of the Spirit of GOD. ROMANS 8.6 But to be Spiritually Minded is Life and Peace Doct. 2. That Mind which is truly and throughly Spiritual doth produce Life and Peace FOr the clearing of this Truth observe these following Particulars in the General First What the Spirit of God is Secondly How the Spirit is a Christians Help Thirdly How a Christian comes to attain unto the Spirit Fourthly The Characters of a true Spiritualized Christian Fifthly The Glorious priviledges of a Heavenly Christian First What the Spirit of God is First The Spirit of God is a Soul-enlightning Spirit The Creature in its first state was in a state of Darkness Ephes 5 8. Eze. 11 19. Zech. 12.1 For ye were sometimes darkness but now are you Light in the Lord walk as Children of the Light It is evident till Christ appears in the Soul the Soul is in a State of Darkness and the Way that God doâ—h usually appear is bâ— his Spirit for his Personal Presence is in Heaven but his Spiritual Presence is in the Believer This is seen by his Promise he made unto his Disciples Acts 1.11 while he was Personally among them and taking his leave of them when they expressed their trouble at the sayings of Christ when he spoke of taking of his leave of them John 16 5 6. our dear Lord is pleased for to encourage them with the Promise of his Spirit as if Christ should say though I be absent in my Person yet I will make it up with the Presence of my Spirit John 19 7. I tell you the Truth it is expedient for you that I go away for if I go not away the Comforter will not come unto you but if I depart I will send him unto you And this Spirit of Truth that shall come â—â—â—m the Father shall be an excellent Guide to us Joh. 16.13 it shall lead us 〈◊〉 â—o all Truth so the Spirit in man is called the Candle of the Lord it is that which giveth Light to man and inlightens our dark understandings the Spirit of God is that which makes a discovery of the Deep things of God 1 Cor. 2.10 Jer. 31.33 Rom. 1.16 to the Soul which cannot be understood but by such as have the Spirit yea it gives the Soul an insight into the deep Things of his Law and it is by the Spirit of God that we come to have a knowledge of our intrest in Christ and our Priviledges that we injoy by him for it is the Spirit it felf that bears witness with our Spirits that we are the Sons of God Yea it is the Golden Key of the Spirit that doth unlock the Cabinet of the Heavenly Treasure unto us till we have the Spirit we know not where our Wealth is or what it is 1 Cor. 2.9 for Eye hath not seen nor Ear heard neither hath it entred into the Heart of man the things that God hath prepared for them that love him To the end that the glorious things of God might not lie hid from us God in rich Love hath sent his Spirit for to reveal his pleasure unto us 1 Cor. 2.10 By this we may see that the Spirit of God is a Soul-enlightning Spirit Secondly As the Spirit of God is a Soul-enlightning Spirit so it is a Soul-Comforting Spirit also In the forementioned place in John our dear Lord Jesus is pleased for to put that Honourable Title upon his Spirit and calls it the Comforter Joh. 15.26 whom he did upon his word engage to send into the World the Comforting Spirit of God is a Christians Companion and the truth is let the work be never so excellent and the duty never so choice yet if the Soul meets not with the Spirit as its guide and assistant therein Psal 51 12. it comes off with loss with the want of Comfort and Refreshments from God in the duty Oh! it is the Spirit of God applying of the Promises of God in the hour of Temptation that proves a true comfort unto a Christian yea Ps 119 50. it is the Spirit of God that proves a comfort unto a Saint in all straits and difficulties if in a state of Bondage the Spirit of God procures him liberty if the World frown on him Psal 51 12. the Spirit of God will smile upon him if the Soul doth meet with inward trouble the Spirit will convey inward peace if thou lyest under the state of unbelief the Spirit will convey Faith unto thee In a word Ps 119 156. Psal 34 9. let thy wants be never so many this pretious Spirit will supply all thy wants for thee a Comforter indeed the Lord teach us to prize it Thirdly As the Spirit of God is a Soul-Comforting Spirit so it is a Soul quickening Spirit likewise It is the Spirit that quickeneth the flesh profiteth little Oh! John 6.63 that duty proves for comforting in which the Spirit appears for quickening It is the Spirit of God that makes us active for God it is the Spirit that brings us to be truly acquainted with the Word and then it is the Word that quickens us Ps 119 50. when we meet with afflictions from God And this is the comfort of a Christian in the hour of his affliction Fourthly As it is a Soul-quickening so it is a Soul-humbling Spirit That Soul that lives under the teachings of the Spirit is taught for to be humble and that soul that hath by the help of the Spirit attained unto humility is a fit Habitation for God in whom God will take delight for to dwell in and the more God doth dwell in us the more we shall live to him Isa 57.15 and the more we live to him the more we shall be free from sin and if at any time sin should get the upper hand of us it will conduce to a humbling of us if God dwell in us the work of humility is the proper work of the Spirit and the more we have of the Spirit the more we shall be in love with it Gal. 5.22 and the more humble in the enjoyment of it for it is the work of the Spirit for to keep the Creature low under the highest enjoymen s of God that Christian that knows much and boasts little in his knowledge of God it argues Col. 3.12 he hath obtained much of this humble frame of heart and lives in the enjoyments of the Spirit of God that doth prove for humbling the Soul in the sight of God the true spirit of God admits of no boasting but brings â—he Soul into a dayly sence and feeling of its own insufficiency Jer. 9.23 24. and to a sight of Christ the Fountain from whence his â—â—eams come Gal. 4.6 Oh! it is the Spirit that brings Christ and the Soul to be acquainted and the more we are acquainted with Christ the more we shall be humbled at every remembrance of our unworthiness to him
it sayes when it doth direct its speech unto us Jer. 10.23 our God doth well know the unfitness that is in us to do him service therefore in rich love he sends his spirit abroad for our help and assistance This we may conclude upon if we have the help of the Spirit 1 Sam. 2.30 we shall then walk to the Honour of God such that Honour him shall be Honoured by him Oh! it is our living in and walking by the spirit that makes our Lives Honourable and also Comfortable for the Spirit will not admit of any work but that which tends to the promoting of the Honour of God if we walk according unto the spirit we must walk according to Rule John 14 6. and observe what direction the spirit gives the spirit may be tearmed Gods Overseer or the Fore-man of the work for nothing must be done without its Direction Consent or Approbation and if we do not observe the spirits Direction we shall soon be turned out of our Imployment but in case it be observed then will our walking tend unto the Honour of God and without doubt for our everlasting good Lastly It is the Spirit of God that helps a Christian to a choice and sweet communion with Christ Such indeed as injoy the spirit 1 John 1.3 have fellowship with the Father and the Son It is the work of the spirit to acquaint the soul with the Father and the Son and the more we live under the conduct of the spirit the more we shall in joy Communion with the Father and the Son for as a Father takes delight in his children so doth the Lord delight in them that fear him As the Lord doth take delight in us so likewise the spirit will inable us for to delight in him and his Ordinances by which means our Communion with Christ is inlarged Mark what the Apostle layes down The Cup of Blessing which we bless 1 Cor. 10.16 is it not the Communion of the Blood of Christ The Bread which we break is it not the Communion of the Body of Christ By which we may see that Gospel Ordinances doth present Christ to us and sweetness doth redound from them to us also by the help of the spirit which doth plainly demonstrate unto us that we are not onely related to God 2 Cor. 6 16 but God is also related unto us as we have God to be our God so we are his People and Temple in whom his Honour dwells Oh! that Communion must of necessity appear to be choice where God himself hath the management of it Have we fellowship with God Eph. 5.11 This may teach us then For to have no fellowshlp with the unfruitful works of Darkness but rather reprove them So I have done with this Particular also Thirdly How or by what means doth a Christian come for to attain the Spirit of God First A Christian comes unto the injoyment of the Spirit as a free Gift that is bestowed upon him by God The spirit is Gods own gift which he sends forth freely to all such who are of the Blood Royal that have been made partakers of the Divine Nature the Royal Nation that are of the Royal Priesthood 2 Pet. 1 4. 1 Pet. 2.9 a people of a peculiar stamp as God gave his Son for us so he gives his spirit to us that is very freely so that the spirit is our due Oh! it is the Fathers Legacy that he hath left behind him to put us in mind of him till he and we meet by this gift we may come to see what right and propriety we can claim in Christ Gal. 4.6 Because we are Sons he hath sent the Spirit of his Son into our Hearts whereby we are able to cry Abba Father The knowledge of the in-dwelling presence of the spirit of Christ in our Hearts helps us to a sight of our Relation to him 1 John 4.13 Hereby we know that we dwell in him and he in us because he hath given us of his Spirit Mark that word without controversie then the spirit is Gods gift Oh! it is a pretious gift indeed for it doth not onely discover Christ to us but to be in us Mark farther If the spirit were to be gained by our good works or what ever it is in the power of our hand to do it would not come to us as a free gift but as our due so we should claim a Right to the spirit for our work which is not to be for God will give it freely and leave no room for our boasting James 4 16. for were it to be obtained by works we have whereof to boast so then we may conclude upon it the spirit comes in as Gods gift a pretious gift indeed for it doth not onely discover our dwelling with God but Gods dwelling with us and in us also John 3.33 And that Soul that hath received this testimony hath set to his Seal that God is true Such as live in the spirit can tell you that it was given them by the Father as a Token of his special Love and Favour and they can set to their Seal the truth of it Query But if the soul should query Must I do nothing at all fot it that I may injoy it Answer To this I answer Nothing doth God require of thee but ask and you shall have it seek and you shall find it for it must come as his free gift Luk. 11 13. Observe what Christ saith to this case If you who are evil know how for to give good things unto your Children how much more shall your Heavenly Father give his Holy Spirit to them that seek it That you may see it is but ask and have let but God know your wants he will send down supplies from himself his spirit shall come as his gift Objection I have saith the soul sought the Lord but I have no answer neither can I obtain the thing I desire and sure it is but in vain for to wait any longer Answer To this I answer It may be soul the reason is why you seek and cannot obtain because you do not seek in the right way nor in the right spirit it may be you ask James 4 3. but you ask amiss to spend it upon your lusts such ends God will not answer therefore when thou seekst for the spirit inquire into thy own heart whether thy end be to Honour God with it or whether thou wouldst have it to get thy self a name or applause by it It is true Simon Magus did make after the spirit Acts 8.18 but could not obtain unto it because his ends was unsound and instead of having of it must hear his own Doom read unto him ver 19. ver 20. ver 21. ver 22. ver 23. that is the man was in the Gall of Bitterness and in the Bond of Iniquity Oh! when thou comest to God consider with thy self what doth
ingage thee to the duty is it a true sence of the want of the spirit to the end thou mayest be more Humble morâ— Holy and more inlarged in thy soul to Honour God and more ingaged for to abase thy self if thou dost thus seek be incouraged to wait it will not be long ere thou attain unto the full injoyment of the spirit it is Gods free gift wait upon the Lord for it Secondly As God doth give forth his Spirit unto us by way of gift so he doth communicate it by way of promise Joel 2.28 Such is the goodness of God to us that he hath not onely promised for to give his spirit but also to pour out his spirit upon his Sons and Daughters in the latter dayes Make no doubt of it for he that hath promised will perform his word to a tittle he will cause his spirit for to flow in upon us like a mighty stream The parched soul shall not then complain for his promise is The parched ground shall become a Pool Isa 35.7 and the thirsty Land springs of Water By water here is intended the Spirit as you may see by the words of the Prophet Isa 44.3 I will pour water upon him that is thirsty and floods upon the dry ground I will pour my Spirit upon thy Seed and my Blessing upon thy off-springs All which comes into the Spiritual-Minded man by virtue of Gods sweet promises the spirit shall dwell and take up his aboad in us the time is at hand that he will pour upon his people a pure Language that we shall serve the Lord with one consent and one shoulder Zeph. 3 9. Oh then Zion shall be led in an even path and the Lord will establish our goings Oh! then shall we live under the pure Teachings of the Lord for his teachings will prove choice and sweet let us be incouraged for to wait for the promise of the spirit for â—od will give it to us as his gift which he hath promised Thirdly As God doth bestow his Spirit upon us as his gift in the way of Promise so the Spirit is made over unto us in the Covenant he hath made with us Oh! it is one of the Branches of the New Covenant that God hath made with his People that he will put his Law into our Hearts Jer. 31.33 Rom. 8.2 Pro. 23.26 and when the Blessed and Noble Apostle of the Gentiles comes for to explain this Law he calls it the Law of the Spirit which Law God will put into our inward parts which argues God will give it into our possessions for when once God begins to work in man he seizes upon the Heart the most Noble part of man as his Prerogative Royal and erects his Throne of Judicature within and there sits as chief Judge to pass Sentence to every thing that will not obey and condescend unto his Righteous Law and Commands and passes Death also upon every thing that doth violate his Holy Decrees Oh! then no unclean thing shall abide in his Temple the Bodies of his Saints 1 Cor. 3.17 but he will have them a fit Habitation for his Royal Presence to take up his aboad in the spirit will whip out all buyers and sellers therein John 2.14 15 16. they shall no longer Merchandize in the Temple of God This spirit that is given as a Covenant Mercy will not admit of any converse with any but what is wholesome and good Oh! it will pass the Sentence of Banishment upon all our vain thoughts and they must turn out at the command of the spirit Oh! none must come into the Temple then but God himself his Heavenly Train and Holy Attendants or that which hath the Divine Stamp upon it to wit the Choice Graces of his Holy Spirit which he hath promised to us as a new Covenant Mercy Fourthly The fourth Particular in the general is for shew what it is for to be Spiritually Minded or in a Spiritual Frame of Heart Character 1. For to be Spiritually Minded is for to have the Heart affected or setled upon the Excellent things of Heaven Oh! this Frame of Heart made David cry out Psal 73 25. Whom have I in Heaven but thee and there is none upon Earth that I desire besides thee The thoughts of his Treasure in Heaven is food unto his Soul while he lives on the Earth though the man may have pretious Objects presented unto him yet none so excellent as Christ which denotes to us the man truly Spiritual bring the rarest Objects you can or what the World can afford they being not spiritual Oh! he will not vouchsafe them a look he counts them not worthy the looking upon but the mans Mind and Heart is wholly taken up with Heaven Phil. 3.20 and nothing but Heaven will serve his turn By this you may see what it is to be Spiritually Minded Heaven is his Joy the Earth is his Burden Christ is his portion sin his Trouble and the Graces of the spirit Lam. 3.24 his great Joy and Comfort the Promises of God the Breast that affords him Nourishment in abundance from whence he doth gain spiritual strength so the man is where he would be when he can but hear the lovely Voice of God in his Word Cant. 2.14 and the sweet soul-comforting promises applyed unto him by the spirit and no longer then it goes well with his soul that he can thrive in the matters of Heaven is the man contented or well pleased Character 2. To be Spiritually Minded is for to have a feeling sight and sence of the vanity of all Creature Comforts short of Christ Cant. 5.10 Let the soul injoy what it will if it meet not with the presence of Christ in its present injoyments it hath no content as you cannot put off a hungry soul with the bare promise of Food but it must be really the injoyment of Bread that will give him content the soul that is ready to die with thirst or the soul that is naked nothing will satisfie the thirsty person but that which will squench his thirst nor nothing will content the naked person but that which will keep him warm in the bitter Winter season so nothing will satisfie an hungry spiritual Appetite but Christ the Bread of Life nor will any thing content a thirsting spiritual soul but Christ the Fountain of Living Water Rev. 22 17. who is the Water of Life neither will any thing content a Christian who is stripped quite naked but the Pretious Robes of Christ's own Righteousness there is no garment in the World will give him the like content as the cloathing that his dear Lord shall put upon him Phil. 3.9 Oh! that was it that did beget that choice desire in the Apostle To be found in him not having my own Righteousness which is by the Law but the Righteousness which is of God by Faith A soul that is come up unto this
The AFFLICTED and RETIRED Mans Meditations Concerning the EXCELLENCY of the SPIRIT With a Discovery of the Twofold-Mind the Danger of the one the Comfort and safety of the other First Here is observed what it is for to be Carnally minded Secondly Means to suppress a Carnal frame of Spirit Thirdly The dreadful state of a Carnal minded Man Fourthly How the Spirit is a Christians Help Fifthly Means to obtain the Spirit Sixthly The Characters of a Spiritualized Christian Seventhly The glorious Priviledges of a Spiritual minded Man And a few Meditations by way of Observation With a Dialogue between Christ and a Sinner Christ and a Christian Christ and the Afflicted Person As also a Word to the Remnant of the Womans Seed With a Loud Call to all Saints to Love one another upon the account of Son-ship and not onely upon the account of Fellowship Written by SAMUEL BRADLEY who hath Love for all that love the Lord Jesus in sincerity who prayes for Zions Unity Rom. 8.13 For if ye live after the Flesh ye shall die but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the Body ye shall live For as many as are led by the Spirit of God are the sons of God John 13.35 By this shall all men know that ye are my Disciples if ye Love one another Printed for the Author in the year 1663. TO THE Impartial Reader READER FOr the satisfaction of many or any who desire to follow the Lord Jesus in sincerity I am here engaged to write a small Epistle to the furtherance propagating and owning of this following Treatise wherein is contained and couched many glorious Truths which did concern all persons to look after in former Ages of the World but now more especially we that live in this last Age wherein Errors do abound and great Mistakes do arise in many whom I desire the Lord would be pleased to help to understand between Truth and Error by his own Spirit Mat. 22.29 which is the best Teacher in the world though at this day it is much slighted and little looked after by the sons of men Christian Reader my desire is that thou wouldest be pleased carefully to read and seriously consider this following Treatise with a single heart and eye 1 Chron. 12.33 Acts 2.46 and impartial affections then doubtless in the conclusion thou wilt not think thy time ill spent I do further desire that thou mayest daily search the Scripture and bring the things contained in the ensuing Treatise to the Touchstone of God's Word to the end thou mayest with the noble Bereans of old Acts 17 11. be enabled to discern between Truth and Error between Life and Death to know wherein thy Life lieth yea wherein it doth consist 1 Thes 5.21 and labour to be obedient unto that command Try all things and hold fast that which is good And also remember my dear Friend that the Bereans were counted more noble than them of Thessalonica they hearing the words of Paul which were cried up for strange Doctrine yea Heresie at that day they searched the Scriptures daily to see whether those things Paul asserted and preached were truth or not Even so although many things herein contained may be counted rediculous or erroneous Yet courteous Reader let me desire thee to prove thy self a Berean in this matter Search the Scripture and see whether it be so or not Further my desire is that the Message may not be slighted by reason of the meanness of the Messenger but rather look upon him that sends this Message into the World observe when the great Men of the world have a Token to send unto a Friend they do not alwayes make use of rich great or noble Men to conveigh it but many times employ the meanest Servant of the family in that service to give out the token though it be never so rich a gift or pretious a jewel Rev. 17 14. 1 Tim. 6.15 Rev. 19 16. Heb. 12 25. So many times it is with the great God of Heaven and Earth who is the King of kings and Lord of lords he hath in this little Cabinet a token of his choice love for to present to you his friends nay further it is presented to you that are yet Enemies if you will but imbrace it the imbracing of it tends to Life the rejecting of it tends unto Death though sent by a mean servant and think it not strange if it be refused slighted or counted erroneous And you my Friend the Messenger be not discouraged in your labour for consider the best Doctrine the truest Doctrine the gloriest Tidings and rarest Sermon that ever was preached by the mouth of our dear Lord Jesus himself was by the Scribes and Pharisees rejected and also questioned where he had his Doctrine and said He had a Devil and was Mad. The blessed Apostle Paul was also counted and called a Pestilent fellow a teacher of strange Doctrines a Ringleader of Sectaries a Turner of the World upside down Acts 17 6. vers 18 Acts 24 14. and what not yet after that way which they called Heresy did this blessed Apostle worship the God of his Fathers believing all that was written Reader if in this little Treatise you meet with any thing doth not agree with the Word of God and the doctrine according to godliness after diligent search and due enquiry into the Scripture the pretious word of God renounce it as not worthy the owning or imbracing I shall speak by way of allusion to the noble Apostle in another case I do judge the Author hath the Spirit of God by which this ensuing Discource was penned I speak the truth of God I lie not Though true it is the dearest of Gods children are subject to miscarry yea many failings and temptations doth attend them and the Lord did formerly suffer the Author hereof in measure to fall yet through mercy not totally nor finally but he is recovered out of the horrible pit and out of the miry clay and the Lord hath set him upon a rock Psal 40 2 3. and established his goings and put a new song into his mouth in making of him since instrumental in turning many souls to righteousness notwithstanding those foul Jer. 20.10 false and scandalous reports are gone forth concerning him yea many hard speeches thoughts have arisen not only from the world but from many who I hope Job 19.2 vers 3. vers 4. are the pretious Sons of Sion This one thing as one who doth tender the Cause of Christ and much honour the pretious Sons and Daughters of Sion do I beg of you Let no hard thoughts or evil reports any more take place in your affections without good enquiry of the same This I urge the more for that tender love I bear unto Christ and his Truths Cause Kingdom and People and I dare not speak or write more then I do know or can affirm concerning the Author Mark since
Psal 51 4. and our uneven walking before him and this spirit of God will present objects sufficient enough to us for the true humbling of us Fifthly As the Spirit of God is a Soul-Humbling so it is a sin-destroying Spirit Where the Spirit hath took up its abode in a Soul to rule every thing must be brought into subjection to it the Spirit of God must and will have the preheminence 1 Cor 1.30 God wiâ—l make all our corruptions bow and bend when once he hath given commission unto his Spirit to take dominion of the Soul for as Conscience is Gods Vicegerent on Earth Ps 119 59. v. 113. and speak it will for God So the Spirit will bear Rule and Sway for God and will never leave working in the Soul where it is until it hath brought the thought as well as the heart of man into subjection to our Lord Jesus The Spirit of God makes thorow work when it comes it is that which purifies the heart The Spirit begins at the root of the matter and if the root be good it is like the fruit will not be bad Acts 15.9 Rom. 6.12 Jam. 4.8 when the Spirit purifies the heart it proves death to our Sins and Life unto our Graces The Spirit of God will admit by no means sin to Rule in that Heart that God doth Reign in The old Man must be turned out and the new man must be received in the least sin must not have entertainment by the consent of the Spirit upon any terms for as much as sin is an enemy to Christ and a Christan Oh! Jer. 5.25 it is that which robs Christ of his Honour and a Christian of his Crown yea sin is that which keeps Christ and a Christian at a distance also and makes Christ and a Christian strange one to another Rom. 8.16 2 Cor. 3 17. As it is sin that breaks a Christians communion it is the Spirit that Reconsiles Christ to the Soul and makes up the breach again and produces peace unto the Soul where the Spirit of the Lord is there is Liberty no Liberty is or can be allowed unto sin but Liberty in the Spirit for to serve Christ By this we see the Spirit of God is a Sin-destoying Spirit Sixthly As the Spirit of God is a Sin-destoying Spirit so it is a Grace-inlarging Spirit in the Soul too When the Soul lives in the injoyment of the Spirit oh then it is Graces bud forth and blossom in the Soul and bear lovely Fruit John 6.63 2 Cor. 3.6 Luk. 7.30 Rom. 5.3 Joh. 16.33 1 Cor. 3.21 Rev. 2.10 for the Spirit is that which gives life and being unto all Graces where the Spirit is wanting Graces are dying Oh! it is the Spirit of God that supplies the Soul with good things and inriches the Soul with the Glorious Treasures of Heaven with pretious Faith in the Day of straits with patience in the hour of Tryal and Temptation with Spiritual joy in the midst of worldly sorrow In a word the Spirit will furnish the Soul with the injoyments of all things in the midst of wants What shall I say of this excellent Spirit may not I say it is Gods Messenger and a Christians Friend Oh! when ever the Spirit comes into a Soul it comes with a Message from God sometimes it hath a Commission from God to comfort and encourage us and then its Language is Be faithful to Death and I will give thee a Crown of Life At another time it is like the Message of the Spirit is for to instruct and Counsel the Soul that is when it shall hint such a thing as this to us secretly to inform us to be careful that we do not grieve it least we displease it Mark Grieve not the Holy Spirit Ephes 5 30. by which we are sealed unto the Day of Redemption Oh! let the Message the Spirit comes with be royally entertained and bid it welcome sometimes the Spirit comes with a glorious promise of Grace and Love from God and then it comes with such like language as this to the Soul Jer. 33.3 I have loved thee with an everlasting love and with my loving kindness have I drawn thee A Blessed Message and a Blessed Messenger See the work of the Spirit a Christians Help Secondly How the Spirit is a Christians Excellent Help The Spirit is an excellent Help unto a Christian at all times and in all places a true Christian knows not how to live without the Spirit he knows not how to love without it nor how to walk without it If we live in the Spirit Gal. 5.16 we shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh therefore we must conclude the Spirit is a Christians Help For the proof hereof observe these following observations First It is the work of the Spirit to help the Soul unto a true sight and sence of sin It was by the help of the Spirit the Noble Apostle of the Gentiles namely Paul came to a sight of sin Sin sayes he Rom. 7.13 14. that it might appear sin worketh death in me by that which is good meaning the Spirit of God is that thing that is good and thereby sin becomes exceeding sinful unto him it makes him cry out when he was sensible of his present state The Law is Spiritual but I am Carnal sold under sin Mark The Spirit of God doth declare the Rice and Race of sin James 1 15. for when lust is conceived it brings forth sin and sin when it is finished it brings forth Death so we see it is the Spirits work to make a clear discovery of sin unto the Soul and when once the Soul comes by the help of the Spirit unto this pitch of attainment to see sin as it is in its own appearance the Soul will not onely confess sin but bewale himself for it as David did crying out in the bitterness of his Spirit when he had a true sence upon him of it Psa 51.4 Against thee and thee onely have I sinned and done this evil in thy sight In a feeling sence doth he speak it When he is awakened by the Spirit he points at the very sin the like presidence we have in the Prodigal son when the Spirit of God gave him a sight with the sence oâ— sin the man cries out now of going unto his Father and he is resolved to say Father I have sinned against Heaven Luk. 15 18. he falls upon sin immediately and before thee though we are prodigal yet the Spirit of God it will make such fall down upon the knee of confession of sin and help them to witness sorrow for the same Luk. 15 19. And though I am not worthy to be called thy Son let me be a Servant a Token of Humility By this you may see what Blessed Work the Spirit of God makes when it comes into a Soul that it doth not give a bare sight of sin but a
true sence of the same Secondly As the Spirit works up the Soul to a true sight and sence of sin so it makes the Soul out of love with sin Joseph without all doubt did injoy much of the assistance of the Spirit when he met with that sore temptation that was presented unto him by his Mistris who tempted him to uncleanness see Joseph's modest Answer to her wicked desire How shall I do this great evil Gen. 39 7 8 9. and sin against God An evident Testimony to prove the man out of love with sin for by no means can he condescend unto that which tends not unto the Glory of God We find David to be out of love with sin in as much as he doth declare his sorrow for sin Psal 38 18. The more we are in love with the Spirit the more we shall be out of love with sin the more the Spirit of God is at work in us the more sin shall be bewailed by us Poor Job makes a sad out-cry about his sin he cries out I have sinned what shall I do unto thee Job 7.20 O thou preserver of men Why hast thou set me as a mark against thee so that I am a burthen unto my self Mark Sin is to the Soul truly Spiritual become a burthen here is an evident Character of a Soul out of love with sin and such a Soul will say unto sin Hos 14 8. as Ephraim said unto his Idols Get ye hence sin get you out of my sight for there is a great contrariety between the Flesh and the Spirit the Spirit proclaimes open war against sin in the Soul the Spirit gives the first Onset and never leaves fighting till it comes away a Conqueror and so gets the Day Rom. 8.37 Job 33.27 28. and the Lord will preserve the Soul from going into the Pit and his life shall see the light if he shall say he hath sinned and perverted that which is writ and it profiteth me not all which must be by the help of the Spirit and if once the Spirit of God doth but enter the Castle of the Soul then all thy Carnal enemies must lay down their Arms and march out for the spirit will not admit of any under its command but such 〈◊〉 be obedient thereto oh then sin will not be thy love or deâ—ight but thou shalt see it an open enemy against God and the good of thy soul all no quarter shall it have from thee or entertainment by thee Rom. 8.7 when the spirit of God is upon thee Thirdly As it is the Work of the Spirit for to make us out of love with sin so it is the work of the Spirit to inform the Soul fully and freely of Christ It is the spirit of God that doth acquaint us with Christ's readiness to give it entertainment for the spirit in the Bride faith Come and drink of the Water of Life freely Rev. 22 17. it is the Word of God that tells us we may be welcome but it is the spirit of God that makes all welcome the free and full spirit of God is that which conveys life into the soul and makes the bitter waters that sometimes we meet with in the way to Heaven prove sweet Oh! it is the spirit that leads the soul unto the Water streams of Christs Divine Love and gives it a taste of his Excellent sweetness and begets a longing desire after Christ Oh! on such it is Christ intends to bestow his choisest Gift upon Rev. 21 6. I will give unto him that is a thirst of the Waâ—ers of Life freely such in whom the spirit doth beget this thirsting frame in the soul shall have the priviledge for to taste of the Living Water of Christ himself who is Living Water and what Christ doth he will do it freely the soul shall have the injoyment of the Living streams and his fill thereof if he will but come for it Oh! it is the spirit of God that will enjage a soul for to come unto Christ and it doth likewise beget a Holy Admiration in the soul of Christ that it cries out with David How excellent is thy loving Kindness Psal 36 7 8 9. O God Therefore the Children of Men put their trust under the shadow of thy Wings they shall be abundantly satisfied with the fatness of thy House and thou shalt make them drink of the Rivers of thy Pleasures for with thee is the Fountain of Life and in thy Light we shall see Light Such is the excellency of the spirit when it comes that it doth maintain the soul at a high rate with God the provision and royal entertainment that the soul finds in the House of God begets in the soul a dislike unto Carnal Inâ—oyments And if any person desires to be fed at this rate he must come unto Christ John 7.37 by the help of the spirit the way lies open for if any man thirst let him come unto me and drink and he shall witness in him the overflowings of Christ's sweet streams in his soul By this time you may plainly see the spirit gives us a full and free description of Christ the Excellency of his Love to us Fourthly As it is the Spirits work for to inform us of Christ so the Spirit doth beget in us a choice delight in Christ After the spirit hath given us a sight of Christ it begets in the soul a love or delight in Christ Oh! the spirit of God makes the soul in love with the very Courts of God and then it cries out with great Admiration Psal 84 1 2. How aimiable are thy Tabernacles O Lord of Hosts my Soul longs yea fainteth for the Courts of the Lord My Heart and my Flesh cryeth out for the Living God The spirit sets the soul in a holy flame yea in a longing frame after God and in an excellent frame to Praise God in a word it makes the soul for to esteem of God as its chief good Fifthly As the Spirit works up the Soul for to take delight in Christ so it helps the Soul for to walk unto the Honour of Christ Oh! the spirit is an excellent help unto a Christian to help him forward in the work of holy walking Psal 31 21. Blessed be the Lord said David for he hath shewed me his marvellous kindness The spirit of God will direct a Christian in the way and not suffer him to walk out of it the spirit will also support him and comfort him in his Journey and make his way pleasant in the midst of all discouragements it meets with John 16 13. the spirit will not leave us in the dark in dubious matters it will teach the soul what course it must steer that it may arrive at the right Port at last the spirit will beget in us a still and quiet frame of Heart in all our storms we pass through that we may be in a fit capacity to hear what
Breast of my Mother when shall I find Thee without Oh! I would have a Kiss of thee dear Jesus I would not be despised Oh! It is a choice Meeting indeed when Christ and a Christian meets together they are loath to part one from another Oh! this should teach us for to inquire out this pleasant path Cant. 3.4 that we might walk therein for it is a Christians Priviledge to walk with Christ whose Path is pleasant and lovely also So I come to Application The first Use of Information Is it true as hath been here laid down that the pretious Spirit of God is a Soul-Enlightning a Soul-Comforting a Soul-Quickning a Soul-Humbling a Sin-Destroying and a Grace-Inlarging Spirit this may teach us then for to have an high and honourable esteem of the Spirit of God Oh! make it the Man of thy Counsel take it in and give it royal Entertainment for the more entertainment we give it the more spiritual Advantage shall we gain by it Psa 34.9 Oh! it is a Salve for every Sore it will produce Light unto the blind Eye Comfort to the sad and dejected Soul it will quicken the dead and drousie Christian it serves for the molifiing of the proud hard and obstinate Heart and it will bring the Soul into a humble holy frame and put the Soul into a choice capacity to be serviceable for God Psal 25 9. Ephes 6 10. for The Meek will he guid in Judgement and the Humble will he teach his Way Oh! the Spirit will bring down the stoutest Lust or Corruption that is which makes a poor Christian to groan the Spirit will draw our Affections to a holy Conformity and blessed Subjection to the Will of Christ and it is the Spirit of God that causes Grace to bud and blosom in the Soul Zech. 12.10 2 Pet. 3.18 Psa 84.11 and to bring forth increase of Fruit for God Oh! it doth much concern us to set an high estimation of the Spirit therefore for it is the Messenger that brings us good news from Heaven continually Let us therefore bid it welcome and give it royal Entertainment when it shall come and let us open the doors of our Hearts to it for it is a Friend that will be mighty helpful to us in the puting of us forward unto the good Land Acts 20.32 it will give us an Inheritance with the Saints in Light for if any appear in the last day before Jesus Christ without the Seal and witness of the Spirit it will prove a sad day unto them they shall find the Gates of Heaven fast shut against them when the Bridegroom wiâ—h his Bride shall enter into the Kingdom and with his glorious Train and heavenly Attendance Isa 35.10 shall be singing of the Songs of Hallelujah in the heighth of Zion Therefore in a word let us make it our first and our choice Work to get a true Acquaintance with the Spirit of God and indeavour at all times to cherish the least appearance of it in our Souls and by no means at any time grieve it when it comes with its divine Message from its Master the Lord of Life 1 Thes 5.19 least the Spirit of God come in as a swift Witness against us in the Day of Christ saying Lord when I came with thy Message unto the creature they would upon no terms hearken unto it Pro. 28.10 Matt. 13.16 Matth. 13.22 Mark 4 19. Isa 28.10 1 Thes 5.19 but did stop their ears and set their Hearts against my Message at other times my Message was drowned by the confused noise of Carnal Reason and worldly care unlawful doubts and slavish fears at other times they did violence unto me by smothering my Powerful Raps that I made at the door of their consciences and would not hear a word if it were to save their Lives and Souls also Lord oftentimes I have come Line upon line and Precept upon precept with a little at one time and with a little at another time Oh! then they used all means for to squench my sweet Motions and grieve me till at last dear Lord I was fain to leave my message behind me as a testimony against them This charge amounts very high What remains now saith God but a fearful looking for judgment sinner notwithstanding all my Long-suffering forbearance Rom. 2.4 John 3.16 and my great love that I manifested unto you in sending of my Son to die for you and my sweet Spirit to manifest my Son to you Have you thus sinfully denyed me and shamefully rewarded me evil for good what may we expect now but the dreadful sentence from God to be uttered Matth. 25.41 Prov. 1.24 to 30. Depart from me ye Workers of Iniquity I know you not Nay God will say The time was that when I wo ed you and Intreated you by my Messenger early and late that you would not hearken unto my counsel and would hear none of my reproof I will mock when your fear cometh and then you shall call but I will not answer and though you shall seek me early you shall not find me Oh! let the consideration of these things therefore put us speedily upon the work of giving real and royal entertainment unto the Spirit when it comes and by no means turn it back least it be grieved and we wounded thereby so much may suffice for this Use The second Vse of Examination Is it true as you have heard that it is the work of the Spirit of God for to help the Soul to a true sight and sence of sin and to work the Soul out of love with sin and help a Soul to a sight of the Excellency of Christ and beget in the Soul a delight in Christ and direct the Soul to walk unto the Honour of Christ by which means it attains unto choice Communion with Christ Isa 3.9 Isa 5.18 Numb 32.23 Gen. 4.7 2 Cor. 7.11 Rom. 8.7 It is much our concernment for to make a strict and diligent search into our own Hearts to inquire whether we are sensible of what dishonour sin doth bring unto God besides a wound unto our own Souls for it is sin that breaks the Peace between us and our dear Lord Jesus it makes Christ and a Christian strange one to another Oh! how should this beget a Spiritual revenge in our Souls against this grand Enemy that is continually making war against us Oh! this should beget in us enmity against that which is a constant enemy unto the Lord come let us examine our selves whether we see sin in its right shape Oh! then it will beget a dislike in our Souls to it for when Satan that cunning deceiver comes for to deceive he puts a new face upon an old sin Gen. 3.4 vers 5. and gives it a new name to the end we may be taken with his Bates as covetousness is called by the name of Good Husbandry and drunkenness by the name of Good-Fellowship
the mire his Riches will stand him in no stead in the day of Wrath Prov. 11.4 when God shall pass the dreadful Sentence of Death upon him Oh! how should this be as an Alarm before the judgment Day unto us all it may serve for the beating up of the Quarters of the Carnal Men of this World Oh! that it may be a means for to drive us out of our Carnal Security to make sure of a right grounded Evidence for heaven for no Evidence will pass in the day of the Lord but that which is sent by the hand of Christ and sealed by the Spirit What Christ said unto Jerusalem Luke 19.42 I shall say unto the Carnal Men of this World Oh! that you would consider in this your Day the things that tend unto your Peace before they be hid from your Eyes Oh! when will it once be that thou mayest shake hands wiâ—h all thy Carnal Wealth and bid adew unto it all yea with a cheâ—â—ful Heart say unto it farewel and say I have found out a better Friend that will stand me in more stead Oh! a Pearl of great worth that will make me rich for ever and oh that thou wert once forced for to say I would not be without Christ for a thousand Worlds Oh! that this might be the Language of a Carnal Man when he finds his Heart Running out to Carnallity giving of himself an heavenly check What is thy meaning Soul what undo thy Soul for a triffle what for a little Honour and Worldly Estimation when thou hast done all wearied out thy Body and hazzared thy Soul to all Eternity and when thou hast got all thou canst get of the World why thou hast got that which will melt away like Snow yea let me tell thee also upon the best of worldly Injoyments God hath writ Woe thereon Oh! What good will our outward Honour do us Jam. 5.1 when we must look the Judge in the Face and be accountable unto him how we came by it with our Consciences flying in our Faces as a swift witness against us in the Day of Christ I leave it unto the Right Honourable that are so titled in this World to consider This may inform all Carnal men that take pleasure in all Worldly Delights and Pleasure that God hath writ wo upon that also Oh Soul What a miserable man wilt thou be when thou shalt swim in thy Pleasures to Hell It is not thy Wealth Honour nor thy good Friends that thou hast boasted in in the Day of the Lord will stand thee in any stead Oh! if thou dost not make Christ thy Friend here thou art undone man for ever when God shall accuse thee thy Conscience Condemn thee and thou lying under the sentence of a Severe Judge Oh! of what use will any thing that the World can afford be unto thee Oh! let a word of Counsel be acceptable unto thee then and make hast after dear Jesus and cleave and cling about him for a better Heart and better Pleasures or else Soul thou must go into the Pit where there will be no ransom found for thee Psal 9.17 whilst thou remains in the Carnal Mind thou art going thither a pace in a full career to Hell Oh man thou art near the end of that uncomfortable journey and not sensible whither thou art a going The Lord awaken such with the powerful Raps of his Spirit and give them the Portion of an awakened Conscience with the gift of a better Heart and then it is that thou shalt attain unto a better Mind Alas man upon all thy ill-gotten goods and unlawful gain that thou hast got with a defiled Conscience God writes Death yea upon the Posts of thy Doors Isa 33.15 Gen. 3.8 Rev. 6.16 Numb 32.23 And where art thou then man What will become of all thy Gain of Oppression then when God shall enter into judgement with thee when thou shalt go about to hide thy self with thy Father Adam God will find thee out There is no Mountain will hide thee from the presence of the Lord then nor when thou betakes thy self unto the Rocks shalt thou find them a sufficient shelter to thee for go where thou wilt thy sin will find thee out Poor man thou hast got a very bad bargain of it for thy rising up early and going to bed late and eating the bread of carefulness when at last thou must by Gods everlasting decree turn down to Hell for ever Truly that man is but a miserable poor man that is outwardly rich but inwardly poor that hath for many years took care to feed his Body and live deliciously and in the mean time hath starved his Soul Oh! that the Lord would awaken such persons that they might not sleep the sleep of death but consider the Day that will overtake them as a Thief in the night Rev. 16 15. before it be too late Oh! that such would go to Christ and intreat his favour to reconcile them unto the Father and as a token of his love be very earnest with him for to bestow upon them the earnest of the Spirit as a Pledge and Token of his Favour which will prove an excellent help unto them to conquer and overcome the Carnal Mind a Rock upon which thousands have split themselves in the world a Sand that hath sunk many into perdition Oh! it doth much concern all persons that live in the Carnal Mind to make no stay but run with all speed with the blind man of the Gospel to Christ as he brought his blind eyes to Christ so do thou bring thy blind Mind and intreat the Lord Jesus to enlighten thee and help thee to a true sight of himself Jer. 29.13 to the end thou mayest have thy mind stayed upon him without doubt if thou seekest aright thou mayest obtain thy desire yea wo and misery to the Carnal Man for let him injoy what he will it is sent him with a curse as you have already heard Oh! this should teach us for to be careful how we come nigh the dwellings of such who are Carnal and to have no more to do with them then necessity requires Learn to love their Persons but to hate their sins pitty them pray for them and do them any good to help them forward to Christ if thou canst but let thy Soul abhor their wayes come not near their secrets and learn to Honour that God that sent his Son to die for thy good Oh! Learn to be out of love with thy Carnal Mind thy Carnal Heart thy Carnal Wealth thy Carnal Honour thy Carnal Pleasure thy Carnal Gain in a word all thy Carnal Injoyments yea every thing that hath the Stamp of Carnality upon iâ— Rom. 6.23 Oh! let us seriously take the words of Paul into consideration and I shall conclude The wages of sin is Death but the Gift of God is Eternal Life through Jesus Christ our Lord. A DECLARATION Of the EXCELLENCY