this of the New Testament which is that which remaineth unless you could look for another Christ or that Jesus Christ had not fully accomplished the 7. This work of the Spirit is peculiar to the Elect work of Renemption and is not for ever set on the right hand of Majesty but must come again to do somewhat which he left undone and so must to the Tree and Crosse again there is now no coming of any Spirit but the coming of Antichrist and of the spirit of Antichrist the spirit of errour of whose coming the Holy Ghost by the Apostles speaketh expressely therâ—fore all Pastors and Teachers are bound up to the Word to the Scripture and to turn from that is to be turned after fables to teach any other than what they hear from the Apostles writings is to sheak of the world and not of God to receive any other is to run to another Gospel to pervert the Gospel of Christ to runne from the blessing the holy Spirit of promise and to runne under the Gospels curse SECT 8. 7. The peculiarity and appropriation of the saving work of the Spirit unto the Elect and Redeemed That which commends this work of the Spirit yet further is this that is is peculiar and appropriated unto the Elect of God the Father and to the Redeemed of Christ the Lord. The Spirit of truth is the Comforter his work under the New Testament as Comforter is such a work as none but the chosen of God the Redeemed 1 Cor. 6. 19 20. of Christ to whom he was promised do partake of There is another work of the Spirit of truth the Comforter which is conviction not conversion and that Joh. 16. 8 9 10 11. he worketh on the world as well as on the chosen of God This conviction is such illightning by the Word of the Gospel that thereby the world that is the men that are yet still under the power of sinne possess 't with the love of the world and whom God leaveth to their own reason lusts stands clearly fully resolved and perswaded of the matter in hand and set down and concluded under it so that they are self-condemned if they do ought against that light This conviction by the Spirit is of three things first of sinne even of unbelief and disobedience to the Gospel of Jesus Christ that that unbelief and disobedience is a sinne Secondly of righteousnesse that the civil righteousnesse of men the righteousnesse of mens own works is no garment to cover mans nakednesse to hide his sinnes and shame it is too short it is too filthy like a menstruous ragge it is tattered and full of holes no web no texture which can hang together to make a garment or any cloth of it to wear in the sight of God but it is Christs righteousness consisting of his obedience and suffering to the death of the Crosse performed by him as the second Adam the Surety of a sinner it is this righteousnesse alone which is a perfect righteousnesse or righteousnesse which God accepts as appeareth in that Jesus Christ ascendeth to heaven and goeth to the Father the Father receiving him to highest glory as he that hath done and accomplished perfectly the work for which he sent him into the world and he shall never come more to be seen of the world in that form of humiliation in which he came before Thirdly of judgment that Satan the Serpent and his seed are condemned or sentenced and are going irrecoverably to perdition but Jesus Christ and his seed justified by his knowledge are certainly blessed yea of judgment upon the world Idols and all false religions and of judgment found in the true Christian Religion alone and in the judicious orderly government of Christ set up in his Gospel and thereby in the hearts and lives of true believers that imbrace the same unfeignedly in and by which the power of Satan is broken and his works dissolved This work of conviction is an excellent work of the Holy Ghost it is also wrought
upon the Elect but it is common the world thus far feels the mighty power of Tit. 3. 4 5 6. Joh. 16. 13 14 15. the working of the Spirit in the Gospel but the work of the Spirit on the Church of the saved ones is conversion or regeneration as was said before in this work the light is the light of life the knowledge in renewing In this renewing there are two works of the Spirit the taking out of the sinner the heart of stone and the giving to them an heart of flesh the Spirit so applieth the love of God in Christ that it melts the flinty heart down to godly sorrow for sinne as against such a God so gracious it turns it quite about to God and centers it on God and Christ it cures the soul of three evils otherwise incurable alienations of minde and heart from Timor cultus culpa the life of God offence-taking at his Works and Word and Impenitency it puts into it the holy fear of reverence and to offend it raiseth high estimation of God in Christ as of our chief good with hungrings and thirstings out of poverty of spirit a meekned soul and contrite heart it raiseth appetite to the means sanctified of God and having the promise of the Spirit as after the Word the Sabbath the Ordinancâ—s of Ministery and Worship the Ordinances for fellowship and for the exercise of the power of the Keyes as to means of communion with God and Christ this making anew is with union and unction union to Christ and Christians by union with Christ they have union with the Father and this union is to Adoption and marriage-union and from this union cometh continual influences and for ever unction is to be Kings and Priests to God the Father of our Lord Jesus this first work of grace is wholly above the work of conviction and the Spirit worketh that and all the rest as an Agent within thus you have the seven things proposed for explication It is also profitable before we come to application of this Doctrine that we briefly shew thee why the grounds and reasons SECT 9. The Holy Ghost is the applier of salvation The reasons why the work of the Spirit is to apply 1. Because salvation is the work of God who is three in persons it is the work of the three persons in the manifestation of their distinct glory which is ad intra within the God-head mark that I say the manifestation of the distinct glory of each wherein each person being distinct and the works of each distinct the Father begets the Sonne the Sonne is begotten of the Father the Holy Ghost proceeds from the Father and the Sonne the glory of each distinctly is manifested as far as it can be communicable in this work of salvation the Father loves with the love wherewith he loves the Son and is Father to them in his Sonne this is the love of the Father the Sonne is the Mediator to bring them to the Father by redeeming them giving himself a ransome to his Fathers justice bringing in an everlasting righteousnesse to cloath them withall purchasing for them the Spirit and all spiritual blessings in the heavenly places wherewith his Father may blesse them this is the grace of the Sonne the Holy Ghost he communicates the love of the Father and the grace of the Sonne and is the Spirit of Regeneration the Spirit of Adoption the Spirit of sanctification the Spirit of union and unction abiding in them for ever to their preservation in Christ Jesus and in the Father so that they are and continue in the Father and in the Sonne this is the communion of the Holy Ghost 2. Because this is the order of the working of the three persons in the God-head God the Father beginneth the work God the Son is the person through whom as his eternal wisdome he doth the work God the Holy Ghost is the person by whom as by the eternal power of the most High both the Father and the Sonne do compleat the work therefore in the work of salvation God willing and determining to imprint upon the saved ones the name of the Father the Sonne and the Holy Ghost in their distinct glory to Mat. 28. 19 the uttermost according to the distinct manner of subsisting or existing distinctly that each of them might be experimentally known believed in and worshipped of them he will save the work of application is proper to God the Holy Ghost 3. God the Holy Ghost must be the Applier the Comforter or else none could be saved none partake of the comfort of this salvation for all men are dead in sinne lie among the dead none can quicken their own souls they are from beneath under the power of sin and Satan and the Law they are in a state of enmity alienation impenitency and unbelief invincible to any created power or means there is a Christ there is a Father and let this be told us a thousand times over and we left to our best abilities to receive this declared love and grace this is all we can do we can draw back but cannot draw near to the saving of the soul we can behold with our rational abilities and wonder but then we despise and so perish we can discern it but under carnal notions and count it foolishnesse we can but receive it in vain we can but turn his grace into wantonnesse we will be establishing our own righteousnesse by all that is delivered in the Gospel and so become more stout proud formal and secure and Christ crucified who should be precious and our only glory and rejoycing will be to us a stumbling block and a Rock of offence and under the form we will be the more stiffe though perhaps the more secret sometimes and ever among men the more plausible deniers of the power of godlinesse Oh let the holy Spirit of life and power come by the Gospel and bring it home with much power and much assurance or else all perish we all perish for ever with Christ in our ears in our mouths in our best natural understandings with the Gospel preached in our streets with high and low applauding of the mercies of God 4. God the Holy Ghost must be the applier that all the love of God the Father and the grace of the Sonne set forth in the Gospel may be thorough and effectual even to one awakened to see his sinne and cursednesse and that we once brought to faith in Christ might be for ever safe An awakened sinner how will he runne from God runne into the gulf of despair or gad about to change his way or catcht at straws to save from sinking but when Christ is proposed he cannot lift up himself to draw near to meet him in the wayes of his grace No the Spirit of truth must come as the Comforter as the Arme and right hand of the Lord to bring Christ and the soul together to comfoâ—t
called the spirit of errour and envy the spirit of envy and the wisdome of the the world is called the spirit of the world because of this force appearing in it acting of it which force cometh from the energy or effectual working of the Divel who is an evil Angel a spirit indeed But besides these spirits there is the 1 Cor. 2. 10 12. Spirit of God considered as set in opposition to the spirit of man and of the world this is the spirit spoken of in this Doctrine yet one that hath not this Spirit of God as the Spirit of grace may have the Spirit of God in some lesser and lower workings and presence he may have some excellent gifts of the Spirit of God as for instance he may have the Spirit of government as King Saul had he may have the extraordinary gifts of the Spirit gifting him with faith of miracles Mat. 7. 21. 1 Cor. 12. with tongues with prophesie or with wisdome and the like he may have the ordinary gifts of the Spirit such are all ministerial gifts he may have the common graces of the Spirit as general illumination convictions faith historical and temporary and thereupon tasts of the good Word of God the Word of the Gospel and of the powers of the world to come and many fruits arising from thence insomuch that by falling away willingly and sinning against such grace he may resist the Holy Ghost and may runne so high in this way to commit the sinne against the Holy Ghost that unpardonable sinne that sinne unto death he Heb. 6. 3 4. 10. 26 29. may have the spirit of bondage which is a good work but not enough to life and salvation It is the work of the Law accompanied with the Spirit quickning that part of Gods Word upon the soul and working lively and powerfully in the Ministery thereof Now the work of grace is above all this and the Christian in respect of this renewing and sanctifying work of the Spirit is more excellent than any other however otherwise qualified Pharaoh admiring in Joseph the work of the Spirit as the Spirit of prophesie and of the interpretation of dreams said of him Can we finde such a man as this is a man in Gen. 41. 38 whom the Spirit of God is but much more worthily may these words be applied to the regenerate and sanctified by faith which is in Jesus Christ which makes them workers of righteousnesse and no more workers of iniquity which is that good work which he that hath begun in Phil. 1. 6. any will not cease nor fail to perfect it till the day of Christ SECT 11. The Vse of Exhortation in the first branch of it Therefore let the Exhortation take place with you both to seek the Spirit and Use 2. Exhortation to seek the Spirit The way and means to receive the holy Ghost in ten directions to be rightly ordered towards him when you have him 1. Attend the way and means whereby you may receive the Holy Ghost Seek the sense and comfort of the gracious presence and the lively working of the Spirit of Sanctification and Adoption for this purpose these are choice directions First Come out from the world and give thy self up to the Word The world cannot receive the Spirit thou art among and of the world by nature Come out from among them touch not the unclean thing come out from the worlds lusts the worlds vanities and pomps the worlds traditions the worlds Idols and superstitions the Religions and Devotions as ever thou wouldest have God to receive thee into fellowship with Jesus Christ his Sonne through the communion or communication of his Spirit say of all these What have I to do any more with you the Spirit is the holy Spirit the world and the things of the world are the unclean thing The word is the vehicle the Chariot of the Spirit he spake by the Prophets and Apostles and he for ever works in and by their doctrine By the Word engrafted the Spirit dwells in the heart Receive the Word let it be in the truths contained in it as a heavenly Cyons which entertained with meekness and with laying aside all superfluity of wickednesse may be so naturallized into thee that thou mayest be turned into the nature of it and then thou shalt finde the Holy Ghost enter into thee and take up his habitation in thee Let the Word of Christ dwell richly in thee in all wisdome and the Spirit of Christ will fill thee with grace and glory The Scripture is the store-house of Wisdome Wisdome speaks there justifie Wisdome and thou art a childe of Wisdome whom the Holy Ghost hath regenerated this is the incorruptible seed of which Gods children are born anew who is the spiritual but he that is made up of the Word of God he who hath the Word of Christ to be the reason of his reason the light of his minde the life of his heart and the rule of his life he is the Christian indeed Secondly but when thou comest to the Word thou wilt be sure to meet with reproofs no looking into that glasse but thou wilt see all amisse Christ knoweth he shall finde thee a fool and a scorner simple and loving simplicity ignorant and hating knowledge now know he will reprove but yet with serious exhortations and alluring invitations calling and crying after thee what then is to be done Turn Turn at wisdom's reproofs and the promise of the pouring out of the Spirit unto thee is thine Thirdly Behold the Promises and how they are made I will put my Spirit within you saith God then shall ye remember Ezek. 36. 25 31 32. your own evil wayes and your doings that were not good and shall loath your selves in your own sight for your iniquities and for your abominations Remember thy wayes and doings that have not been good and loath thy self that 's all the qualification that is required of thee that thou mayest enjoy this great and all other the precious promises of the Covenant of grace Fourthly Wait on the preaching of the Gospel for that is the Ministery of the 2 Cor. 3. 6 8. Gal. 3. 2. Spirit The Spirit is given aâ—d received by the preaching and hearing of the Word of the Gospel the faith and not the Law by hearing that glorious heavenly Law of faith which excludeth boasting not the Law of works Fifthly Consider the gift and who it is that bestoweth the gift appointed to Joh. 4. 10. that work of God the Father even Jesus Christ the Sonne of God sent in our flesh made of a woman and made under the Law to redeem us from under the Law and consider that God the Father is in and through this Christ our heavenly Father Luk. 11. 13 Consider these three things and then ask the Holy Ghost by prayer for he is promised to those that ask him The gift indeed is great but no lesse
a gift will do us good is it great and is it not worth the asking it is too great and good for us but Christ is the giver the Father is the giver he that gave freely for a sinner for chief of sinners his own Sonne and gave himself a God in Covenant and a Father in that his Sonne he will not think the gift too good and too great to give his holy Spirit Ask then Ask of thy heavenly Father Ask for his Sonne Christ Jesus sake not for thy own sake this gift may be had for asking Sixthly Let thy utter destituteness and want of the spirit the more felt the more make thee athirst and then let thy thirsty soul call and cry for this living water Isa 43. 3. Mark the promises I will pour water upon him that is thirsty and stoods upon Joh. 7. 37 38. the dry ground I will pour my Spirit upon thy seed and my blessing upon thine off-spring The thirsty coming unto Christ and believing on him shall have the Spirit given unto him Seventhly Cherish the motions of the Spirit in and by the word moving upon thy heart Its motions that we may know them are these 1. The revealing of things supernatural and the setting home of holy truths he causeth by the Word the light to arise and shine upon thee and lets it in by the understanding upon thy heart and thus is striving with thee to give it entertainment Shut not thine eyes draw the curtain of neglect and security open the doors and let the truth come close to thy heart and sink down deep into thy soul 2. The discovery of our sinnes and sinfulnesse and rebukes to astonishment general and to sorrow special unto the manifesting of the unreasonablenesse of our carnal reason and of the misplacing of our affections and in both these laying low the stournesse and haughtinesse of man a most necessary work for we are not more sinful then proud and lofty as appears by our scorning and our delight at least in the secret disposition of a scorning heart at all the counsels of wisdome that tend to the power of Godlinesse 3. The leading to Christ crucified for justification presenting Gods great mercy and Jesus Christs obedience and sufferings to the heart and carrying out the heart to it with such heart-breakings as produce supplications and with such perswasions as produce joy and peace 4. The framing and fashioning to holy obedience with soulpurifyings and with readinesse and livelinesse 5. The raising of strong lustings that is holy hatred fear sorrow carefulnesse blushings and shame vehement desire indignation reveâ—ge and endeavours to grow better and better by all the means of grace by failings by falls by experiments by mercies by corrections by word and works by all occurrences joyous or grievous all the creatures These are the motions of the Spirit now then cherish these Eighthly Take â—eed of Intemparency that is all excesse in the use of things lawful of things which we must use of necessity and of duty It is excesse when the use of such things as of meat drink apparrel and honest recreations causeth uncircumspect walking taketh off from wise Redemption of our time deadeth or wasteth spiritual mirth and melody of heart and behaviour destroyeth thankfulnesse to God as Father through Christ and lifteth up from submission one to another in the feare of God The Context in Ephes 5. from ver 15. to v. 22. teacheth this Ninthly Obey God in his Gospel and in the ministery of it This obedience is Act. 5. 32. Act. 2. 38 39 40 41 42. expressed in repentance and the works of the truly penitent in glad receiving of the Word in receiving the â—oâ—pel-Ordinances and continuing in the use of them in forsaking the wayes of an untoward generation crosse and opposing together with their society and in embracing the wayes and society of the faithful and godly together with the godly faithful Ministers who labour among us and admonish us Tenthly Love the Lord Jesus Christ Joh. 14. 15 16. 1 Joh. 3. 22 23 24. and out of love to him have hold and keep his Commandments of faith and love which he hath given in charge the Spirit who glorifieth Jesus Christ will dwell and will not abide to come but to those who delight in doing Christs Commands and the things that are pleasing in his sight This is the first branch of Exhortation the second followeth concerning SECT 12. The ordering of the believers aright towards the holy Ghost given to them When we have received the Spirit let us have our hearts upon the duties which To be ordered aright towards the Spirit we owe towards him they are these they order us aright in two particulars First that we avoid all sinning against the Spirit Secondly that we expresse the virtue of his Communion and manifest his name put upon us in our Baptism and his glory dwelling in us and resting on us There are many wayes of sinning against In five rules for avoiding evils against the Spirit the Spirit all which are the more dangerous because not discerned by the world and chiefly because they are against the applying of the remedy provided for sinners in Jesus Christ lest it should be received in vain and lest any should fail of the grace of God Herein our duty is laid down in five rules 1. Quench not the Spirit this is done 1. by neglecting or despising the Word 1 Thes 5. 19 20. 1 Cor. 14. 2. and the means of grace which have the promise of the Spirit especially among all the means that of Prophesying or the Preaching of the Word 2. By permitting 2 Tim. 3. 16 17. with ch 4. 2 3. any thing to put our hearts out of a gracious fâ—ame And this is a gracious frame a heart seeking others edification full of love and goodnesse joyful in the Lord Jesus prayerful thankful nourishing the gifts graces and motions of the Spirit in our selves or any others in whomsoever we perceive them stirring them up and blowing that holy fire highly esteeming the gifts operations and administrations of faithful preaching bringing all to the touch-stone of the Word tenacious of that which is good fleeing the appearing of sin of all sorts and seeking growth in sanctification this is gathered from the Context in verse 14. to the 24. of 1 Thes 5. The Spirit is like fire fire consumeth stubble purifieth mettals illighteneth and heateth and is of vehement and powerful acting to turn all into fire and make all things like it self So the Spirit it burneth out our lusts it purifieth the soul it giveth light and heat of knowledge and zeal it maketh spiritual and that which is of the Spirit is Spirit The Spirit is like the holy fire which came down from heaven upon the Altar which the Priests by Office were to keep in that it might never go out Shall we quench the Spirit without which there is neither light
nor hear of saving good or salvifical upon the face of the earth shall we that are a spiritual Priâ—â—t-hood let this heavenly fire go out for want of stirring it up and of fuelling it Now as fire so the Spirit may be quenched It's workings of a lesser and lower degree than of renewing grace may be utterly extinguished its gifts may grow rusty and the Spirit in that working may depart wholly as it did from Saul and an evil spirit come in the room of it His peculiar works and saving may be weakened and lost for acts and degrees and sensible feelings as in David Take not thy holy Psa 51. 11. Spirit from me Restore me tâ—e â—oy of thy salvation 2. Grieve not the holy Spirit of God Eph. 4. 30. with the context in ver 25. to the end of the chap. by the usual and accustomary evils of the tongue in lying and corrupt communication by the sins of unbridled passions of idlenesse and whatever it be that breaketh out against kindnesse tender-heartednesse and readinesse to forgive A gracious and pure language a diligent and liberal hand that labours to have whereof to give to him that needeth a calm and quiet breast a loving heart full of the bowels of Jesus Christ these rejoyce and glad the Spirit of God All the other which are sinnes that discover themselves after calling do sad the Spirit whom we should make joyful as our best guest our best friend who comes and dwels in us purposely to seale us up unto the day of redemption these and all sinnes unmortified I mean not singled out particularly and brought under the work of mortification and put into that furnace after conversion do spoile the sealing of the Spirit that it cannot come off faire and full these also are against the comfort we should have in the day of redemption when Jesus Christ shall come in glory to receive his redeemed ones to himself and manifest to all the perfection of that work in righteousnesse how shall he condemn the world for idle words and his Redeemed ones live with idle hands and filthy rotten discourse or shall he receive those for adopted sonnes and daughters when they are of spirits as implacable proud passionate and malicious as those who are without Christ in the world in whom the spirit of Satan works effectually 3. Resist not the holy Ghost much lesse for that is a higher degree of sinning to resist is out of an uncircumcised natural heart and eare to rise up and to be of an hostile mind and behaviour against the ministery and to fall fowle upon the doctrine delivered according to the Word of the Old and New Testament or upon Act. 7. 51. the Ministers for their doctrines sake 4. Tempt not the holy Ghost by pretending Act. 5. 1 2 3 4 9. such works of faith love and obedience which are most eminent fruits of the Spirit in the truely and eminently gracious answerable to the times of light and the state of the Church which we live in when indeed it is but a pretence and we know that we play the hypocrites lying dissembling and dealing falsely therein as if we had not to deale with God with God the holy Spirit but with men whom we may easily deceive 5. Defile not his Temple that is pollute 1 Cor. 3. 17 neither your own selves nor other Christians neither yours nor their souls or bodies either with corrupt and unprofitable doctrine or with corrupt and vain manners or with dividing principles or practices causing rents and schismeâ— parties and factions in the Church of Christ Again that we may be rightly ordered In five rules to shew the virtue of the Communion of the holy Ghost Jude 20. Eph. 6. â—8 1 Cor. 2. 4. Col. 1. 8. 1 Cor. 12. 7 Gal 5. 25. Act. 9. 31. towards the Spirit we ought to shew forth the power of his Communion the manifestation of his residence in us and the glory of his name put upon us in our Baptism in these duties following 1. Perform all duties and exercise all graces in the power of the Spirit pray in the holy Ghost Preach in the evidence and demonstration of the Spirit love in the Spirit let the exercise of all gifts be the manifestation of the Spirit live inwardly in the Spirit walk in the strength of the graces in the power of the spiritual Gospel truthes the articles of faith and in the comforts of the holy Ghost even of the exceeding great and precious promises of the Gospel quickened upon the heart by the Holy Spirit of promise 2. Be filled with the Spirit here can be no sinful excesse excessive fulnesse is â—ph 5. 18. 〈…〉 â—3 â—2 the just and due measure and proportion in which we should desire the Spirits presence and working The Holy Ghost sometimes fills with special force and poâ—eâ— to some particular Acts of duty So Pâ—tâ—r and all the Apostles after solemn prâ—â—er were silled with the holy Ghost enabling to speak the Word with boldnesse with liberty of Spirit and of speech Sometime he fills with great joy as in the Disciples when they saw the courage of the Apostle Paul and Barnabas under expulsion and the wise and gracious guidance of Gods expelled servants for the spreading of the Gospel and propagating thereof to other parts of the world Act. 7. 55. Act. 6. 3. 1 Cor. 1. 5. 2 Cor. 8. 7. Sometime with the might of patience and power of hope and of all graces fitting for Martyrdome as in Stephen Sometime he fills some members with special abilities and gifts as with wisdome with utterance with all knowledge with all diligence All this fulnesse of the Spirit God keeps in his own hand to give when he pleaseth and it is of reward but all graces that accompany salvation that have salvation in them of them we should eâ—pecially desire to be full as of faith of love to God to Christ to the Word and to the Saints and of a lively patient hope this is our work and is of the ordinary working of God through Christ in his live-members And not only should we seek to be full of these graces but of them and of the holy Ghost as in all the places above mentioned the words runne and not in vain that is filled full of a singular presence force and working of the holy Spirit acting and directing the mind and heart unto that which is good and holy with efficacy and power 3. Preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace this we ought to be endeavouring Ephes 4. 3 Phil. 1. 27. though we cannot effect what we would by reason of the destroyers of this unity and though we have many failings unbeseeming this unity It is an Evangelical command and endeavour we may we ought to stand fast in one spirit striving together for the faith of the Gospel when the faith of the Gospel is opposed and is in the conflict we
to rellish temporal things only or chiefly and to have no rellish of spiritual things the things of Jesus Christ or to savour spiritual things no otherwayes than carnally as when our Saviour spake of the gift of the Spirit that living water to the woman of Samaria she said Lord give me of this water that I may not thirst nor come to this Well to draw Job 4. 15. And when he said to the Jewes that there was bread of life of the which whosoever should eate he should never dye some cryed out Lord evermore give us this bread Good words but arising Joh. 6. 33 34. wholly from earthly apprehensions of the things of which Christ spake 7. In the reign of some particular lust Gal. 5. 19 20. or known sinne as uncleannesse covetousnesse malice pride profane swearing railing drunkennesse gluttony when we live in any manifest work of the flesh 8. In the power of carnal princâ—ples 2 Cor. 10. 4 5. reasonings and objections against faith and holinesâ—e these are strong holds these are the flesh's fortifications which while they stand undemolished the flesh reigns these be the in-works when they are taken and sleighted the flesh is dismantled and led Captive but not till then 9. In the hatred of the godly the hatred of the brethren which is the not loving Gal. 4. 29. 1 Joh. 3. 14 1. of them we cannot know them to love them but can finde them out to reproach to shoot out the mouth at them a strange perversenesse when we can quickly discern them to slander them and call them hypocrites who though they will not swear yet will lye when we cannot see who are godly Do not all offend in many things yet can privily Psal 11. 2. shoot at the upright in heart when we can see them well enough to shoot at them but we cannot see Christ in them to do them offices of love brethren Mat. 25. 43 45. we cannot love this brotherhood what is this communion of Saints well said here is flesh all over 10. In the speaking evil of the Gospel and of Christs name or way and in an heart alienated from the life of God 1 Tim. 5. 14 Eph. 4. 18. from a godly life a life in which God is seen and in which it is evident that the man hath seen and known God as he hath revealed himself in his Word he is an adversary that is glad of an occasion to speak reproachfully of Gods way he is in the power of Heathenisme whose heart cannot close with the power of godlinesse Thus far for a more general discovery of the reign of the flesh SECT 4. In particular the flesh being a close enemy and in the times of the Gospel it And in matters of Religion its reign discovered as standing with the State policy of this Queen Regent to have somewhat of God and of Christ seemingly and for a colour that she might sit fast in the chaire and reign still indeed let me shew you her in the Throne and descry the Regency of the flesh in the choicest works and means of Religion And here we lay down this for a certain truth that There is not any outward duty profession or priviledge of Gods people which the flesh will not take to and suck to her self advantage out of it she is such an hypocrite and in her wickednesse hath wit at will Therefore see her Regency 1. In prayer they that live and walk 1. In prayer Prov. 28. 9 Isa 1. 15. in sinne and disobedience to the Word of God may make many prayers but an abomination to the Lord are all their prayers and the Lord saith I will not heare when ye multiply prayers for the flesh hath the rule in them while they pray and it is thus discovered First if an Heathenish spirit act them Seven wayes Mat. 6. 5. which thinketh God is well-pleased with the work done or the cries of a natural heart with a few good and holy words with much speaking or with the number and tale of our prayers a touch and outside of the duty Secondly if a Pharisaical spirit act Mat. 6 5. them which thinks to merit at the hands of God and prayes to be seen of men and to be accounted for devout Thirdly if things spiritual be asked as savoured onely under carnal notions and for carnal and worldly ends chiefly Fourthly if the things of this life be asked onely as there are multitudes who never offered any desires to God that were the desires of their hearts but what were for health when they were sick or for successe in their earthly Affairs or for deliverance when they were in distresse and dangers or for a plentiful Harvest and good Crop with such like or if the things of this life be asked chiefly if God should give us Solomons priviledge and then we have not Solomons heart nor Davids one thing nor Agurs discerning feare of sinne and temptations with preferring of contentation with food and rayment if the requests we offer up in the words of prayer be never so spiritual and in the work the affections stir and are jogging and make a great noise but it is all but for the time of prayer when the constant bent of the heart is for covetousnesse and the heart is set upon riches or the things of this life or if the things of life be asked as temporals and not that they may be spiritualized and sanctified to us in their use they cry as the young Ravens cry and pray as rhe Lyon hungry roars and seeks his meat of God Fifthly if temporal afflictions and judgments make us pray and cry but not sinne nor spiritual judgments such prayers have not the heart to God in them they are the howlings of wolves and God Hos 7. 14 so reckons of them Travellers captives sick folks sea-men and all under extremities will cry unto God in their troubles and the Lord hears so as to deliver them out of these distresses but if when they are delivered sinne be still their Idol and spiritual plagues are not felt lamented nor prayed against but rather danced under their prayers are but the cries of swine when they are pinched and the cryes of nature to the Lord of nature Sixthly if sinne and the wrath of God because of guilt and consciences gripes and sentence or if the Laws threatnings and denunciations of judgments out of the word and the work of the spirit of bondage which is upon us if these do cause us to pray cry out and repent but yet there be no workings of the Spirit of grace and of Adoption nor sinnes filthinesse and offence do put us to grief and be a burden and heavy load further then it is abominable to the light of nature and is cryed shame on in the world this kinde of sorrow for sinne is no more than what may be found in a Cain or in a Judas Seventhly if we pray and
he converts me couldst thou have thought thou hadst had such a sinful nature as now thou findest and feelest or couldst thou ever have thought of the mighty and glorious power of the Spirit in the least spark of renewing grace which both lives and orders the whole man heart and life in the midst of such floods and seas of inbred ungodlinesse and lusts say not Why doth he give desires not to sinne and yet answers not satisfies not those desires they shall not perish they shall be satisfied and filled whereas the desires of the wicked shall perish besides than these desires there cannot be lesse if the heart be right than they there cannot be more as to the matter of desires say not How can I be comforted when yet sin remains rather here couldst thou be comforted in Christ if sinne were not how could all thy good be wholly of grace How altogether by faith say not how can I be right who sinne continually may it not be said How can he be but right who doth not and resolves never to walk after the flesh and lives judging himself continually say not Wherein hath God loved me he gives thee himself he gives thee his Son and it is undeniable for see he hath given thee his Spirit and thy walk testifyeth it Oh walk on and let it so witnesse for thee more and more silence thy reasonings prevent not the order which God hath set here we walk by faith not by sigâ—t that 's for the life to come Ninthly be not desponding and saying I shall perish one time or other the Spirit in thee is the anointing thou art King Elect and shalt thou perish who hast upon thee the holy oyle thine enemy the flesh yokes thee but the yokes shall be broken because of the anointing Isa 10. 27. Tenthly methinks I hear thee yet say I am weary of my life because of these daughters of Heth these issues of the flesh it were better for me to die than to live in this sinful world what good will my life do me if that which my soul hateth must still dwell with me hate thy sinnes yet more but when thou hatest them never so much art thou a greater hater of the flesh than God and Christ and the Holy Ghost And canst thou not abide where the Holy Ghost is willing to reside and dwell whom makest thou thy self consider who is thy next neighbour keep in the Communion of the Holy Ghost and solace thy self in thy Comforter who dwells in thee that thou mayest never walk in fellowship with the flesh Eleventhly why goest thou not the right way to work even to give up thy self unto the command of the Spirit who treats with thee by the Word and dwelleth in thee whiles the Word of Christ abideth in thee Twelfthly pay the flesh home for its naughtinesse and all its pranks but glorifie the Spirit Lastly believe in the Holy Ghost and walk in his comforts who will prompt thee and say This is the way walk in it Isa 30. 20 21. when thou art turning aside to the right hand or to the left My farewell to the brotherhood and to all walkers after the Spirit is this Now I commend you to God and to the Word of his grace the holy Scripture which the Holy Ghost breathed and which alone he accompanieth for the making sinners wise to salvation by faith which is in Jesus Christ that you all may be under the teachings guidance and leading of that one Spirit may in his light behold the glory of these three witnesses in heaven which three are one Jehovah and may in all Religious worship and service and in all your wayes acknowledge draw near and have accesse unto God the Father through Jesus Christ his onely begotten Sonne our Lord by the Spirit so be it even so be it FINIS Courteous Reader these books following are printed or sold by Adoniram Byfield at the three Bibles in Corn-hil next door to Popes-head Alley THe History of the Evangelical Churches of the Valleys of Piemont Containing a most exact Geographical Description of the place and a faithful Account of the doctrine life and persecutions of the Ancient Inhabitants Together with a most naked and punctual relation of the late bloody Massacre 1655. and a Narrative of all the following transactions to 1658. Justified partly by divers Ancient Manuscripts written many hundred years before Calvin or Luther By Samuel Morland Esq in fol. Divine Characters in two parts acutely distinguishing the more secret and undiscerned differences between the Hypocrite in his best dresse of seeming vertues and formal duties and the true Christian in his real graces and sincere obedience by Mr. Samuel Crook in fol. A Commentary upon the three first Chapters of Genesis by Mr. John White in fol. An Exposition upon Ezekiel by Mr. William Greenhil in 4. The humbled sinner resolved what he should do to be saved or faith in the Lord Jesus Christ the only way of salvation by Mr. Obadiah Sedgewick in 4. The Riches of grace displayed in the offer and tender of salvation to poor sinners by the same Authour in 12. The Fountain opened and the water of life flowing forth for the refreshing of thirsty sinners by the same Authour in 4. A short Catechisme by the same Authour Hidden Manna by Mr. Fenner in 12. Safe conduct or the Saints guidance to glory by Mr. Ralph Robinson in 4. The Saints longing after their heavenly Country by the same Authour in 4. A Sermon at a Fast by Mr. Nathaniel Ward in 4. Moses his death a Sermon at the Funeral of Mr. Edward Bright Minister by Mr. Samuel Jacomb in 4. A short and plain Catechisme instructing a learner of Christian Religion what he is to believe and what he is to practice by the same Authour The hypocritical Nation described with an Epistle prefixed by Mr. Samuel Jacomb in 4. A Sermon of the baptizing of Infants by Mr. Stephen Marshal in 4. The unity of the Saints with Christ the Head by the same Authour in 4. FINIS
is that which is the impossible thing of the Law that which is impossible for the Law to do The Law is the holy Commandements of the Eternal God Maker of all things these discover sinne and condemne the sinner but they deliver not from either That which is of use and is of this nature to shew and sentence for sinne cannot possibly work deliverance to a sinner but it is the Gospel that Law of faith that discovereth a Saviour Jesus Christ and in Jesus Christ how a sinner may be made righteous and so be delivered from sinne and how one condemned by the righteous Law may be delivered from that condemning sentence and so be set free from death which sinne deserved God sending his own Sonne c. where it appears that a sinner may be delivered from his sinne and made riâ—hteous and delivered from the Law and not condemned What the Law could not do in that it was weak through â—â—e flesh God sending his own Sonne c. The former Objection may yet be urged for it may be said the Law is righteous and can it not then give righteousnesse and life Answ The Apostle explaineth the Yet the Law is in no fault thing and amplifieth it the Law cannot do it not that there is fault in the Law this impossibility cometh through the weaknesse of mankinde now fallen who are not able to keep the Law The Law is not weak as if not perfectly righteous and holy or as if it had not a promise of life annexed to it but you are weak who are not able to keep it It is through mans weaknesse who is not able to performe the righteousnesse thereof that the Law is become weak the perfect exact holinesse thereof makes through our weaknesse weakning it that none can stand righteous by it nor live by it Hence ariseth the inpossibility of help by the Law Thus the Law is still preserved honourable and is magnified when yet it cannot help us and we are in the fault the fault is wholly ours Again the Apostle displayeth the Gospel 2. By opening the causes of a sinners salvation glory and displayeth the mystery thereof by opening the causes of the salvation of a sinner 1. The outward impulsive cause the impossibility and impotency of the Law to save through the impotency of man who stands bound to keep the Law this is the external impulsive this very thing that the Law cannot help us but condemns our sins and us for our sinnes and curseth us which is not thorough any fault in the Law of it self but only by accident by reason of our corrupt nature this this is that outward thing which moveth God to save sinners that which might move God to come and execute the sentence of the Law that moved God to provide a Saviour That which the Law cannot do through mans default that God doth by sending his own Son 2. The efficient or working cause the first working cause in saving a sinner God God set the accent there it must be noted with emphasis lift up the voice and stay the heart upon that Word write it in great letters It is not my observation that you must not slip over this one syllable but the Apostles divinely inspired as afterwards in this chapter when he saith If GOD be for us and again It is GOD that justifieth God against whom our sins are God whose righteous and eternal Law we have rendred uselesse to an utter impossibility to do us good and that for ever until He put us into another state He is the first agent in the work of our salvation 3. The material cause What course doth God take to save a sinner God sends his own Sonne Gods own Sonne doth take away sin by his passion bearing our sins in his own body his own Son in our flesh in which he was incarnate kept the Law for us and so the righteousnesse of the Law is fulfilled 4. The final cause which is this Redemption is wrought by the Christ of God that the righteousnesse of the Law might be fulfilled in us in us who have made the Law unable to do us any good who have made it to the Law impossible to set us free from sin and death 3. In us may some say in whom lest 3. By describing the persons for whom this salvation is wrought we should be deceived herein to our everlasting undoing while there is such a Gospel such a Saviour we have the persons described for whom all this is done In us who walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit that is in us that believe in Jesus Christ but because many do deceive themselves in saying we believe and do not believe the Apostle useth not those words but taketh up this description which noteth out a believer by the Spirit he hath received and the Spirit by the rule and dominion he hath now in and over him and this rule of the Spirit over believers by this that sin doth not now reign in them though sinne be in them and the ruling of the Spirit and the dethroning of sinne by their walk it is not ordered by the flesh nor at the will of the flesh but their life is ordered by the Spirit of Jesus Christ through the Word of this his grace dwelling in their hearts Thus we see proved in these words that there â—an be no condemnation to those that are in Christ for though the Law would condemn them because they are sinners and there is sinne in them that deserves condemnation yet their sinnes being condemned in Jesus Christ by a righteous God God may pardon them with the good leave of his justice doing no wrong at all to the holy Law SECT 3. For the further opening of the words here are Three things of special observation three things of special observation 1. The diverse acceptation of the word flesh in the compasse of this Text. First it notes mankinde with all its abilities and excellencies upheld in men of 1. The word flesh taken four wayes here God himself in his long-suffering since the fall in these words weak through the flesh Secondly it notes out the humane nature as corrupted with sinne in the words sinful flesh for the flesh of sinne that is mankinde such as sin hath made it not such as God made it soaked with sin under the power of sin weak frail flesh the soul and its endowments beslaved to the flesh to the senses to the sensual apperite to the things the outward man the flesh desireth insomuch that the whole man may well be called flesh Thirdly It notes the humane nature frail and mortal but not polluted with sin In the words condemned sinne in the flesh that is in the flesh of Jesus Christ Fourthly it notes the corruption or sinfulnesse of mans nature in the words walk not after the flesh Now from these several acceptations of the word flesh we gather Four observations from that
on the judgment to come but in this way nothing so delightful as the presence of God and the light of his countenance gives peace and joy against which is no Law and which no death nor guilt of sin can destroy The Law is delightful death desirable and sinne it self made humbling and profitable because now hateful and abominable to us by how much the more we believe and know that thus God is love 3. All here is kid untill God reveal All here is mysterious 1 Cor. 2. 7. All James 1. 17 18. is heavenly all from above from above Creation from God under another notion 1 Cor. 2. 12 14. then as a Creator The animal or natural man cannot receive these things when told him cannot finde them out till they be told him but the spiritual only who hath received the Spirit of God and not the spirit which is of the world Nothing suits with these things of the Gospel but what is from above the born from above can alone close with these things They are too high for the unregenerate man who is the fool under the power of folly and values them as the Swine doth Pearls A double revelation of the Spirit is absolutely necessary to the discerning of the things of this salvation the one of the Holy Ghost inspiring the Prophets and Apostles to preach and write them the other of the same Holy Ghost as he is the Spirit of Wisdome and Revelation inlightning the eyes of our understandings to know them when in and by the Word they are declared to us 1 Cor. 2. 10. Ephes 1. 17 18. 4. Here is truth of salvation and here is strength of salvation truth of salvation for God is the rock his work is perfect all his wayes are judgment A God of truth and without iniquity just and right is he Deut. 32. 4. And strength of salvation when he giveth quietnesse who then can make trouble and when he hideth his face who then can behold him whether it be done against a Nation or against a man only Job 34. 29. 5. Here is satisfaction and assurance to the soul satisfaction for the Lord laid on his Sonne our iniquities the Lord bruised him God gave his Son nothing can satisfie the awakened soul nothing can set down the doubting soul but God who is above the soul and above the Law above sin and Satan And assurance is here it is no venture but a state in which we may glory to cast our selves on God we Ps 62. 7. 56. 10. Rom. 8. 31 33 36. may say every one for himself in God is my glory in God will I praise his Word in God we are more than Conquerors 6. Here is irreversiblenesse God cannot lie God cannot deny himself God is not as man that he should repent he hath blessed and who shall curse Tit. 1. 2. Numb 23. 8 19. His gifts and calling are without repentance he will never repent of them Rom. 11. 29. 7. God is in Christ in Christ and in him alone is God reconciling the world to 2 Cor. 5. 19. himself he is not nor can be found in the whole work of Creation reconciling a sinner and not imputing trespasses no science of the nature of the creatures no knowledge of the connexion and rational mutual chaining of the several creatures in this whole globe as so many parts of the universe having dependence one upon another and influence into each other by way of cause and effect no knowledge of the Deity that made all and rules all no principles and seeds of virtue and righteousnesse there learned and thence gathered by all the strength of the principles of reason and light in man and improved to the utmost for the framing of thoughts desires gestures words and deeds none of these nor all these nor whatever other manifestations of the infinite invisible eternal God-head as the invisible world of Angelical spirits be they Thrones Dominions Principalities or Powers none none of them have God in them reconciling a sinful man to himself not imputing trespasses In none of these nor in all these layed together hath God set forth a ransome for a sinner a price of a redemption for a soul that hath sinned a sacrifice and sin-offering or himself appeased propitious and merciful forgiving sins and receiving the sinner into his favour or any of them set forth as a propitiation or in them as on a mercy seat as upon a throne of grace no no but God is in Christ merciful reconciling pardoning accepting into a state of grace and favour Christ Jesus God hath set forth a ransome a price of redemption a sin-offering and a propitiation for our sins Christ is the Lamb of God God hath provided the Lamb for sacrifice as Abraham answered his son Gen. 22. 7 8. Isaac who said to him My Father behold the fire and the wood but where is the Lamb for a burnt-offering to whom Abraham said My son God will provide himself a Lamb for a burnt-offering Behold the Lamb of God as John the Baptist Joh. 1. 29. cryed 8. All things are of God 2 Cor. 5. 17 18. that is all things in the regeneration in the Kingdome of Christ in the businesse of Redemption in the Church of Christ as it is his Church are of God of God not in the way and the putting forth of his power and the manifestation of his glory as he is the faithful Creator but they are of God as he is the God and Father of Jesus Christ oâ—r Lord as he is pleased to set forth himself his power and glory in the way of Redemption here they are all of God and nothing of Angels or Men or of any other whatsoever Whatever is not of God in this work but of men or any other is altogether disagreeable to be rejected unprofitable and shall be rooted out 9. Here we see it makes nothing at all neither is it a pin to choose what or which of the twain befall us to be blessed of the world or to be cursed to be blessed of evil Ministers of Balaams or to be cursed to blesse our selves or to have misgiving thoughts of our selves We stand or fall to God and not to man or to our selves Heark what God saith of thee and to thee and not what man or thine own heart saith as David said of old I will hear what God the Lord Psal 85. 8. will speak 10. Here we see believing is the work that God would have of us He findes out in his own wisdome of his love and good pleasure within himself all that concerns this work it is the mystery of his will his bosome secret and counsel Ephes 1. 10. his Spirit must reveal and tell it if he speak not if he give not out his Word none can dive into it now then he testifyeth and we are to receive his testimony and to believe his Word he that believeth sets to his seal that God
of Gods appointing ordained for thee it is the righteousnesse of faith thine by believing not by working thou hast not a righteousnesse of works for thou art a sinner but here is a righteousnesse provided for a sinner believe and it is thine it is an everlasting righteousnesse live ever by believing and all thy sinnes are covered thou art clothed for ever The Sonne of God Jesus Christ is the Lord our righteousnesse 3. But man is yet a creature and though he be not under the curse and be acquitted of his sin yet is he bound to obedience and not the lesse bound but the more because God so loveth as to give Christ his own Son my bonds of obedience are greater and yet I sin daily my sin is the more aggravated because they are against such a gracious God and Father and against such a Lord Redeemer it is answered The Son of God is sent to fulfill the righteousnesse of the Law in us how may you say 1. By setting out to the world and to the heart of a sinner sinne more vile and the more condemned in and by the heart of the sinner which is one point of righteousness to hate judge sin And God most holy while most of love and most just while most of mercy now this heals us of profaness whilst it allures draws with cords of love whiles it fills with holy fear sin is hated and God loved the name of the Lord Christ is named with an heart departing with a blessed Apostasie from iniquity as love abounds just abomination of sin encreaseth with self-loathing and self-abhorrency 2. By shewing a crucified Christ which sight wounâ—s to the quick perswades to Zach. 12. 10. Joh. 12. 32 33. Joh. 3. 14 15 16. Gal. 2. 19 20. believe in God so loving as not to spare but to deliver up his own for us so faithful of his word performing in due time the greatest unlikeliest and ancientest promise he ever spake to believe in Christ so gracious to believe his promises threatnings commandments and all his words This sight crucifies us with Christ yeâ— causes to live to God and to live in and through crucifyings 3. By this faith the sinner is united to Christ not by a moral union as love uniteth but by a mystical receiving his Spirit not by a Physical or natural union but by a supernatural Christ of whom the Word the Spirit do therein testifie faith receiveth faith receiveth Christ in the Word justifieth and Christ is formed in the heart faith brings home the love of God in Christ as the Holy Ghost in the Word of the Gospel revealeth and by that Word reveals the Sonne in the sinners heart believing this faith works love this faith works by love which is the fulfilling of the Law 4. By this faith Christ is received not only as satisfying Gods justice punishing and commanding but as purchasing grace glory and all good things else yea as purchasing the blessing of the promise even the Holy Ghost who reneweth after Gal. 3. 12. the image of God and sets the heart on high in hope of the glory to come eternal life 5. Christ coming into the believer breaks down sinnes dominion and sets up his own government in the soul the Rom. 6. 14 authority of the Law-giver the spiritualnesse of the Law and his delight in all this 6. By his Spirit he creates us anew he confers all principles of obedience he comes and dwells there in the new creature he is in the seed abiding in them he enables he excites that ability he imparts to them the promises he puts life into the Word and Ordinances that they may be in power 7. By his exemplary life in holinesse both in doing and suffering he beats out before us the way of righteousnesse as our pattern which draws out imitation man being a creature prone to be led by examples and his imitating inclination in his new Creation sanctified now we would walk as Christ walked the heart is set on high and perfect patterns even on Gods holinesse and on Christs purity 8. Here is the image of God to be beheld in a mirrour in liberty and in great 1 Cor. 3. 17 18. glory the image of God lost but in Christ found again begetting in us the very same image we see and are transformed we see are assimilated made like unto it All this work is in true and powerful beginnings which tend to and are growing towards perfection and shall be perfect with perfection of degrees and fulnesse as here it is of parts and of uprightnesse SECT 2. This Doctrine is of singular use to wipe Uses 1. To vindicate the Gospel Gal. 2. 17 18 19. off all aspersion cast upon the Doctrine of justification of a sinner by faith in Jesus Christ without the works of the Law as if it were a Doctrine of loosnesse for see here Christ is not the minister of sin he destroyeth sinne in believers he by faith purifieth them to the very heart the preaching of this Gospel of forgivenesse of sinnes out of free-grace by faith in Jesus Christ destroyeth sin it makes the believer to live to God through a double death and the latter of them which this Gospel by faith puts the sinner unto is no less than crucifying yet a death to the believer most desirable because it is a crucifying of him with Christ And now this believer cannot but abhor the thought of being such a transgressor as to go about to build again that which by receiving and professing and preaching if he be a Minister this Gospel he destroyed was there ever the like effectual way of destroying sin and fulfilling the Law in a sinner as this here sin is made hateful in the heart of the sinner profanesse of heart healed the heart formerly alienated now drawn to God the old man crucified which Christ and the believer lives yet or rather Christ lives in him faith uniting to Christ and receiving Christ works by love love constraining to live to him that dyed for them the Holy Ghost is received the Son of God revealed in the soul Christs government is set up and sins dominion is broken down the heart is created anew and the sinner enabled to walk in Gods statutes to do his commandments with delight in the spiritualness and purity of the Law he would be holy as his heavenly Father is holy and pure as Christ is pure and walk he would as Christ walked by faith beholding God in Christ all of love he suffers a change from glory unto glory which shall be perfected in both body and soul in glory Was there ever such a fulfilling of the righteousness of the Law by weak sinful man as this which is wrought by faith in the Sonne of God sent into the world to take away sin by one offering and sacrifice once for ever Jesus Christ was a curse for sinne not a cloak for sinne he fulfilled
the Resurrection at the last day quicken their mortal bodies These are great things but most sure and certain for the Holy Ghost who is the power of the Highest undertaketh this work as his Office which is the third thing proposed to be unfolded SECT 4. 2. That the Holy Ghost is in Office to do all this saving work and is faithful in this his Office Here are two things to be considered 3. He is in Office to do this work the office of the Holy Ghost and his faithfulnesse 1. The holy Ghost is in office to make good this work this is manifest first because he is sent sent of the Father sent of Christ sent into the hearts of believers Joh. 14. 26 15. 26. 16. 7. Gal. 4. 6. 1 Joh. 2. 1. Rom. 8. 26. sent upon these works Secondly He hath names which denote this his Office He is called the Comforter Another Comforter Jesus Christ he is one Comforter an Advocate with the Father now in heaven appearing for us And the holy Spirit he is not Christ he is Another he is another Comforter An Advocate in us he encourageth backeth us exhorts helps to hand over and puts into us desires and makes intercession ayding with groans unspeakable He is called The unction the anointing or Chrisme 1 Joh. 2. 20 Joh. 16. 13 Rom. 8. 15. He is called The Spirit of truth the Spirit of Adoption 2. The holy Ghost is faithful in this his Office this fidelity is many wayes expressed first in actual performance in Joh. 16. 13 14 15. us of those works for which he is sent and in regard whereof he bears his names He the Spirit of truth he will guide into all truth as in John 16. 13. in like manner is it true of every other work he is the Spirit of Adoption and he enables to cry in prayer Abba-father that is to call on God with fervency of faith so as to expresse the heart of a child towards God as to a father in Christ promised in the Old Testament an t sent accordingly in the New Testament In both Testaments together is set forth the glory of the Father and of Jesus Christ his Sonne to the full written in the Old Testament in Hebrew and in the New Testament in Greek and the Spirit frames the heart of a child and fills with the cryes of a child in prayer answerable to both Testaments manifestations and therefore it is said the Spirit causes them to cry Abba ho Pater Father Father Secondly In speaking nothing of himself he took on him nothing apart from or otherwise than what he had in charge from the Father and the Lord Jesus but what he hears of the Father and the Sonne that he speaks Even as Jesus Christ shewed his faithfulnesse to the Father that sent him in that he spake nothing but what he had heard of the Father he spake altogether what was agreeable to the old Testament Doctrine ver 13. Thirdly in glorifying Jesus Christ He shall receive and take of that which is Jesus Christs and shew it unto us John 16. 14 15. and hereby we may know the Spirit of truth from the 1 Joh. 4. 3 4 5 6. spirit of errour as the Apostle John gives the rule to try the spirits by SECT 5. 4. The peculiar works of the Spirit in order to the saving work Moreover great must needs that 4. Peculiar works of the Spirit in order to the saving work work be which hath marvelous works of the holy Ghost to be wrought and wrought every day and perfected long agoe that it may be performed now in order to the great saving work there are peculiar and wonderful works and they are manifold some respect Jesus Christ some the Scriptures some the Church and some the Ordinances take a brief of them under these four heads 1. Such works of the Spirit as respect 1. Respecting Jesus Christ Jesus Christ And so 1. The holy Ghost formed Christs humane nature in the womb of the Virgin Mary and of her seed this the Angel Gabriel declared in his answer to her enquiry the holy Ghost shall come upon thee Luk. 1. 35 36. and the power of the highest shall overshadow thee therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God 2. The holy Ghost anointed Jesus Isa 61. 1. 11. 2 3. Act. 10. 38 Joh. 3. 34. Luk. 4. 14 18. Joh. 1. 31 32 33. Mat. 3. 16. Christ as he was man with gifts and graces so that he had the Spirit not by measure And having thus consecrated him and furnished him for the great office and work of Mediatour he with God the Father sent him 3. The holy Ghost by descending from heaven and resting upon him visibly in the shape of a Dove did publiquely shew him and seal him in his Baptism 4. The holy Ghost witnesseth that Jesus Christ who was crucified is the Sonne Act. 5. 31 32. Rom. 1. 4. of God the true Messiah he also witnesseth to the doctrine of Christs resurrection in which the deity of Jesus Christ is declared with power and likewise to the doctrine of his exaltation at the right hand of God the Father 2. Such as respect the Holy Scriptures 2. Respecting the written word 2 Pet. 1. 20 21. Act. 1. 16. Mark 12. 36. as 1. He inspired the holy men of God and infallibly dictated unto them and guided them in committing the Word of God unto writing No Scripture is of private motion the holy Ghost spake by David by Moses that faithful servant of God in all his house by Isaiah and by all the Prophets of the Old Testament Heb. 9. 8. Act. 28. 25 1 Pet. 1. 12 Luk. 1. 41 67. Act. 2. 1 Cor. 2. 10 13. the holy Ghost speaks by them so he inspired Elizabeth the Mother of John the Baptist and Zachary his father the holy Ghost came down from heaven upon the holy Apostles on the day of Pentecost the fiftieth day after Christs Resurrection induing them with power from on High and revealed to them all the deep things of God all the mystery of his will the Spirit both revealed to them the things of the Gospel and gave unto them the words in which they should speak them and leave them in writing and these words from his own teaching 2. He quickens the Word so that the Word is Spirit and life the Word is his Joh. 6. 63. Ephes 6. 17. Heb. 4. 12 13. 1 Cor. 2. 4. sword he puts an edge upon the Word making it quick and lively in operation to the dividing between the soul and spirit of man and to the searching of all the secrets of his heart that all may be naked and bare before him with whom he hath to do in the Word 3. He maketh the word to be with demonstration of the Spirit and of power that is with such power and efficacy in
and revive the broken in heart he must create the fruit of the lips of Ministers to be peace the believing and revived souls how soon would they lose their graces and comforts were not the Holy Ghost the Comforter given unto them to dwell in them for ever here here is our safety 5. By the Word which the Spirit ingrafts the Spirit comes in his communion that the believer might have the witnesse within him and then can nothing deprive him of the comfort of his salvation SECT 10. The Vse of this Doctrine is first for Information This truth that the Holy Ghost maketh The use of this 1. Information the application of the salvation of sinners by Jesus Christ is for singular use for Information and for Exhortation First for Iâ—formation it informs us of four things first of the excellency of the Word of God the Scripture and in special of the Word of the New Testament it is the Chariot of the Spirit in which the Spirit of truth cometh into our hearts the Spirit breathed it at first and in it still the Spirit breaths It is never without the movings and workings of the Holy Ghost in strivings in convictions upon all men to whom it comes and in conversion to the chosen of God It is the power of God to salvation to all that believe whether Jews or Gentiles Secondly of the excellency of the Ministery of the New Testament which ministers or 3. â— the spirit and is the Ministery of the Spirit which makes the receivers of the Gospel to be the Epistles of Christ written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God not in Tables of stone but in fleshly Tables of the heart and all this ministred by the Ministers of Christ by which God maketh manifest the savour 2 Cor. 2. 14 15 16. of the knowledge of Christ unto God a sweet savour in them that are saved to whom ir is the savour of life unto life and in them that perish to whom it is the savour of death unto death but in both a sweet savour unto God and by it he perfumes the world Thirdly of the worth of a true Christian the Spirit of God and of Christ dwelleth in him he hath the witnesse in himself he hath this anointing Fourthly of the excellency of the work of grace in the Convert above all that is found of vertue praise or worth in any other people in the world The Gospel Convert is the spiritual man he is one in the Spirit one after the Spirit he is one â—pirit with the Lord Christ their very bodies are the consecrated Temples of the Holy Ghost this makes one a good man this makes a difference among men some have the Spirit some though they may pretend to it yet seeing they are not delivered from sensuality nor from self-conceitednesse Jude 19. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which sheweth it self in removing all the bounds which God hath set between his Church and the world and in setting no bounds or in setting bounds of their own they have not the Spirit There are other spirits besides the Spirit of God and there are who have the Spirit of God and yet they have not the Spirit in that sense of which we speak here There are five sorts of spirits which are not the Spirit of God and they have a Five sorts of spirits that have much power on men which are not the Spirit of God great stroak upon men 1. The spirit of man which knoweth what is in this man this is the soul which animates the body which is endued with reason which hath understanding and will which hath conscience that is a power to reflect upon himself and upon all within him to view and know his own thoughts and counsels and all his desires and actions and then to make up a judgment upon it for God with or against the man the soul in respect of this power 1 Cor. 2. 11 14. called the conscience is the spirit of man but this animal man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God nor can know them they are far above out of their reach 2. The spirit of the world this is the wisdome of the world wherewith Philosophers Princes wise States-men and Politicians learned men Inventers of arts trades and manufactures Merchants Rich men Navigators warlike Heroes Renowned men have excelled whose power and force lyeth within the compasse of humane reason and is accounted the perfection of the minde This spirit the world is proud of this saith Paul we leave to the world to the men of the 1 Cor. 2. 12. world this spirit is not sinful in it self 3. The spirit of lust that dwelleth in Jam. 45. â—â—oh 5. 19. 2. 15 16 us this is the spirit of that world which is placed in wickednesse of that world which is the lust of the flesh the lust of the eye and the pride of life this is a sinful spirit and it reigneth in all men by nature and beslaveth the two former spirits the wisdome of the world and the very soul and conscience of man this is the impulse of the former spirit of the world the life and power of it the malignity and wickednesse of it And this spirit is the spirit of envy pride ambition revenge self-love atheisme profanesse and superstition it is the spirit of timidity or base pusillanimous fear and of tyrannical domineering oppression The more basely fearful the more proudly tyrannical 4. The spirit Satan who works effectually in all men by nature he is the 1 John 4. 2 3 6. 1 Tim. 4. 1 2. Zach. 13. 2 Rev. 16. 14 father of lusts and the father of lies and in that regard he is the spirit of errour the spirit of Apostasie and of the doctrine of Devils we read of unclean spirits the spirits of Devils which come out of the mouth of the Dragon as well as out of the mouth of the Beast and our of the mouth of the false Prophet these are those men who love to broach such lies in Religion coloured over with hypocrisie Rom. 11. 8 Isa 29. 10 14. 6. 9. 5. The spirit of slumber which is sent of God in his righteous judgment for hardnings and rebellion against the light of his Word and for gain-saying of unbelief under the Gospel This is a stupid sottish heart hard and hardened benummed aston'd as with a lethargy that feels not nor understands divine and spiritual things although it be never so much rouzed punched and gored so that they startle but presently nod and fall fast asleep again And here not only the heart is so secure but there is also a force and impulse of Satan sent of God as a righteous judge which carrieth them mightily and beyond what is ordinarily found in things which men do alone as men this is called a spirit of slumber the like reason is to be held in the fore-named spirits Errour is
ought to strive and wrestle taking the Gospels part against the adversaries thereof and this we should do together with all the Saints and faithful especially with those with whom we live and with them let us stand fast in one Spirit The unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Sonne of God in his Gospel which is but one and the same word of truth should unite us in love and bind us to the peace with lowlinesse and forbearance and with due respect to the variety of the gifts of the Spirit which are the Spirits rich embroidery the ornament of the Church no way of themselves hindering unity and orderly employed and improved are to the singular profit and benefit of all and every one of the members of Christs mystical body 4. Sow to the Spirit lay out your substance Gal. 6. 8. and your worldly goods to spiritual uses to the maintenance of Christs Ministery and Ordinances to the promoting of the Gospel the Church all grace and holinesse and the hopes of glory Seek first Gods Kingdome and righteousnesse Mat. 6. 33. buy the truth and sell it not say not I must provide estates for my children maintain my family raise my posterity God cannot be mocked if thou honour not the Lord with thy substance thou doest but sow to the flesh and of the flesh thou shalt reap corruption but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting Say not I have already done this and that good work hast thou an opportunity do still more with thy wealth and temporals be not weary of well-doing the reaping time will come in due season Faint not therefore neither flag in the sowing time there is now the seed time the harvest day is to come in another world 5. Lastly as it is in this Text Walk after the Spirit and not after the flesh this duty makes up the description of the spirituals of the true Christian the person whom God hath loved to life everlasting and for whom the Sonne of God came into the world and gave himself to the death This is the second Consideration of the words of the Apostle which now cometh to be perused and that as they give us the third Doctrine which is the more necessary the more excellent than the two former are and the more desirable the more searching and differencing the children of God from the men of the world CHAP. X. Treating of the third great truth The lively description of the persons that shall be saved and do partake of this salvation by Jesus Christ viz. They are such who walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit SECT 1. Doctrin 3. The persons for whom God gave his Son and the Son came into the world and gave himself are those that walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit THe third great doctrine delivered by our Apostle in these verses this They that walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit these are they for whom God sent his own Sonne to become flesh in the likenesse of sinful flesh to be a sacrifice for their sinnes and whose sinnes God condemned in the flesh of his Son that in and for them the righteousnesse of the Law might be fulfilled or take it thus Those in whom the Spirit dwels applying savingly the love of the Father and the grace of the Sonne in them he so mightily rules that they walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit That we may not be deceived in a matter of such importance as this is of let us 1. Understand the force of the words 2. Take them asunder in particular Opened in six particulars doctrines 3. And then Consider the Regency of the flesh 4. The Regency of the Spirit 5. The walk after the flesh 6. The walk after the Spirit And seventhly the uses of the whole First for the meaning of the words By flesh is meant the unregenerate part 1. The meaning and force of the words Col. 2. 18. Mat. 15. 19 20. in the sanctified believer the man as defiled with sinne the nature of man of man corrupted by sinne By flesh is not meant 1. Flesh in the substance of it the body opposed to the soul but both body and soul made flesh and carnal as carnal is opposed to spiritual there is the fleshly mind the soul as well as the body is defiled with sinne and depraved the soul defiles the body out of the heart cometh that which defiles the man by flesh therefore we must not understand the substance of flesh which is Gods Creature and therefore good and hath no cause of sinne in it for God is not the Author of sin neither may his workmanship be blamed without committing that great wickednesse of casting reproach upon our Maker This is to be held firm against the vile and pernicious opinions of all ancient Heretiques and our newly up-start erroneous spirits and against the received sayings of Philosophers and the dangerous tenets and expressions of some Divines as if the mind and soul were pure and receiveth its defilement from the body By flesh is not meant 2. Flesh in the natural desires of food sleep generation rayment recreation motion rest and if there be any thing else that accompanies the life of man in this world These are not evil in themselves it is inordinacy that makes them evil faulty and sinful Nor doth flesh note out 3. Humane wisdome and reason and the moral actings and projectings thereof All which kept within their own sphere and acting regularly are most useful to societies commendable among all and serviceable to the Kingdome of Jesus Christ Nor much lesse by flesh may be understood 4. The sparkles of the light that is born with us and in us or the reliques of Gods Image in body or soul or in the whole man Nor yet under the word flesh may we understand 5. The necessary helps of this present life as lands money friends with the like subsidiary ayds Nor 6. Natural diseases infirmities or defects of body or mind In this sense there is an honour due to the flesh and a lawful satisfying of its desires and needs and to deny them to it though Col. 2. 23. upon devout pretence is sinful and falls under that Commandment Thou shalt not kill But by flesh is meant the sinful disposition and this is called flesh not as if this sinfulnesse were first in the body for the soul the fairest part of it the top of it the mind is polluted we are strangers from God in our mindes the spirit 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Eph. 4. 23. Col. 1. 21. of the mind must be renewed ere ever it will be good Quest Why then may it be said Is corruption of nature which is first and most notably in the chiefest faculties of the soul called flesh Answ First Because the very soul is flesh that is it is defiled with sinne and tyed down to
the senses Secondly this pollution is innate and connate it is born in us and born with us It is as old as we are It was in us in our very conception it is bred up with us It discovers it self as we discover the use of our reason and it will be in us while we are in this frame and building Thirdly because we are as tender of it as we are of our very flesh Fourthly because there is a body of it a whole consisting of many members joynted together and ministring nourishment to every part for the encrease of the whole A whole composed heap not only spreading it self through the whole man and discovering it self in every member of the body but having also all the several wickednesses which ever were committed in it in the seed and spawn of them It is not some one transgression but many as the body is not one member but many and these many are knit together in an hellish order Fifthly because this is propagated as our bodies and flesh is propagated but our souls are not God is the Father of our spirits but men the fathers of our bodies therefore it may well be called flesh Sixthly because the motions of this original pollution are in the members of our bodies By spirit is meant not the soul nor the mind or understanding faculty the highest that is in man nor conscience the Character of the reasonable creature But by spirit is meant the Spirit of Christ sanctifying the man and dwelling in him through the Word of God engraffed and the regenerate part the Divine nature or disposition wrought by the Spirit of God the holy Ghost and conformable to the Image of Jesus Christ Iâ— this work there is the seed first of all grace and that under the New Testament in a largenesse Secondly it is in the whole man in soul spirit and body Thirdly and that too in truth or sincerity Fourthly it is of God in Christ for its original And fifthly for its continuance it is of incorruptible seed and abideth for ever Sixthly for its piercing effectualnesse in operation it leavens the whole man It is deepest and chiefest in the soul It is spreading and thorow in what it works It is active according to its own sphere which is supernatural and celestial yea supercelestial and according to its rise which is from the Spirit for whatsoever is of the Spirit is Spirit After notes the rule and guide and from that rule the force which swaies and carries out the man in his actions Walking notes 1. The course taken upon choice and 2. The progresse in that course or way with 3. Pressing on still forwards and 4. With perseverance and constancy till we come to the end Not after the flesh but after the Spirit That is refusing that and choosing this for guide and removing from the wayes and walks of the flesh to go in these that are after the Spirit Walking after the flesh is mentioned to shew that Original sinne is the sinne that reigns every actual sinne hath its strength in the corruption of nature Thither we must ascend in the work of mortification if we would kill sinne dead the root Crucifie the flesh with the affections and lusts thereof The lopping of a tree destroyes not the tree he that would not serve any sinne must destroy the body of sinne and not some one or two members only and he that would destroy the body of sinne must crucifie the old man Walking after the Spirit sheweth that all grace is brought into us from without from above from the holy Ghost It is not from a seed in us which is born with us and lyeth as the seed of Corn doth awhile buried in the earth It is not from any power or spirit that is in the Creature or in this visible Globe or in the Creatures Angelical It is from the Spirit of the Father and of the Sonne Again this sheweth that all grace is yet truely in us from the holy Ghost dwelling in us through the Word engraffed or the revealed truth of the Gospel from the holy Ghost thus dwelling in us and renewing sanctifying acting and leading of us And lastly that we are born anew of the Spirit are in the Spirit do live in the Spirit and are after the Spirit and then we walk after the Spirit We must first be and live and afterwards walk Thus you have the force of the words SECT 2. The particular truths or doctrines which 2. The words taken asunderin nine doctrines are wrapped in this description are these 1. In those that are in Christ in them there is the Spirit of Christ The Spirit in renewing unites to Christ their union with Christ is spiritual not physical not moral alone not personal at all The Spirit of Christ is in them and uniteth them to Christ and Christ and they are one Spirit as Man and Wife are one flesh this truth ariseth from this description as it is referred to the words before in ver 1. of this Chapter To them that are in Christ there is no condemnation Now this is to be understood of the holy Ghost as he is the Anointing wherewith Christ is anointed even Jesus Christ not considered as he is the Sonne of God simply and absolutely but as he is the Christ God-man and wherewith from Christ that Holy One they are anointed the work is the work of the third Person but not a work that makes a personal union of them to the Holy Ghost 2. Where the Spirit of Christ is in any there is also flesh whiles they are in this life where there is grace there is corruption though it holds not on the contrary where ever there is corruption there is grace also Nay it is far otherwise untill regeneration there is nothing but corruption in any or all the men in the world no not in the elect of God but where the Spirit is there is flesh although not walked after This is gathered from the description as made up of a negative first and then of an affirmative which sheweth a nature or disposition in the described here which is declining and renouncing one principle and cleaving to and following sweetly another principle Therefore with the regenerate it is thus their works are mixed their actings of their graces are mixt and maimed All their best duties smell strong of the flesh therefore the Regenerate ought to be watchful and jealous over themselves humble to God-ward meek towards man and making use of Christ and faith in him in all doing all in his name or mediation and looking for acceptation of all in him alone 3. That flesh even in the regenerate and spiritual is so sinful that if it were followed it would destroy them therefore it is sinne in it self and in the lusts of it even in the regenerate for if it were not sinful why should it be renounced why should it not at some times and in some cases be allowed 4.
These two the flesh and the Spirit Gal. 5. 17. are contrary one to another When the Spirit comes in and rules and the flesh or corruption of nature cannot rule more yet it will never yield it will ne're be good it is not subject to the Law of God nor can be the best that can be made of it is to mortifie it crucifie it fight it out against it therefore from these two contrary principles in one and the same man it is that in the godly there is a continual fight or deadly war and cursed be that that would make up a peace between these two therefore hence it is that he that is born again is born a Souldier lives by his spiritual sword and valour and dies in the Field and so never dies but is a Conquerour in his death 5. Where the Spirit is he rules and reignes he will not be underling he leads where he is all that is born of God overcometh the whole world And the Spirits rule is set up by pulling the flesh out of the Throne and subduing its Dominion therefore the least measure of true grace the least speak of this holy fire be it but as that in smoaking flax is Soveraign it is judgment which will come unto victory 6. The Regency of the Spirit appears in ordering the walks of every one in whom he is he renews and sanctifies throughout he makes a new creature a new man from the spirit of the minde to the outward members he creates a new heart and a new spirit that there may be a new walk 7. Those who walk after the flesh have not the Spirit at all and therefore they are not in Christ 8. By our lives and conversations we may infallibly know wâ—ether Christ were sent for us whether our sinnes were condemned in his flesh whether God the Father loved us so as to send his own Son for us to be our propitiation or the Son became flesh became sinne for us whether he be our righteousnesse our redemption or whether the Spirit of the Father and the Sonne hath taken possession of us to shed abroad the Fathers love into and sprinkles the Sonnes blood upon our hearts whether these be so or no may be known by the walks of our lives 9. So it is and so it hath ever been and it will for ever be so in this life that even among Christians who professe the true Religion there are two sorts some that walk after the flesh contrary to their profession and some that walk after the Spirit and not after the flesh SECT 3. Let us now therefore consider of the The Regency of the flesh discovered generally in ten things reign of the Spirit and the flesh that so these two sorts of Christians the carnal and the spiritual the true and false may know themselves and because the flesh is the elder brother in the world he shall have the honour to be spoken of in the first place The Regency of the flesh may be set forth more generally or more particularly in general the flesh's Regency consisteth 1. In its lonenesse if there be in us John 3. 6. Joh. 3. 3 5 nothing but flesh then be sure the flesh reigns we are first in the flesh conceived and born in sinne If there be nothing but nature and that which is natural the flesh is regnant for that which is of the flesh is flesh it can never arise higher than the compasse of its own principle it can never get up to things that are above there is nothing but flesh unlesse we be born of the Spirit there is nothing but flesh and nature where the Spirit by the Gospel hath had no changing work and where mans righteousnesse or the righteousnesse of works whether of our own works or of the works of the Law is still sought after and the sinner never yet so farre humbled that now Gal. 3. 10 12 18. Phil. 3. 3 6 7. he hath no confidence in the flesh any more 2. In the love of the lusts of the flesh these lusts are of three sorts the lust of â— Joh. 2. 16. the flesh the lust of the eyes and the pride of life which do all of them spring from the love of the world this is the worlds trinity in unity which all men by nature do serve If the love of the world be in us the love of the Father cannot be in us 3. In the acknowledgment of the Edicts Rom. 6. 13 and Commands of the flesh sinne reigns where the lusts of it that is the motions of sinne in our members are obeyed obedience to it proves its Soveraignty it is an undeniable truth his servants we are to whom we obey The offering up of the members of our bodies to be weapons to fight for it and to be instruments to work for it shews that flesh is in the Throne 4. In making provision to fulâ—ill the Ro. 13. 14 lusts of the flesh there is a lawful 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Acts 24. 3. 1 Tim. 5. 8 Ro. 12. 17 providence and fore-cast for the discharge of the duties of our particular callings for making provision for ours and for those of our families for things honest in the sight of all men but none ought to be for the flesh or for our corrupt nature The providence which is lawful hath this character to take the seasons and to improve them with diligence thus the wisdome of God teacheth saying Go to the Pismire thou sluggard consider her wayes â—nd be wise which having no Prov. 6. 6 7 8. guide over-seer or ruler provideth her meat in the sâ—mmer and gathereth her food in the Hâ—rvest the sluggard is he that sleepeth out his Summer season and letteth slip the Harvest goeth forth in the dead of Winter to gather in the fruits of the earth the sinful providence hath two marks first to make it a businesse to project and lay out for the flesh secondly to aime at the satisfying of the lusts thereof when the flesh hath the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 providential projecting and fore-casting ability at command and at her service it is certain her supremacy is in the full It is the infallible signe of the renewing of the minde when the providential ability is sanctified and is ready under the command of the Word and Spirit 5. In sensuality when the senses beaâ— rule when what is pleasurable hath the Luk. 17. 27 Mat. 24. 38. Jude 19. 2 Tim. 3. 4 Phil. 3. 19. Job 31. 7. Jam. 3. 15 stroak with us and not what is honest righteous and holy when we are lovers of pleasure more than of God or those whose God is their belly that live to eat that minde earthly things those whose hearts walk after their eyes and their souls are tyed down to their senses who are meer animals whose wisdome is earthly and sensual their wisdome is also Divellish 6. In minding and savouring only fleshly things as
because we pray we now think our selves free to commit sinne we have been at prayer therefore we may be at our lewdnesse we have been at Church in the fore-noon of the Lords day therefore we may dance about the May-pole and keep Revels in the after-noon this is like the Harlot who saith to the young Wanton I have peace-offerings with me this day have I paid Prov. 7. 14 15. my vows therefore came I forth to meet thee 2. In reference to the Law of God for though the flesh is not nor will be subject 2. In reference to the holy Law Sixwayes to the holy Law yet the wily wisdome and subtilty thereof will make use of that also and that most perniciously And the Reign of the flesh sheweth it self herein diversly as First when we seek righteousnesse and Rom. 6. 14. 9. 32. 10. 3. salvation by the Law while under the Law we are under the Dominion of sin so long as we go about to establish our own righteousnesse as did the Jewes and as it is found in all men by nature a Phil. 3. 4 5 draught whereof we have excellently and to the life drawn up in Mat. 19. 16 17. to ver 24. this is to have confidence in the flesh Secondly when we take the Law to be no more than as a Law commanding the Ro. 7. 7 9. Mat. 5. 21. to the end of the ch outward man and to forbid nothing but grosse acts of sinne or to require no more than the outward duty and so we are alive we know not sinne which reacheth to the heart and hath its seat there in the deceitfulnesse and wickednesse thereof nor know we lust or inordinate affections and concupiscence to be sinne and therefore we blesse our selves or flatter our selves in our own eyes in our natural estate Thirdly when and whilest that we cannot endure to hear the holinesse of the Law opened and urged and we love not the righteousnesse and purity of the Commandments yet we will have the saying of the Commandments and the publick reading of them as part of Divine service and hold this better than all preaching and without this we care not for Minister or preaching Fourthly when all the fruit of the coming of the Law and Commandment is onely to revive sin and to strike us dead I take the Apoâ—â—les phrase the meaning whereof is this That the Spirit of God doth accompany the Law and the spiritualnesse of the Law being such as Rom. 7. 9. reaches to the thoughts and desires of the heart as well as to our words and deeds when it is opened the Spirit of God brings it home to the conscience with power this is the coming of the Law now when the fruit of it thus coming is this onely to revive sinne and to kill the sinner to ptovoke sinne so that it works in the sinner all manner of concupiscence and then comes the threatning and the curse and slays us and strikes us dead if this be all that we receive by the Law the flesh yet will hold the Chair for we wiâ—l dislike the preaching of the Law we cannot endure these men of sowre spirits these Legal Preachers we will lay the fault on the Minister and if we can but get from under this dinne oh we like the respousal to every Commandment Lord have mtrcy upon us and incline our hearts to keep this Law this God shall have and then we are at quiet and alive again though our sinnes live in us and we live and continue in them love and plead for them Fifthly when there is nothing in us that is subject to the Law of God nothing that holdeth proportion with the platforme of holinesse laid down in the Law Rom. 8. 7. but that only is found in us which rebels frets pulls away the shoulder and esteems all grievous for then we are wholly flesh Sixthly when we never received any further work of the Spirit than that of the spirit of bondage and yet because thereof we conclude we have repented and our estate is good whereas by the Law we should be shut up to the faith of Christ in the Gospel which having changed and made us anew we should live to God and delight in the spiritualnesse and purity of the Law with judging and condemning our selves thereby and justifying God therein the work of the spirit of bondage is to bring to the knowledge of sinne to work the sense of Gods wrath against sinne and to fill with terrours upon awakenings and there is no further work of the Spirit when there is no hâ—tred of the pollution of sinne no heart-forsaking of the sinnes of the heart no hatred of sinne in the sinfulnesse of our nature whence all transgressions do come when no further work did we ever finde than the convictions of rhe spirit light great and convictions strong but the will the heart not created anew that there might be conversion and healing now though these convictions may be not onely of sinne through the Law but of the sinne of unbelief and of righteousnesse and of judgment even of Christ and his Kingdome and righteousnesse through all the good Word of the Gospel yet the flesh may and will still keep the Chair 3. In reference to God and his worship 3. In reference to God and his worship Two wayes Col. 1. 21 22. Isa 66. 1 3 Psal 106. the flesh can yield to assume unto it and choose both Gods name and service with great state and thereby perk up the higher First with the mixture and blending of mens devices our own inventions the commandments of men to teach the fear and worship of God and the rudiments of the world these are savoury these are devotions humility and wisdome these are the rules to which the flesh lyeth level Secondly with philosophical speculations wisdome of words great swelling words of vanity and the worshipping of Angels disputes about words and genealogies Col. 1. 18. 1 Cor. 2. 3 1 Tim. 6. oppositions of science fables depths unwritten traditions vented for Apostolical these and such like the fleshly-minded is puffed up withall it loves to be intruding into things it knows not it would be reputed seraphical by amazing the simple with high-flown notions 4. In reference to Christ and to his 4. In reference unto Christ Eminently in Antichristianisme Gospel his Profession Ministry and Ordinances all these to choose never did the flesh get more by any thing she appears like a Lamb she puts forth the two Horns of Christs vicegerency and beauty external she gets on the sheeps skin and cloathing she hasps to her both the Keyes the Key of knowledge and the Key of Discipline the Keyes of the Kingdome of heaven she will be infallible and give the sense of Scripture unerringly be the Holy Father and the Holy Mother-Church she will exercise and conjure the Divel and cast him out and do a thousand more such
feats to admiration till she in her bastard imp the man of sin be brought to light and he exalt himself above all that is called God and worshipped and sit in the Temple of God shewing himself that he is God confirming his doctrines of Divels with mighty signs and lying wonders the Divel on the flesh got Antichrist the great and surrogates him as Beast under the mantle of sacred Christianity by the cunning of name and shew severed from the thing and verity for the flesh domineers and is discovered domineering as the Mistresse and Lady of Whoredomes in this respect these wayes First when Christianity is turned into And five wayes 2 Tim. 3. 5 a matter of form and into a theatrical pomp and show as when the temptations sufferings crucifyings and resurrection with the rest of the great works of Christ for our salvation are acted represented and learnt in a Lent a Maundie Thursday a Good Friday an Easter Festival an Holy Thursday a Whitsontide a Christmas a Candlemas as they are Idolatrously named with such goodly trash and trumpery when Christ crucified is learned in a Crucifix in the sâ—gn of the Crosse and the Lords Supper instituted for remembrance of Christ is turned into an Altar-service and Sacrifice with stately Altars Altar-cloaths Tapers Pavements Ascents Priests in rich embroidered Copes Surplisses Cringings and Bowings Elevation of the Host as it is fond and superstitiously called kneelings knocking 's of the breast and other gestures of Adoration sumptuous Temples Partitions and Chancels Processions carrying of the Host about sacring Bells and the like of that rabble What is Popery but the outside of Christian Religion dressed up with trappings and trinkets of humane inventions and ceremonies to take the outward man withall and keep that employed for which cause doctrines erroneous must be taught and added to the doctrine of the Gospel that whiles this is done covetousnesse pride and ambition may be fed and the head and members of a belly-God Clergy from the Pope to the Apparitour may be stuffed and ruffle and the Christian seduced people from the Emperour to the Vassal may give them the honour and cramme them with the best and choicest of all their temporals that they may have the favour to live on mans dung their own and others meritorious good works instead of the onely merits and Spirit of our Lord Jesus Christ there are degrees of this formality for although in the Papacy you have Pharisaisme enthroâ—iz'd yet where-ever the form of godlinesse is held to with disregard of the power of it there is Pharisaisme in the form though it hath not the upper-seat in the Temple of God and there the flesh hath the rule And how great is this wickednesse of formality that the Word of life from the living God setting forth Jesus Christ the Lord of life for the eternal life and salvation of the sinful children of men breathed by the Holy Ghost the Spirit of life and power should be turned into a dead powerlesse shew and the true Christian Religion be turned into a form a carcase and then all the care is to embalme it according to art to keep it from stinking and with such folly and madnesse to dote upon this form that they will perswade themselves it must needs commend them unto God and to Angels and to Men and if any would otherwise perswade them to be either sullen and pleas'd with nothing or in a rage and fury the formal have ever been the most absurd and unreasonable to deal with and the most fiery bloody persecutors of the godly in Christ Jesus Secondly when Christ the Gospel Profession with the rest is taken up to Gal. 6. 12 â—3 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 make a faire shew in the flesh to carry a face and act a part which may please men and winne glory with those of corrupt judgements and thereby avoid persecutions for the Gospel and for righteousnesse sake This way they take out of softnesse and delicacy and out of ambition these are theologi gloriae not theologi crucis Divines that hunt after glory and not Divines of the Crosse These Christians are Christians of the Church triumphant and will not be of the Church militant they frame their Religion to â— doctore glorioso à pastore contentioso ab inutilibus quaestionibus liberet ecclesiam suam dominus Joh. 5. 44. hold with the times and to get reputation with men they will be godly because it is in fashion and that is now adayes their best interest in worldly and state affaires This course is inconsistent with faith in Christ as our Lord saith How can ye believe who râ—ceive honour one from another and seâ—k not the honour that cometh from God only this is altogether repugnant to the Character of a true Christian which is to be one crucified with Gal. 6. 14. Christ and to glory in the Crosse whereby he is crucified to the world and the world to him Thirdly when outward priviledges Phil. 3. 7. Judg. 17. 13. Joh. 8. 39 41. 9. 28 profession and performances are accounted gaine to us as Micah said Now know I that the Lord the Lord will do me good seeing I have a Levite to my Priest and the Jews stood upon this We have Abraham to our father We are not born of fornication we have one Father even God We are Moses Disciples Fourthly when we will heap to our selves teachers after our lusts having itching eares 2 Tim. 4. 3. but will not endure sound doctrine we will not be without Preachers but they shall be Women-Prophets such as dawbe and can sow pillowes under all arm-holes we love trencher-Chaplains Christ by his Spirit carrieth on his saving work by Preaching writing of good books Catechismes bodies and Systems of Divinity Rules of holy life Expositions of Scripture and Antichrist he will have his order of Preachers Colledge of Jesuites Monks Fryars of several orders Catechismes Books of good life Annotations upon the New Testament as that of the Rhemists and such Writings of all sorts to bolster their lyes and superstitions and hinder the propagation and obscure the light of the truth of the Gospel that he will herein out-bid all the Churches since so it is that they cannot keep up any longer grosse ignorance aâ—â— the Scripture and Religion in an unknown tongue Fifthly many there are who bear reverence and observance to the faithful and Mar. 6. 20. godly Ministers when yet with Herod they have their Herodias their Minionlust which they will not part with and here let many be warned who seem to be gracious how they put the stay of their hearts for their spiritual estate upon this that they hear choice Ministers as sweet men and call their preaching such or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 upon this that they tongue it now in the Dialect and language that hath a strain of more than common plain expression of the things of Christ and
Kingdome Fourthly in pretending zeal for Reformation and against Gods dishonour Rev. 19. 18 and when God makes a Feast in the slaughter of his enemies to fall from the work begun and to be like Vultures and Kites and Birds of prey feeding on the flesh of Kings Captains and mighty men and â—ied by the teeth on the Collops Flanks and fat of rich Demeans Lands and Estates whereas when God giveth great reward for service done we should be the more and the more faithful in the work of the Lord. Fifthly in seeking to joyne with the sincere in building the Lords Temple that we may corrupt the structure or hinder the work like the Adversaries of the Jews Ezr. 4. 1 2 3. in the dayes of Ezrah 10. In great undertakings the flesh may rule where the enterprizes atchievements and successes are above herâ—ical and the right hand of God is lifted up on high as the Medes and Persians are called Gods mighty ones and his sanctified ones Heathens may be Saints Saints of the Isa 13. 3. most high God in this sense so these were Saint-souldiers And Christians may go farther and yet be under the Regency of the flesh First they may enquire of God by his Prophets by the Scriptures in their great expeditions but herein they are like Ahab who said there is one Micaiah but I 1 Kings 22. 6 8. hate him or they are like Johanan and his company who will needs be satisfied what the Lords minde is and promise obedience and binde it to the utmost but when they understand that it is against their minde they will absolutely refuse and hold their own will and way and Jeremy the Prophet must be charged with speaking falsely in the Name of the Lord. Jer. 42. 1 2 5 6 10. 43. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 1 Kings 22. 4. Secondly they may use the friendship and seek and hold correspondence with the truly godly but it is like Ahabs compliance with Jehoshaphat upon earthly grounds and for worldly ends Thus have I endeavoured to discover the flesh maintaining her state through spiritual walks the next that follows is to set out the Regency of the Spirit SECT 4. 4. The Reign of the Spirit may be seen in a six-fold discovery of his working for 4. The Regency of the Spirit in six works where he is he works and where he works he works but not as one that doth his work in a corner and his work is with efficacy and power his work is like himself thus then 1. The Spirit carrieth him in whom he is unto the Word and in the Word unto Jâ—sus Christ he carries to the Word Psal 19. 7. 119. 1. 64 which he breathed and in which alone he savingly works he that hath the Spirit saith The Law of the Lord is perfect converting 1 Cor. 1. 23 24. the soul Blessed are the undefiled in the war who walk in the Law of the Lord O teach me thy statutes The Gospel of Christ is to them the power of God and the wisdome of God likewise in the Word the Spirit carries to Jesus Christ Prov. 8. 35 he waiteth there to finde Christ and in him favour with God and life eternal he sâ—ith O that I might be found in him in the Lord Jesus Christ have I righteousnesse and strength And in the knowledge of Christ revealed in the Word the Spirit carries to faith and love which is in Jesus Christ that is which is set on Christ as the object which is formed by the Gospel Isa 45. 24. of Jesus Christ and which is truly Christian now the heart is for such faith and such love and not content with any kinde of faith in God and Christ or any kinde of love to God The Spirit is the Spirit of faith and the Spirit of love in converting a sinner to Christ the Spirit makes faith and love to abound in the exceedings above the 1 Tim. 1. 14 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 power of inbred unbelief and hatred beyond the power and malice of men or Divels to destroy and with the living increasing aspirings to perfection from degree to degree 2. It makes very sensible of spiritual wants and evils and fills with desires like hunger and thirst after spiritual good things Where the Spirit of Christ is for where he is there he reigns that man is made sensible of the flesh even of the corruption of his nature I am carnal sold under sinne I was conceived in iniquity Rom. 7. 14 Psal 51. 5. Rom. 7. 18 I know that in me that is in my flesh dwells no good These are the feeling expressions of the godly that man is sensible of his special sinnes I do know mine own iniquity and my sinne is ever Psal 51. 3. before mine eyes that man is very sensible of inward sinnes of the sinnes of his thoughts his heart-impurities the deceitfulnesse and hardnesse the desperate wickednesse of his heart so that it needs a new Creation and the renewing of a right Spirit a new heart and a new Spirit that man is sensible of the evils of his best Isa 64. 6. works all our righteousnesses are as a menstruous cloth that man is sensible of the utter need he hath of Christ for righteousnesse and for strength and of his want of spiritual blessings and saving graces A poor empty vain foolish and lost creature he findes himself without Christ without God and without hope his invincible desires are after reconciliation Cause thy face to shine Lord lift thou up Ps 80. 3 7 19. Psal 4. 6. Hos 14. 2. the light of thy countenance upon us Take away all iniquity and receive us graciously these invincible desires after reconciliation through Jesus Christ to enjoy Gods reconciled face in the Atonement made in the blood of his own Sonne are in that Psal 4. 6. Psal 26. 3. 17. 15. 30. 5. 63. 3. man set to attain it to retain it being had and to recover it if any way lost and to walk in the light of this his countenance as his true blessednesse and chief good that mans desires also are invincibly set after renovation Create in me a clean heart O God Turn us and we shall Ps 19. 15. Ps 51. 10. be turned 3. It filleth full of grace and supplications with mournings bemoanings and self-abhorrings Jer. 31. 16. Zach. 12. 10 11. Ezek. 36. 31. 16. 61 Ro. 6 21. Ezra 9. Jer. 31. 18 19. the confusion and shame for sinne wrought by the Spirit given is voluntary and of choice not without some pleasure taken therein I will declare mine iniquity I will be sorry for my sinnâ— the confessions of sinnes guilelesse and open-hearted without hiding and cloaking and with holy blushings in Gods presence this is true of him now ashamed 4. The Spirit where he cometh he giveth a new light even the light of life a new savour and rellish to
minde and rellish the things of the Spirit new inclinations a new bent of soul a new by as on the will set fixed centered and pointed Heaven-Ward God-Ward Christ-Ward 5. The Spirit disposeth to do all good first from a spiritual principle of faith Ephes 5. 9 1 Tim. 1. 5 unfeigned of a heart purified of a good conscience and of love Secondly with a godly force and impulse Thirdly in obedience to the Word and by the Rule of the words of the new creature made up of the Word Fourthly with a searching heart a Spirit making diligent search that all be done with repentance because of the evils of the best we do and with faith in the blood of Jesus Christ for acceptation for our repentance needs still to be repented of and none can live an houre in the sight of God any other way than by faith in Jesus Christ Fifthly and unto high and supernatural ends as 1. To the glory of God and not to our own praise and glory 2 To the salvation of our own souls and others 3. To the increase of grace in our selves and in others 4. And to the adorning of the Gospel and of our holy profession And that all may thus be done the Spirit disposeth to delight in the Law in our inner man to rejoyce to work righteousnesse to glory and make our boast in the Lord Jesus and in him only to serve God with our spirits in the Gospel of his Sonne to solace our selves in fellowship with Christ and through him with the Father by the Holy Ghost according to the Covenant of Grace now set forth fully in the Gospel It disposeth to follow the Lord fully as did Caleb and Joshua Num. 14. 24. in the times of murmurings declinings and evil and hard reports brought upon the wayes of God to walk with a right foot in the Gospel when patties and divisions tempt to dissimulations and haltings To make more streight steps to our paths and strengthen our feeble hands and knees in all pursuits of holinesse with peace and quiet submission when sore persecutions abide or threaten us 6. The Spirit at his first entrance into a sinner in his renewing act and presence heals the soul for ever of sore and grievous wickednesses which shew their poyson with strength in every natural man they are four First Impenitency such a hardnesse of heart that it cannot repent but it abuseth Ro. 2. 3 4. the riches of the goodnesse of God their Creatour and the riches of the patience and long-suffering of a gracious God Repentance unto life Christ giveth and in the Regenerate a spring of godly sorrow is opened and the flint-stone of the heart before hard as a Rock now gives floods before he had a heart that could not repent and now he hath an heart that cannot but mourn for sinne Secondly Pronenesse to be scandalized and to take offence 1. At the afflictions Mat. 13. 21. tentations and persecutions which comes for the Gospels sake 2. At the fewnesse meannesse infirmities sinnes and sorrowes of the godly 3. At Joh. 6. 60 61. 1 Cor. 1. 23 the truths of the Gospel crosse to our corrupt sense and reason 4. At Christ crucified 5. At the simplicity of the Gospel and of the Gospel-Ordinances their poor mean out-side and among them of plain edifying preaching in demonstration of the Spirit and of Power and not with wisdome of words nor Philosophy and such vain deceits 6. At the purity of Gods commands the hardship of mortification the strangenesse and as we naturally think the unreasonablenesse and folly of a Saints life the life of a stranger and pilgrim the life of faith what can we be Saints on earth shall we live like no body we must live and wee 'le trust God with our souls when the Spirit comes he works such great love to the Word that nothing shall offend them such knowledge and assured faith of the Messiah the great Prophet who hath the words of eternal life and Ps 119. 165 Joh. 6. 68 69. none but he that they shall never go away from his blessed Gospel although at the first they are not able well to apprehend many truths there delivered Thirdly The hatred of the godly and of holinesse and the speaking evil of both when the Lord by his Spirit gâ—aciously visits their souls now they have another language they glorifie God for and in the godly to whom before they 1 Pet. 2. 12 could not afford a good word now they are to them the only excellent ones in the earth holinesse hath now their hearts and that for ever and therefore the Saints are their delight Fourthly Insensiblenesse of and under spiritual plagues now they feel and fear Isa 63. 17. Zeph. 3. 18. and pray against a heart hardening and hardened under afflictions and from Gods fear they mourn for the famine of the Word for the want of the solemn Assembly the taking away of faithful searching preaching they fear to be left to their own hearts to walk in their own counsels they are sensible of the hiding away of Gods face and of losse of the joy of Gods salvation they fear to have their Table made a snare and to have their temporal blessings cursed to them and not sanctified to them they know it for a great curse to have successe and prosperity in an evil way A spirit of slumber and carnal security they so dread that they love an awakened and preserve atender conscience an awakening Ministery and dare not live without a watch set chiefly over the heart and mouth and in holy jealousie over themselves they pray Ps 141. 3. Ps 141. 4. to God that he would set the watch they so fear the prosperity of wicked men and the heavy judgment to be left of God to incline in heart to the liking of their condition and estate that it is their earnest prayer that they may never choose or desire in heart to eat of their dainties Thus of the Regency of the Spirit SECT 6. 5. The walk after the flesh is a life led First After the course of the world 5. What the walk after the flesh is in eight things Eph. 2. 2 3 after the will of men in their religions idolatries superstitious vanities and the inventions of men in doctrine and worship in Philosophy and wisdome of words devotions and wayes of Religion Traditions and Commandments of men to teach the fear and service of God there are that speak of the world and the world will hear them the world hath not only his profane ones but his sacra his 1 Pet. 4. 3 holy things and the world hath his just ones and his devout and holy ones here lies one special part of the way and course of the world and so is the will of men that people should walk after that course but so is not the will of God To live after the course of the world is to live
Conversation an holy life according to Gods Word will serve then there is no hope It is as bad as to be damned to hell to be pressed to holinesse God shall have any thing at their hands if he will spare them in this Ah alas for a spirit of whoredomes is in the midst of them and their sinnes are their Idols they hold fast deceit and refuse to return Brethren shall I hence describe unto you a natural man He is one that leads The Character of a natural man his life whiles perhaps Ingenious witty of fine parts well-tempered civil moral honest fair in his dealings and in some particular actions yea and in his general course upright and blamelesse according to his natural and acquired light yet he leads his life as if his eternity and his good were in this present world his height and glory is to be humane and rational or learned and philosophical or devout in the way of Religion which his own heart chuseth and which the people he liveth withal do like of whose wills he followeth and whose favour he hunts after with an eye to his worldly pleasure or profit or honour or all ever nourishing one or more manifest works of the flesh unto which his heart is true as one that is wedded to the Devil the father of lusts and lies a voluntary captive to his will and taking pleasure to bed with him in his effectual working and to fill his soul with loves he is in darknesse loves darknesse and walks on in darknesse without any spiritual discerning though he be under the Gospel-light and have his day of visitation he sleeps in deep and dead security without any true awakenings to holy enquiries or watchfulnesse Empty of saving truth and graces in power his Converâ—ation is at the best but vain from the vanity of his mind in which he lives and thence he will not be moved for his fathers and fore-fathers did so before him Fleshly wisdome frames his conversation in strength of hypocrisie if not pharisaical yet natural And he never yet knew nor can be perswaded by all the preachers in the world that secret Atheisme estrangings from God much lesse enmity to him impenitency and unbelief do reign in him or that these in him are any great fault Oh the miserable estate of such a one A Lamentation oh how many such are in the world there is a world of them a world of them even of those who bear the best of names which is Christian Who can with-hold from sorrow and sighings if he understand and know things as they are oh that we could mourn over you who cannot mourn for your selves or that one could beare you on his heart and bring you to Christ that he might place you under his love so melting and put you into the laver of his own blood till washed there you might come forth other men even new-men Oh that the Spirit of life from Christ would at length breath upon you till he breathed in you May it be may it not be could you but unfeignedly desire it should it not be We leave you and the work with the Lord and how ever it may fare with worlds of men in this sad estate yet as for you among us if there be no remedy this shall be your priviledge you shall not go down to the Chambers of hell beneath unlamented you shall not descend to that infernal pit not mourned over since such as you are drew tears in abundance such was his heart from the eyes of Jesus Christ our Lord and Master when he came not to condemne but to save the world and being the Minister of the Circumcision beheld so many of his charge to perish everlastingly notwithstanding he would so often have gathered them together as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings and they would not he would but they would not SECT 7. 6. The walk after the Spirit is a life led First After the Word therein he that 6. What the walk after the Spirit is Ps 1. 1 2. 119. 1 2 5 6. is in the Spirit exerciseth himself with delight day and night thereafter he walketh with desires and endeavours from the whole heart to be undefiled in that way and with earnest prayers unto God that his wayes might be directed to keep Gods testimonies and to have respect unto them all this is the light and the Lamp of the Lord and his heart saith Come let us walk in the light of the Pro. 6. 23. Psal 119. 105. Isa 2. 5. Isa 2. 3. Lord there he findes Christ teaching Gods people of his wayes and therefore taught there of God he resolves he will walk in his paths prescribed in his Word this is the holy Canon and therefore he Gal. 6. 16. will walk according to this rule for so do all the Israel of God this the Holy Ghost breathed whose breath being the breath of Christs lips is his life and kills none but Antichrist and Antichristians with the men of the world and therefore he subscribes to this closing acclamation That man who ere he be is 〈◊〉 worth his ears given him of his Maker to heare Rev. 2. 7 11 17 29. 3. 6 13 22. withall who will not hear what the Spirit saith unto the Churches the Scripture is his Rule for faith for worship for holy walking in sobriety in righteousnesse in godlinesse in all estates in all relations in the Family Church and Common-wealth and in his particular calling and for holy order and discipline and for incident cases with professed subjection 2 Cor. 9. 13. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 A subjection of publick profession Gal. 2. 14. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Luk. 1. 6. against which he can do nothing and for which he can do any thing and all this now according to the Gospel-dispensation in which his honour is to walk with a right foot or to foot it right This spiritual walker is righteous before God walking in all the Commandments and Ordinances of the Lord blamelesse Secondly After the power of inward graces of these the Spirit is the Authour and the root and these are the fruits of Gal. 5. 22 23. Eph. 5. 9. Gal. 5. 25. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Spirit this holy walker as he lives in the Spirit who is the principle of life within him spiriting and quickning his soul with his graces so he walks in the Spirit himself cloathed and his conversation fashioned and ordered by these graces of the Holy Spirit he gives all diligence to adde seasonably bringing forth into practice one grace to another and 2 Pet. 1. 5 8. that orderly that all graces being in him and abounding he may not be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge and profession of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ In the walk in this light of graces as a childe of light he is proving what is acceptable Ephes 5. to the Lord and that
he may so walk he shunnes all fellowship with the unfruitful works of darknesse these are his study and endeavour this is the way which he doth choose Thirdly After Christ as those that are betrothed unto him and cleansed by his blood and anointed by his Spirit are married unto him risen from the dead and now they would keep themselves chast to him in the simplicity and purity of his Gospel and Ordinances and in the sincerity and incorruption of the love of their hearts they would imitate him walk as he walked and be as he is even in this world would they be such they would maintain communion and fellowship with him in the bed of his green and flourishing Ordinances in their wayes conversings relations and enjoyments of the creatures and in the secret lonenesse and the chamber of their hearts Fourthly In light this they love and come unto because it is that which makes manifest they would walk as understanding Joh. 3. 20 21. Eph. 5. 10 17. Phil. 1. 10. wise and prudent proving what the will of the Lord is and approving what is excellent and things that differ this is their armour which they Rom. 13. 12. put on and wear knowing their spiritual holy walk cannot be kept further then it is maintained by a War Fifthly In searchings of heart awakenings of conscience and holy watchfulnesse God awakens theit ears morning by morning and with those awakenings bores the ears bows the heart and in the bowing makes teachable and godly wise that they hear as the learned as the taught of God these gracious walkers are inquisitive asking the way to Zion with their faces thitherward inquiring for the old and good way they are seekers of the Lord of his face and strength they seek and keep the Word of God they keep and seek it as not to seek of Word Ordinances and means of Gods own giving and sanctifying which have the promise of his presence and Spirit these they have and in them they seek the face of the God of Jacob they are full of the communings with their own hearts their spirits make diligent search within them that they may settle their state spiritual their doubts their wayes through serious examinations by the Word They come to the light daily to see whether their Joh. 3. 22. deeds be wrought in God or no this is the manner of their walk they consider Ps 119. 59 their wayes and turn their feet unto Gods testimonies Sixthly In the power of supernatural Phil. 1. 27. truths This walk is a Conversation becoming the Gospel the Gospel frames and influenceth their conversation It is a Conversation in heaven where their Saviour Phil. 3. 20 21. is and whence they look for him to change their vile bodies in the resurrection into the likenesse of his own glorious body these spiritual walkers do live their Creed Seventhly In sincerity such holy plainnesse 2 Cor. 1. 12 perspicuity and transparent clearnesse which God worketh and witnesseth withall no way hypocritical and varnished over but in simplicity purging from and stirring up himself against the hypocrite and the hypocrisie of their own hearts And all this by the grace of God the free-grace of God which destroyes the dominion of sinne in them which thing the Law could not do and by the which they are what they are in things pertaining to salvation and by the gift of inherent grace which is now the leading principle guiding their conversation towards all men and in the Church of God Eighthly In repentance faith and love that is they make it their every dayes work to be renewing their repentance towards God their faith in Jesus Christ and their love to the Word to the Saints and to all men All this the spiritual do do not without the feelings and motions but with a contrary Gal. 5. 17. stirring egging and workings of the flesh insomuch that they cannot do what they would yet they truly would what they should and cannot do as they would In all the eight fore-named the flesh being contrary is in them lusting against the Spirit but is not yielded unto nay it is resisted with mighty lustings and still these walkings are chosen their hearts and lives speak thus Not the flesh but the spirit not the world but the Word not lust but grace not Satan but Christ not in darknesse as a night bird as one of the night and of darknesse but in light as a childe of light and of the day not in sleep of security but in awakings of tendernesse of a good conscience not in vanity but in the power of Gospel truths not in hypocrisie with fleshly wisdome but in godly sincerity by the grace of God not in with-drawings and forgetfulnesse of God but with drawings near of faith in power to the saving of the soul not in those but in these would I unfeignedly have my walks not after the flesh but after the Spirit will I walk is the language of the spiritual Again the order of placing is very significant in this description he that is now in the Spirit was first in the flesh he who now walks after the Spirit had his former Conversation corrupt and after the flesh therefore the spiritual mans walk is thus he is ever putting off and Eph. 4. 22 24 25 c. getting further from his former corrupt Conversation and is putting on a renewed Conversation day after day Beloved shall I hence present you The character of a spiritual man with the draught of a spiritual man The spiritual man is one who being regenerated and sanctified by the Holy Ghost who in that work gives him a new life no other than eternal life in the beginnings of it and comes into him to rule and frame the whole soul spirit and body in the power of the new life received he gives up himself unto the Word that he may be for ever under the governance of the Spirit he dares not compasse himself about with sparks nor walk in the light of a fire of his own or of mans kindling The Law of God is in his heart guiding his steps that none of them do slide he is a walking bible he is the Epistle of Christ of the best Edition so fair written that it is to be seen and read of all men Grace in his heart is stamped upon his daily course from a good treasure within he bringeth forth good things he is married to Christ risen from the dead that he might bring forth fruit unto God to him to live is Christ being of the truth and of the day he walks Gospelly-genteel * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Rom. 13. 13. in a truly honourable dresse comely beautiful and terrible as an Army with Banners That others sleep keeps him the more awake and his security is in his keeping the watch and ward of the awakened His conversation is on high as is his high and heavenly calling with
the lusts thereof this the words import not after the flesh but after the Spirit is the spiritual mans walk Thirdly and whereas the flesh would impose upon the most spiritual he glorifies the Spirit and condemns the flesh the flesh is rejected but the Spirit is chosen for guide and leader this refusing and choosing is his daily work daily and continually in his wayes and walks he is refusing to walk after the flesh and choosing to walk after the Spirit the language of his walks and conversation is this not the flesh but the Spirit not the walk after the flesh but the walk after the Spirit 2. Therefore for the second use here is 2. Of comfort singular comfort to all whose wayes are holy who have the Spirit of Christ the orderer of their lives God will account of thee by the course of thy life the wicked while their lives are vain earthly carnal and they like not the way of the holy and choose not the Word and Spirit for their rule and guide they plead Ps 50. 16. and please themselves in the goodnesse of their hearts God knows them for wicked and so will judge them thou complainest of thy heart and mournest over thy vain thoughts thy weaknesses but holdest fast the way which is called holy thy walk is directed heaven-ward Remember now God reckons thee to be as the way is which thou hast chosen whose walks are spiritual they are spiritual they Rom. 8. 1. are in Christ Jesus and not in Adam flesh may lust in them but they fulfill not those lusts for look upon their conversation they walk in the Spirit they walk after the Spirit and that from the power of the Spirit in them as the spring of life as the quickning commanding renewing inward life The Holy Ghost hath his Throne in the heart of those whose walks he frames whose walks are after his minde these holy walkers are in the Spirit in the Sonne and in the Father as their walk doth evidence undoubtedly That this comfort may flow forth clear and strong it will be needful to give here somewhat of Consideration and somewhat of Caution SECT 9. For Consideration Consider seriously Where four relieving considerations 1. What of the flesh may be where the Spirit rules cast under seven heads Jam. 1. 14 15. these four things following First What of the flesh may be where the Spirit reigns there may be 1. The lustings of the flesh contrary to the Spirit In sinne there is first the evil suggestion or first motion the first rising and peering out of sinne This is in the most gracious and spiritual but with great difference for to the unregenerate and wicked it is the babe of his bosome but to the godly it is the brat of Babylon happy would he be esteemed of him that could take and dash them against the stones Secondly delight ensnaring and bird-liming the soul this may be in the godly but it is stollen and of treachery from the inmate the flesh for his chosen delight is in the Law of God his delight is to do Gods will that is within his bowels but as for the wicked his Psal 1. 2. 40. 8. inward parts are very wickednesse he looks and welcomes and with the whole heart closes with the ensnarings of sinnes motions he would not willingly have it to have check in any case no not so much as from his conscience within Thirdly Consent of will this in the godly is but partial but in the unregenerate it is a full consent Fourthly the Act or Commission in a formed thought in word or in deed This in the godly is seldome and then that which he would not but in the wicked it is common and usual and yet not so oft as he would Fifthly persisting in it and making the actings of sinne their way in which they choose to stand and walk taking pleasure therein this in the regenerate is never much lesse doth the godly man continue in sinne obstinately pleading for it and scorning reproof much lesse doth he take a pride in it and boast of accomplishing his sinful desires blessing the wicked whom the Lord abhorreth and hating the godly that fear to sinne in whom the Lord taketh pleasure 2. Sinnes motions may be lively in Ro. 7. 23. the members of the truly godly but not so as to be able to bring forth fruit unto death as the phrase is in ver 5. of Rom. 7. for as lively as they be the godly watch them the more that they shall not be fruitful Death is not their Lord nor hath them under its power now as it was while they stood married to the Law the Covenant of Works but God is their Lord unto whom they bring forth fruit as married to Christ risen from the dead Therefore sinne may stirre lively but not be fruit-bearing in them but in the ungodly the motions thrive as the birth in the belly which they seek carefully to midwife and suckle hugge in the bosome and dandle on their knees because there is no life of God in them they being altogether in death and abiding in death as the Apostle Johns expression is in 1 John 3. 14. 3. Evil may be present when they Rom. 7. 21 would do good To will that which is good is present with the godly but through the flesh that is by reason of the corruption of their natures in which no good dwelleth there is evil adjacent to that willing and easily beletteth them 4. Grievous untowardnesse awkernesse Rom. 7. 14 19 20. Heb. 12. 1 indisposednesse and aversenesse sometimes And this is the more burdening and pressing down begirting and encompassing the more they presse unto the spiritualnesse of any duty neverthelesse unto spiritualnesse in duty they presse on they stirre up themselves thereto and their backwardnesse dulnesse and deadnesse with all formality they mourn over and judge 5. The Law of the members or corruption of nature which no sooner stirs Ro. 7. 23. but it is presently in the members of the body and there is working as a Law this Law of the members making Warre and rebelling against the Law of their minds yet their inner man and such a man they have in them and others have not that is the Master they own his Law is their Law the other they own not but take for a Rebel and his Law for tyranny 6. Yea there may be a Captivity Rom. 7. 23 24 25. under the Law of the members but it is a captivity in their esteem under which they cry out of their wretched condition cry for deliverance and rest not untill they can upon experience blesse God for Christ their deliverer 7. Sometimes they may have a 2 Cor. 12. 7 thorne in the flesh Some special sinne troubling some great temptation or sore affliction or some Satanical molestation with which they may be buffered sorely that they might be kept more humble under choice
abilities and high priviledges and might shade themselves under the power of Jesus Christ alone So much of the flesh may be where the Spirit reigns this is the first consideration to establish the comfort of the holy spiritual walker Then again consider Secondly There is a great difference 2. The difference between the reigne and the rage of sin between the reign and the rage of sinne sinne may rage where it hath lost its dominion or domination sinne may rage where the Spirit dwells and reigns although it is true that it may rage in those also in whom it reigns sinne while and where it reigns is sometimes dormant and sometimes rampant but in them in whom it reigneth it rageth and rampeth because it is made much of and fuelled pampered and well-fed and hath its full swinge and scope whereas in the godly it rageth because it is stoutly resisted and the death of it is sought with mortal hatred and with immortal hatred with an hatred that would have the very life and heart-blood of sinne and with an hatred that never dyeth but encreaseth more and more There is a wide difference between the rule and dominion and the prevalency of sinne Where sinne is not served nor obeyed yet there it may struggle and for a time prevaile but this prevalency is prayed against till they can say upon comfortable answers from God to those prayers O thou that hearest prayers thou wilt purge them away Ps 65. 23. Thirdly Consider that the combate of 3. The combate of the Spirit against the flesh How known the Spirit against the flesh proves thy good estate Not that it is good or comfortable that there is flesh and that it lusteth but that there is Spirit lusting against it and that there is a combating with it which thou desirest to maintain this is good and comfortable This combate is known thus it is not only between the conscience and the will but between the will and the will it is in the same faculty of the soul and in the will the love is to righteousnesse and not to iniquity and the hatred is against iniquity and not against righteousnesse Again it is a fight against all sinne that he knoweth and against inward sinne and secret in respect of other mens knowledge and not only against outward or grosse sinnes or sinnes which come to light or against some one sinne It seeks and attains to mortification and not only suppression keeping in and restraining It is such as carries the walk of conversation it prevails to preserve a good principle rule and end and not only to do that which is good for the matter with neglect of these It carries to the use of the means and helps against sinne which God hath sanctified and to the use of these means it carries us humbly and with desire of fruit with frequency fervency and reverence taking heed that frequency abate not â—everence and fervency It is maintained by spiritual weapons not by carnal and in Christs might pawned and promised in the Covenant of Grace and not in our own might no not in the might of grace already received and still afresh derived from Christ in the promise by faith acted on them anew Lastly the weaknesse and foiles received in this fight and the wounds gotten and the ground lost are recovered by renewing our repentance and faith and the spiritual Warriour with all his might and atchievements his valiant acts and victories are as before the Lord looking at his approbation and his acceptation for the worthinesse and mediation of Jesus Christ alone in which he rests with self-denial Fourthly Consider there is a Regency 4. The reigne of the Spirit hath a three-fold degree according to three ages of one in Christ 1 Joh. 2. 12 13 14. of the Spirit differing according to believers ages in Christ and so there is a Regency in the bâ—bâ— in Christ seeking assurance of Gods love as a Father and expressing it self in desires complaints and cryes of a childe in prayer And there is a Regency in the strong man or young man in Christ who is carried on with the Spirit of meeknesse and love skilful in the Word and in the use of that Sword full of the power and vigorous actings of faith and of riches of assurance full of exploits in the Field delighting in putting forth the vigour of his strength in deeds and conflicts and there is a Regency of the Spirit in fathers in Christ full of settlednesse of inlarged knowledge in the great mysteries of the Gospel and the perfection of his pure precepts of experiences and of ability and dexterity for counsel and comfort To each of these three ages in Christ doth this description here agree they are all such as walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit neverthelesse these walkers in the truth are not all of a size but are of three degrees according to their several ages and God doth not expect that of a childe which he doth of a young man or of a father this he requireth that answerable to our time and means of enjoying the Gospel we should passe on from infancy to youth from youth to father-hood in Christ These four considerations are of singular worth and use to establish the 〈◊〉 of true believers that their joy â—ight bâ— full SECT 10. Now for Caution whiles these truths A preserving caution that the spiritual walk not as men carnal In twelve carnal paths are opened to stay the heart and to keep the consolation close to it let all the spiritual and gracious be warned that they walk not as carnal for they may walk so that they may look for all the world like carnal persons and thereby may dishonour Christ the Gospel and the Spirit of God and destroy for the present the comfort of their estate Be warned for to look like carnal persons to walk as carnal is not far from this to be no other than carnal Quest. Who look like carnal persons Answ First Those Christians though they be regenerate who are carried with 1 Cor. 3. 1 3 4. envying strife divisions and schismes in the Church according to their several ministers though eminently gifted and holy if one say I am of Paul and another I am of Apollo are ye not carnal It savours of Schisme to call any particular Church by the name of the Minister for every Church is the Church of God and of 1 Cor. 1. 12 13. Christ not the Church of Paul nor of Apollo neither Paul nor Apollo was crucified for them nor were they baptized into their names this very thing causeth divisions envyings and strife among Christians Christs name is that worthy name by which the Disciples are to be called If Jam. 2. 7. any make several Church-wayes and Churches according to several points of lesser moment than the faith of Jesus and the Commandements of God which are of perfect unity and agreement and in respect
under bondage and subjected to vanity vanity and vexation of Spirit is attending man in the enjoyment of all things under the Sun Fourthly The harmlesse jollities of the Eccl. 11. 9. flesh shall be brought into judgment Fifthly A conscience checking galling and gnawing for the flesh's ryots Sixthly The flesh's naughtinesse is discovered in the Word of God 2 Cor. 10. 4 5 6. Ro. 8. 13. Seventhly powerful means are given of God to crucifie it The Ministery the Spirit the crucifyings of the Sonne of God and exceeding great and precious promises which present to us a draught of better things than the flesh can propose Eightly In the Word commands and directions are given how to use the flesh such are these be temperate be sober beat down your bodies bring them into subjection Accuse and condemn the flesh silence her reasonings lay-in distinguishing and mortifying principles they are such as these The belly for meat and meat for the belly but God shall destroy them both The body is for the Lord not for lust The body is the Temple of the Holy Ghost The body shall be raised out of the grave but not as it is sowen both soul and body are the more excellent as they are lesse fleshly All the things of this life are such as perish in the using The scheme or fashion of this world passeth away All that is in the world and is of the world as the lust of the flesh the lust of the eye and the pride of life is not of the Father All these things that are of this lower world shall be dissolved Ninthly A judgment day is appointed and it shall as surely come as it is sure that men dye then this whole visible Creation which the flesh abuseth shall be burnt with fire The heavens shall shrivel together as a scrole and the earth with the works thereon shall be burnt up Tenthly in the mean time bitters are cast into all our earthly sweets and wasting judgments are abroad in the visible Church at this day Meditate often upon these things inlarge your thoughts upon each of them All these will eat down proud-flesh Thus of the three grand doctrines more expressely delivered in this text the last of which concerns the lively description of the believer by his walks the fourth doctrine followeth CHAP. XI Containeth the fourth and last great truth which is The fulnesse of the assurance and of the Consolation of those who are in Christ and walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit SECT 1. The fourth doctrine ariseth from the The fourth doctrine coherence of these two verses with the words before and following when we observe how they are placed in the frame of the Apostles discourse and it is full of consolation for it concernes the full assurance and the safe estate of all those who are actually in Christ notwithstanding their sinnes They have flesh a corrupt How raised nature dwelling with them and many sinnes the issues of that flesh but walking not in them they are in Christ and therefore there is no condemnation to them as the 1. verse with these verses affirmes and proves for their sinnes God hath condemned in the flesh or body and soul of his own Sonne the benefit of the salvarion wrought by Jesus Christ cometh home to them for all that their flesh that body of death can do so that they may and ought to say I thank God through Jâ—sus Christ who hath and doth and will deliver me from the same this is evident by comparing these verses with the 25. ver of Chap. 7. They should also rest assured of their blessed estate when there is no condemnation to them and when the strength of this evidence of their interest in Christ from their spiritual-mindednesse and savour influencing their walk is life and peace as these words looking backwards to the 1. ver of this Chapter and forward to the 5. and 6. verses do plentifully shew And since the scope of the whole discourse from ver 1. to ver 17. of this chapter is to support and encourage these spiritual holy walkers in their way the burden and workings of sin in them should not break their spirits or discourage them in the course of their holy living the miserable conflicting toyle of a gracious heart with the sinne dwelling in him is the thing treated of in the person of holy Paul representing all the regenerate in chap. 7. the latter part of it and the 8. chapter to ver 17. thereof is on purpose adjoyned to back on those Combitants in their warre against the flesh their sinne must not dishearten them in the combate this is the force of that word Now it is a word of encouragement as if he said therefore since Christ is your deliverer for and through whom ye may blesse God and rejoyce with thankfulnesse in the very heat and worst of the battel with your sinnes since flesh and you who are under the Law of your minds and are regenerate are two Now Now therefore stand to it and fight it out there is no condemnation to such as you And let this word for in these verses of my Text be carried to the ver immediately going before it and then they perswade these holy walkers to give up themselves fully chearfully and without fear of miscarrying to the Law of the Spirit of life which is in Christ Jesus which will certainly carry through without peril from the Law of sin and death which threatens them Having shewed the coherence take the fourth doctrine in this proposition The sinnes of those that walk after the Spirit shall never be to their condemnation neither shall they hinder to them the benefit of all the salvation that cometh by Christ nor ought in the least kind to hinder their assurance or their comfortable walking in their obedience their constant combating against the flesh or their full dedition to the Law of the Spirit of life which is in Christ Jesus as to that which will deliver from the Law of sin and death For explication of this truth observe The explication 1. What is granted 4. things here in the first place what is granted 1. It is granted that the sinnes of those that walk after the Spirit are sinnes they are transgressions of Gods holy Commandments they are filthy and do make them guilty they are against God and against Christ and are repugnant to the holy Ghost they deserve condemnation though they redound not unto condemnation they redound to their fault and to their guilt though not to their châ—rge for they are not imputed nor to malediction these Christ hath borne nor to eternal punishment for Christ hath made full satisfaction That their sinnes condemne them not is not from any lesse desert they also strike at the life of grace though they cannot destroy the life of grace 2. It is granted that there is flesh in them the seed and spawne of all sin that
in the love of sin lyes the dominion of sin and it will enable to mortifie the deeds of that body of death It fills with the fruits against which there is no Law and it sets the soul at liberty 4. They are no debtors to the flesh they owe it neither suit not service but they are debtors to the Spirit they owe all they are and have towards salvation unto him 5. They are servants to righteousnesse the Covenant of their hearts when Ro. 8. 17. they first knew the grace of God in Christ to sinners in truth and they first saw the Son in the Gospel and believed on him was to be bound servants to righteousness and disavow the service of sinne And the Covenant of grace sets them free from sin that they might be the more servants of righteousnesse which is absolute and perfect liberty and this it doth for those that were servants of sin and free from righteousnesse which is absolute and perfect vassalage Who would run from his liberty to his bondage Who would be at full liberty who is daily and hourly threatened and dogg'd by that which would bring him into bondage and slavery A slave in the gallies would give himself up with all his heart to one able to give full deliverance and the more he hath felt and tasted such a powerful gracious hand the more so long as he is in any danger would he give himself up fully into such a hand Quest But do those that retain their integrity do as well as they can and as they might according to the measure of grace received and according to the means of grace which they do enjoy because some Ministers urge this much and do lay some stresse upon it when they exhort Christians to do what they can and comfort them if they do what they are able and it is usual with all in whom no work of grace discovereth it self in the conversation to plead and rest much upon this that they do and will do as God shall give them grace as if there were no fault in them and as if rather the fault were in God who giveth them no greater a measure Answ This is a certain truth There is no man that ever lived since the fall of our first Parents that walketh up to the light he hath received of God or to the means which God hath given him or hath done all that he might according to the gift and ability which he hath received he is a sinner against his light he Ro. 2. 3. hath his own thoughts accusing many times he pollutes himself in his own gifts Both Jews and Gentiles are guilty in this kinde and as for the regenerate First They have a will graciously inclined so to walk but this will is yoked with another backward crosse and thwart will which although it be subdued and be as it were under tribute yet it is not quite destroyed and sometimes it is up in rebellion and leads them Captive they cannot do what they would Secondly Their renewed will doth rule their walks and that so farre as to the measure of grace received and of the means enjoyed in a prevailing proportion I say prevailing so farre as to a greater strength than they themselves had before they had that measure and enjoyed that means but not to a proportion of strength that answers fully the measure received and the means enjoyed No Saint on earth which doth all that he ought to do No Saint on earth that doth all that he might do and therefore we must be humbled for our failings stirre up the gifts that are in us watch against spiritual slothfulnesse and negligence suffer the word of exhortation take heed of quenching the Spirit and of despising prophesying or faithful preaching and live by faith in the Lord Christ for righteousnesse and for strength Hitherto of the explication of this comfortable truth SECT 8. The demonstration of this doctrine The demonstration of rhis truth four ways in the general is worthy consideration or the reasons why comfort and assurance are not destroyed by the sinnes found upon those who walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit 1. Because of the Covenant of Grace under whâ—ch they are If they were under the Law if they were to stand or fall by the Covenant of Works their sins would condemn them but they are under the Gospel the Law of faith and that proclaims a Jubilee unto them Not that the Gospel allows of any sinne it forbids all sinne These things saith John I write Isa 61. 1 2 unto you that you sinne not It is as full and strict in forbidding all sinne and as severe in condemning all sinne as the Law is or can be and that to those who have received the free-gift even the justification of life and the Spirit of Grace and of Adoption It is the voice of the Gospel Abstain from all appearance of evil from all kinde of sinne and from all appearance of sinne of what sort soever it be It destroyes the dominion of sinne which thing the Law cannot do because the Law neither knows of a Ransome nor giveth the Spirit to renew sanctifie and priviledge and form to Adoption but the Gospel ptoclaims a Jubilee in that it brings in Christ a sinne-offeriâ—g a Ransome an Advocate with the Father and a Propitiation and in Christ it brings in God reconciling them to himself not imputing trespasses God in Covenant merciful to their transgressions and remembring their sinnes no more and through Christ God pouring out the Spirit of grace and supplication and sending the Spirit of his Sonne into their hearts God accepts them in Christ the beloved and by his Spirit through the Gospel he is perfecting that which concerns them never forsaking the works of his own hands in the regeneration he is accomplishing all the good pleasure of his goodnesse towards them and the work of faith with power in them 2. Because of the indissolublenesse of the chain of salvation in which in their effectual calling they are actually taken half off and in their justification they are actually acquitted from their sinnes and from damnation and adjudged unto everlasting life 3. Because it is not they that do commit sinne it is their flesh that Ro. 7. 25. Gal. 5. 24. doth them which they hale to the Crosse and have and do crucifie And while the Spirit leads them and hath the guidance of their conversation what ever sinne there is with them it is but of an enemy troubling and yet kept under 4. That which any man soweth that Gal. 6. 7 8 shall he reap now these believers sow not to the flesh but to the Spirit but because they yet have many sinnes and many a brush by them they sow in tears neverthelesse they go forth they carry precious seed with them sowing Ps 126. 5 6. they will be while they have time be the season a dirty winter season therefore
yet such as is tending unto and will attain perfection but not in this life but it is not a righteousnesse to stand in without spot before the Throne of God it is not a Righteousnesse to justifie a sinner in Gods sight it is not a Righteousnesse that God ever appointed for such a work or purpose And secondly they think to squeeze out the comfort of their being in Christ and of the promises to those that are in Christ by reasoning objecting and seeking resolution of their objections and by the examination of themselves by all the light they can get which things are good in themselves and duties as we may have opportunities but not the main thing for they should seek their comfort and settlement chiefly by walking on holily great establishment is in well-doing Comfort should not be expected presently it must have a time to spring and ripen upon a Tree of righteousnesse which the Lord hath planted and which brings forth the fruits of righteousnesse and than the blessing of comfort By diligent adding of one 2 Pet. 1. 5 8 10. grace to another in our practice we become fruitful in the knowledge of Christ and so we make our calling Isa 32. 17. and election sure A barren life be the knowledge never so great and the profession never so high strict and splendid will be but unsetled and uncomfortable The fruit of righteousnesse is peace and the effect of it is quietnesse and assurance for ever SECT 10. Be not therefore reasoning so much but be walking up and be doing and 2. Of exhortation and encouragement the Lord shall be with you Thou hast great encouragement in thy leader and in thy way the leader is the Spirit the Spirit of Adoption the Spirit in the New Testament dispensation the highest that ever shall be till our Lord Christ appears in his glory and great power at the last day Thy way it is the way of all Saints and believers from the beginning of the world this was the character of the godly in all ages as Henoch Noah before the flood Abraham David Hezekiah Zachary and Elizabeth the holy Apostles and all other the Saints of God to walk with God It is the way of the upright not to look what strength and measure of grace they have and what they have done or to think they are already perfect but waiting on him who is their strength to go on and reach forth to that which is before eying the price of their high calling in Christ Jesus It is the surest way to comfort not to look chiefly to our affections feelings and joyes but to our walks and this is most distinguishing this brings most glory to God and edification to others Others by the story of our affections joyes experiences may be made fancyfull and put into a fools Paradise and be raised to admiration of our persons which ends usually in imitating our evils or in doating upon some phrase of words or notions and high strains of opinion or in self-admiration as having themselves out-stripped us and all others and they are disdained now as low and carnal in comparison of themselves as much as before they were exalted and magnified by them as the onely spiritual It is most comfortable and excellent when our lives confute our reasonings answer our objections shew our faith confirme our interest in Christ as it is most comfortlesse and abominable when our joyes perswasions confidences hopes and our faith also are confuted by our lives Walk then after the Spirit and receive Of exhortation and direction the instruction and direction which lieth in the bowels of this Exhortation First The Word of God which is the Spirits testimony and witnesse that 's the rule and way for thy walk but remember that the power to walk is from Christ flowing by his Spirit into thee through the Word walk on then but fetch power daily from Christ giving out his Spirit by the Word Secondly be putting in still into thy aright ordered Conversation that which is lacking enlarge thy heart to all the Articles of faith that their mold and stamp may be upon thy life to all the Commandments that the righteteousnesse of them may be respected and expressed and to all Christs Ordinances that the fruit and special ends of them for which they were instituted for the benefit of Gods Elect may be attained and be made more and more manifest that they are attained Thirdly Be not hearkning what thine own heart saith but what the Lord saith by his Spirit in the Word who speaketh heace to his Saints and while he speaketh peace and no condemnation Ps 85. 8. speaks as effectually that they turn not again to folly but keep on their spiritual walk Fourthly Be not wicked over-much when thou carriest a strict hand over thy sinful deceitful heart lookest over thy wayes with as prying an eye as can malice it self or thy vigilant enemy the Divel himself so farre as truth will bear judgest thy self severely and livest as one condemned in the flesh see Eccl. 7. 17 what Christ hath done for thee what the Spirit hath wrought in thee be not so foolish as to deny his grace in thee which thy walk speaks and testifies for thee to thy conscience and before God and men why shouldest thou so wickedly torment thy self and dye before thy time As it is evil to be righteous over-much by arrogating to thy selfe more than is right so is it a dangerous evil to be wicked overmuch in denying or undervaluing what God hath graciously wrought in thee Condemne the flesh but own and justifie the Spirit Fifthly Walk on remembring the work is begun which God will perfect the greatest work is done already even the quickning thee from the dead it is a farre greater work to give life from the dead than to cause to walk and to uphold him that walketh thou hast been enabled to do and hast done the greatest work already thou hast crucified the flesh with the lusts and affections thereof so saith our Apostle Ther that are Christs have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts Gal. 5. 24. Sixthly When thou seest abroad the Heresies Divisions Apostasies Back-slidings Superstitions Formality Conceited Pride of Spirit Luke-warmnesse Sensuality Security Incorrigiblenesse Impenitency Atheisme Earthly-mindednesse Profanesse and wickednesses of all sorts in many in too many remember thou hast flesh the seed of all this within thee and get away from thy self loath thy self and so walk on Seventhly be not turned off by the flesh's lustings walk though the flesh fret and grinde walk though hell be moved walk though thy way be straitned walk for thy estate is safe thy way good and on high walk though envy spite thee and the flesh way-lay thee for God will keep thy foot from being taken Eighthly be not quarrelling with God but walking humbly say not Why doth not God give me a full and perfect deliverance so soon as