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
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
waiting for Christ So Ambr. l. 3. de spir sancto c. 15 The same Father urgeth also that place in 1 Thes 3. 12 13. patrem dixit filium dixit quem ergo cumpatre filio praeter Spiritum junxit Mark 3. 29. Heb. 10. 29. Here are three distinct persons God to be beloved Christ to be waited for with patience and the Lord to whom the prayer is made that he would direct the hearts of believers into that love and patient waiting Now this Lord is the Lord the Spirit who directs the hearts of those whom he sanctifieth and enableth to believe Against the holy Ghost sinne may be committed and to great height and men may commit such sin against him as may become unpardonable because they wilfully and maliciously oppose and despight him in the manifestations of his presence and gracious workings in the Gospel for the Application of this salvation therefore he is very God he is the Spirit of grace 2. He is the Spirit of the Father and of the Son the Spirit of God and the Spirit Rom. 8. 9. Isa 61. 1. 1 Pet. 1. 11. Gal. 4. 6. of Christ He proceedeth * Joh. 15. 26. from the Father and the Sonne and according to this his existing about the work of saving application of Redemption he is sent forth of the Father as he is the Spirit of his Sonne into the hearts * Gal. 4. 6. of those that are priviledged with the Adoption of children God the Father sendeth him as he is the Comforter and the Son Jesus Christ sendeth him and therefore he is Joh. 15. 26 Alius non aliud Joh. 14. 16 another a distinct person not another thing he is another Comforter the Lord Jesus the Bridegroome he is one Comforter the holy Spirit in the Bridegroome and the Bride one and the same he is another Comforter he is the Spirit who knoweth the whole heart and the most hid councels and secrets of the Father and the Son these Gospel Mysteries the 1 Cor. 2. 10 11. secrets of this bosome-love into which no Angels of light could dive no more than a man can know what is in another man unlesse he reveale it This is he who works in us to bring home this salvation therefore it is done most effectually and most comfortably SECT 3. 2. What is his saving work In the Elect of God the Father and in The saving work of the Spirit made up of 14. works the Redeemed of Jesus Christ his Son the Redeemer The holy Ghost hath his saving work and it is made up of these several works following 1. Renovation or regeneration In which the holy Ghost by the word of Christ as water as a laver of water washing a sinner as floods of waters poured out upon the dry and barren heart doth clense and wash and in the washing change and make a new the sinner The word of the Gospel is as pure water and water fructifying The Lord Jesus Christ is a fountain opened for sin and uncleanenesse who came both by blood and water all sorts of clensings and washings are found in him and the holy Ghost in the work of his grace by the Record by making the sinner to know his own foulnesse and uncleanenesse by sin and the fulnesse of clensing away sin by a bathe of that water and by a Sacrifice in that blood which is in Jesus Christ the only Sonne of God crucified and by taking the basin of the Word which sets forth Christ into his own hands to sprinkle and rinse the sinner so enlightened and by taking hold also of such a sinner to put him into this laver and under this sprinkling he makes the heart to feel Christs love and the flinty rockinesse of it to melt and flow down before the Lord God and all the abilities of his soul to flow together and rise up towards the Lord Jesus with strong and fixed desires and then the holy Spirit is as water water that catrieth with it and in it the virtue of Christs blood set Joh. 3. 5 6 8. forth in the Gospel all to the washing and renewing and begetting again in such wise that this sinner is born from above Tit. 3. 5 6. born of the Spirit born of God and Christ is formed in him The party came into this laver a sinful man all leprous a dead man but he comes out of it a new man a living changed man quite another man than he was before Behold the laver of regeneration the renewing of the holy Ghost shed on a poor humbled sinner abundantly and richly through Jesus Christ our Saviour this work is of absolute necessity for old and young for learned and unlearned for Jew and Gentile And as that which is born of the flesh is carnal corrupt earthly low and weak so that which is born of the Spirit is Spirit spiritual pure heavenly high and powerful and discerning the holy Mysteries of the Gospel of the high and holy God 2. Sanctification the Apostle Peter describeth a true member of the Church a subject of grace and peace by the work of the three persons in the undivided Godhead about his salvation so that the Spirits work is that which singleth out the individual person from among all other the children of men and seateth the Fathers love and the Sonnes grace of Redemption upon him particularly This is the Description He is one Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father through sanctification of the Spirit unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ Sanctification is we see the saving work of the Spirit Sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth 1 Thes 2. 13 14. is the way through which God calling sinners thereunto by the Gospel ministred by the ministry of the New Testament doth bring those whom he hath chosen from the beginning to salvation unto the obtaining of the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ as this Apostle Paul teacheth in another place Now the sanctifying work of the Spirit is this 1. He illightens and this illumination is accompanied 1. With wisdome that knows things as they are and values them as they are worth that knows the worth of the things of God in Christ discovered according to their excelling nature and difference and prefers them above all other things and it is 2. With Râ—velation also bringing Ephes 1. 17 18. the things of Christ unto the mind in Gods own light in a light above the light of mans reason And it is thirdly with rectifying or rather making anew the Organe the eyes of our understandings which were covered with blindnesse and Mat. 16. 17 that blindnesse was in and from our birth so that we were born blind they are opened that we may know All this is beyond the illumination which is of common grace and which may be found in the best of hypocrites 2. He quickens he causeth the dead in sins and trespasses to
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
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
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
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
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
the Law as to the point of life and righteousnesse of justification and salvation which is briefly delivered by Paul who in his own person gives us one that is taught of God thereby when he saith I through the Law am dead to the Law never more looking for righteousnesse and justification of life that way that I might live unto God Gal. 2. 19. No life but through this death never thus dead but through the Law when it comes the Law comes sinne revives and we dye and this dying is the way to life even to a living unto God SECT 3. Secondly No sinner can work his own 2. A sinner cannot save himself for six reasons deliverance for 1. We are weak and without strength Rom. 5. 6. There is no strength in us to fulfill the Law no strength to satisfie the justice and so turn away the wrath of God much lesse is there strength in us to recover our lost integrity nor to keep it if we had it again restored to us no strength to help our selves to meet the Lord in the wayes of his saving grace or to choose and walk in the way that is call'd holy no strength for any service unto God 2. We are flesh and in the flesh that is wholly corrupted with sin under the power and reign of sin the poyson of the Old Serpent hath run like water into our bowels and like oyle into our bones from the spirit of our mindes to all our outward members we are leprous all unclean and soaked in iniquity conceived in sinne and shapen in wickednesse we Rom. 5. 6 8. are sinners and ungodly when God in Christ by his death comes in love and â—ity to redeem us we lie in our blooâ— untill he saith to us Live we are dead in sin and trespasses till he qâ—icken us and how can such please God they cannot do Rom. 8. 8. it 3. We are enemies unto God our Rom. 5. 10. 8. 7. Col. 1. 21. 2 Cor. 10 3 4 5. wisdome our savour and smatch is enmity unto God We are enemies in our mindes because they are on evil works our principles our thoughts our reasonings our imaginations are high things lifted up in rebellion against the knowledg of God and the obedience of Christ and as strong holds fortified and kept in a desperate Warre against the Spirit of the Lord which in the Ministry even of the Gospel comes forth to bring us into a blessed captivity and subdue us and our very hearts the worst part of man unto himself and to his obedience the carnal minde of man is not subject to the Law of God neither can be there is no good to be done with it put it off Rom. 8. 7. mortifie it crucifie it crucifie the flesh with the affections and lusts thereof for that is all the good that can be done with it good it will never be but we must be in the Spirit and the Spirit of Christ dwell in us to enable us to such work or else we have no will no heart to it Rom. 8. 13. Oh then how farre are all men from any ability to work their own deliverance 4. We see not our sinfulnesse nor our misery nor can nor will be brought to see it by any other means than by the Scripture the written Law of God which is the only glasse in which we can truly see our selves James 1. 23. Rom. 7. 7. 5. Though the Law hath not lost it's rectitude yet our weaknesse to keep it maketh the Law by accident to be the more against us And 6. Notwithstanding all this that hath been spoken we yet are full of high thoughts of our selves we are proud and secure sinners and are naturally bent to seek to establish our own righteousnesse For the use of this The consideration The use of this hereof should take us wholly off our own legs and bring us to self-denial It should cause us to deliver up our selves to the Law that we might be throughly convinced of these things and that the Spirit might be in and through the Law a Spirit of bondage in us and we might be glad at heart of a Saviour that can deliver us SECT 4. Thirdly No meer creature can possibly 3. No meer creature can save a sinner for six reasons Matth. 16. 26. 1 Pet. 1. 18 deliver us for 1. No creature is above the Law If the Law of God cannot give life it is not in the power of the creature to do it The Creator alone is above the Law 2. No creature nor the whole Creation hath in it a worth to be a price of value for a soul All the treasures of both the Indies all things in this world because corruptible things are not so excellent as a soul and the price of the Redemption thereof at the hands of God is too high for men and Angels it ceaseth for ever in respect of the creature Psal 49 6 8. 3. Whatever any creature can do he owes it for himself and does but his duty 4. Grant yet that some creature could give help could there be any salvation for then for this very cause we should be servants unto the creature and this were to bring us into bondage and not into liberty they are not their own who are bought with a price if the creature did lay down the price we were the creatures servants which to be is absolute slavery 5. Our evils are greater than can be removed by creatures yet removed they must be if any of us be saved and our good that we may be happy is greater than can be by them communicated The evil is the infinite wrath of God the guilt and damning nature of sinne standing in force and confirmed by the strength of an eternal perfect Law the Empire of sin and death the power of the Divel that strong armed man of whom we read Luk. 11. 21 22. The good we stand in need of is a righteousnesse above the righteousnesse of the Law a Resurrection as well spiritual as corporal the communication of the divine nature eternal life and a blessednesse excelling the blessednesse of Adam in Paradise and a Kingdom which cannot be shaken All and every of these are beyond any created power to give or take away 6. No creature could ever think of the way manner or means whereby we might be delivered The world in the wisdome of God upheld for some thousands of years in its wisdome and abilities by its wisdome knew not God much lesse could finde out the way of peace and â—reconciliation for sinners with the God that made them 1 Cor. 1. 21. Markinde was continued and their rational power sustained and the work of the Law written in their hearts was apparent in them and yet with all the glory of God in his works of Creation and general providence preaching to them they perished in their vain imaginations and professing themselves wise in searching to finde out
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
contain this doctrine The way God took to save a sinner by Christ is a sweet and sound demonstration of the alsufficiency of the salvation in Christ Jesus and the way was this to condemn sinne in the flesh of his Sonne whom he sent in the flesh and that of purpose to take away sinne Two things are to be unfolded here 1. The way which God taketh 2. The effectualness of that way 1. The way of God is this while he saveth the sinner he will condeme his sin to the low â— Hell and lower by farre and that in the very same nature that hath sinned even in humane flesh That this may be done he sets out his own Sonne to be made flesh he sends him in the similâ—tude of sinful flesh in a true humane soul and body such as sinne had made frail miserable and mortal such a one as ours is He thus sends him for sin that he may bear all their sins charged on him And then in this flesh of his own Son their sinnes shall be condemned the Son of God condemned for their sin and so in that condemnation sin for ever condemned for this end he sends him as one that hath taken upon him the Office of a Saviour by mediation by suretiship and by redemption and as he whom God had designed to this office Consider every step in this way they are Five steps in this way of God 1 His Sons preordination 1 Pet. 1. 20. Ephes 1. 9 five the first step is 1. Gods preordination of the Sonne to be the Mediatour that he in our nature should execute the office of a Mediatour of Priest Prophet and King in a state of humiliation This preordination is Gods eternal fore-knowledge counsel purpose and decree out of his infinite good pleasure within himself appointing his Son to be the Christ to bring the Elect to glory Christ Jesus as God-man is the means of election to be executed he is the cause of our salvation but not of our election In this preordination there was a Councel held between the Father the Son and the holy Spirit In this councel all that concerns mans salvation was determined Act. 2. 23. 4. 28. The Son is set out and by a free voluntary dispensation he yieldeth to be ordained and appointed Rom. 3. 25. And with him an Agreement is made that he should give his soul an offering for sinne and then according to promise in that agreement he should see the fruit of that his travel of soul to his own hearts full satisfaction Isa 53. 10. All that ever shall be saved were given to him before all worlds John 10. 29. 17. 6 9 6. 37 39. Life eternal is promised before the worlds 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 grace that Tit. 1. 2. 2 Tim. 1. 10. is free love and favour with the effects of it was given the Elect in Christ before the world began A book of all is written the Records the most High's Parliament Rev. 20. 15 21. 27. 13. 8. Roles called the book of life the Lambs book of life And accordingly he before he was sent was Preached in Gen. 3. 15. promised to Abraham in Gen. 22. 18. and to David in Psal 132. was prophesied of * Isa 7. 4. 9. 6 7. 53. Jer. 23. 5. was Typified in the Tabernacle and the Ark of the Covenant Heb. 9. and in Melchizedech Heb. 7. 3. was seen in fore-shewes in a humane shape in which of old he appeared frequently to the Fathers as the holy Angels also used to do 2. Gods mission of his Sonne is the second 2. His mission step of this way of God The work thus 1. The Father and the holy Ghost do send and the Son voluntarily condescends to be sent All stoops nothing too dear for the salvation of a sinner The Sonne is brought in speaking thus I have not spoken in secret from the beginning from the Isa 48. 16. A cleare old Testament proof of the Trinity Joh. 7. 28 29. time that it was there am I and now the Lord God and his Spirit hath sent me 2. The Son came not of himself he took nothing on him of his own head apart from the Father in the whole businesse of Redemption 3. The Father gave him out of his bosome he sent him on this great errand he parted with him spared him not but he delivered him up 4. He sent him in his Incarnation in the fulnesse of time but of this Act in the next step 5. He sent him into the world into this miserable vain sinful place he dwelt among men and was found in fashion as a man he sent him not Isa 61. 1. to delight and glory in the world 6. He sent him furnished with gifts he sanctified him separated him from all other as Joh. 10. 36. Joh. 5. 3â— 9. 4. only able and fit for such a work as to save the world and filled him with the Spirit not by measure as he is man and having thus sanctified him he sent him 7. He sent him and gave him work to do and finish and set him a day a season to do Joh. 7. 6. 8 8. 28. 12. 49. 14. 24. Joh. 17. 1 4. it in he neither did nor spake of himself but as the Father which sent him gave him Commandment what he should say and what he should speak he did nothing of himself he doth what he seeth the Father do and spake what he heard and learn't of his father he did all in the very hour of the allotted day and finished his work in the hour of the day set him the work some of it was none of the easiest or fairest work he was not only to preach the doctrine of the Kingdome and to confirm it by Miracles to keep the law and to fulfill all righteousnesse but to be a pattern in doing and suffering yea to be a Ransome a Price a Sacrifice for sinne to suffer a cursed death and to be made sin and a curse for us and this Heb. 10. 8 9. â—oh 3. 17. Act. 3. 26 1 Joh. 4. 9. 10. Joh. 8. 29. Joh. 16. 32 hard and foul work he delighted to perform 8. He sent him not to condemn but to save the world to blesse his people to be a propitiation that in him we might have life 9. He sent him and was with him he never left him alone because he doth alwayes those things that please his Father he never did his own will or sought his own glory but his glory who sent him and when all his Apostles left him alone and forsook him then the Father was with him 10. He sent him with Commission what was that surely most worthy the perusing by us his Commission he opens and reads it was this 1. His Commission was and is to seek and to save that which was lost 2. To dye and rise Luk. 19. 10. Joh. 10. 28. Isa 49. 6. Joh.
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
were conceived and born with all the cursed brats thereof inward and outward in which actual transgressions she hath been and is prodigiously fruitful To be purifying the soul in obeying the truth unto more and more unfeignednesse in faith love meeknesse patience and in every other 1 Pet. 1. 22 Ezek. 36. 27. 2 Tim. 1. 14 grace to walk in Gods statutes to keep his judgments and to do them and to keep the faith committed to our trust as a thing deposited In all these the actions are ours the ability is the Spirits these are the works of the Spirit sanctifying us 3. Manuduction or leading by the Rom. 8. 14. hand the new born and sanctified are at first weak as children and ever after in this life stand in need of a guide such a guide as might inwardly act sweetly and powerfully draw graciously support and gently lead all this the Spirit doth for the children of God this work is accompanied with familiar sense of love and faithfulnesse taking and holding us by the right hand that our souls might follow hard after him these mighty dawnings Psal 63. 8. and sustentations the more they are felt the more are they prayed for that they might run after Christ and the more the soul is powerfully enabled in these pursuits the right hand and dexrous power of the Holy Ghost is put forth to uphold us so much the more and this work is expressed further with counsel as David Ps 73. 23 24. said thou wilt guide me with thy counsel and with inward prompting and whisprings as of a voyce behind them saying this is the way walk in it when ye turn to the Isa 30. 21. right hand and when ye turn to the left 4. Teachings as the anointing this teaching is with sweet and piercing efficacy as oyle that suppleth and entereth soakingly into flesh and bone and it is 1 â—oh 2. 20 27. with the perfume of the aromatical spicery of graces like the holy anointing oyle under the Law mentioned Exod. 30. 23 24 25. It is also with great establishment in our Royal Priest-hood and in the truth of the Gospel which we learn by this teaching therefore the Apostle John saith we have an unction from the holy one 2 Cor. 1. 21. we know all things the effect hereof is great peace of heart as it is said in prophecy concerning the true Church especially under the New Testament Ministry All thy children shall be taught of the Lord and great shall be the peace of thy Isa 54. 13. children 5. Consolation he is the Comforter by leading into all truth by bringing all things unto our remembrance by filling Joh. 16. 13. 6. 14. 2 us with joy and peace in believing by making us to abound in hope of glory through his power for the work is of Rom. 13. 13. 8. 15 16. 1 Joh. 5. 6. Rom. 8. 26. 2 Cor. 1. 22. 5. 5. Eph. 1. 13. 4. 30. great and infinite power to set the heart of earthy man of sinful clay and keep it up stedfast so high as eternal life in the world to come and in the third heaven by being in us the Spirit of Adoption in his work upon the heart by witnesse-bearing by making intercession in us and for us by being the earnest in our bosomes and by sealing us up to the day of Redemption 6. Direction inward a most secret 2 Thes 3. 5. work which hath two branches or parts first the directing of the heart renewed and sanctified into every particular acting of every grace received especially of love and hope Secondly the directing of the heart into a very sensible taste and experience of comfort The words of the Apostle when he saith The Lord direct your hearts into the love of God this love of God may be understood actively of the love wherewith we love God or passively of the love wherewith God loveth us 7. Corroboration this renders the sanctifyed mighty in doing and in suffering enlarged to receive and hold the strong wine of Gospel mysteries and to walk at liberty in the wayes of Gods Commandments making their way through all impediments and oppositions confirmed in the truth and enabled to stand fight and overcome in the spiritual warfare This strengthens with might in the inner man the regenerate and no other have an inner man this is from the gracious free-gift of God as the Father of Christ according to riches of glory according to his Ephes 3. 14 16 20 19. Col. 1. 11. glorious power and from the energy the effectual working of the power of God working in us exceeding abundantly above all that we can ask or think and this work is unto the dwelling of Christ in the heart by faith unto our rooting and grounding in love unto capacious comprehensions of the every way unmeasurable measures of the love of God and of Christ unto all patience and long-suffering with joyfulnesse in the profession of Christs name and Gospel and unto the filling with all the fulness of God even the fulnesse of his image 8. The giving of supplies which for the manner of the work is by influence from Phil. 1. 19 Eph. 4. 16. Col. 2. 19. Christ the head to believers as his members for measure it is in a proportion agreeable to the measure of every part for the things ministred grace and life spiritual and for the next end nourishment more firm knitting to the head and to every fellow-member and increase with the increase of God that is with a mighty increase an increase which beareth before it the work and blessing of no lesse nor of any other than of God himself 9. The shedding abroad of Gods love in Christ even the sense of that love in Rom. 5. 5. with the context from ver 1. to the 11. ver and upon the heart that lieth now next the heart nothing comes between this love and the heart it is plentifully poured on it this work strengtheneth hope patience experience joy in tribulations even unto glorying and holy humble boasting peace of conscience faith in Jesus Christ liberty of accesse into the favour and free-grace of God and standing in the same so that we joy in God against whom we have sinned this causeth all gladnesse more than that gladnesse of Psal 4. 7 8 corne and wine abounding more than all the comforts of this earthly Creation and it setleth the soul in holy safety and security 10. Assistance in persecutions this appears by special teachings of the Spirit to Mat. 10. 20 wisdome power and utterance which the Adversaries cannot gain-say or resist and by the resting of the Spirit on us as the Spirit of glory against the shame and as the Spirit of God against the pain of the Crosse by delivering also from the spirit of fear even a low pusillanimous slavish 1 Pet. 4. 14. base fearful perplexed selfish revengeful giddy turn-coat unsound
carnally politick temper of the soul and be in us the Spirit of power of love and of a sound minde and by giving suffering 2 Tim. 1. 6 7. graces and comforts fitted to the present suffering condition whatsoever it be Lastly by enabling â—o come to God in prayer when the extremities of sufferings the darknesse of Gods wayes in that dispensation and the difficulties of the times in which we are placed and the perplexednesse of our and the Lords cause we are to stand for by mens subtleties or otherwise is such that we know not what or how to ask as we ought yet even in this case the Spirit it self maketh intercession in us with sighs and groans that cannot be expressed this is the proper sense of the Apostle in that place to the Romans Chap. 8. verse 26. 11. The making us Gods habitation he makes first his own way into the sinful Eph. 2. 22. secure proud hard stony and dead heart and then he prepares for God an habitation there he makes us a spiritual house and an holy Priesthood in that spiritual house he builds us to be a Temple to God that he may walk in them and 1 Pet. 2. 5. 2 Cor. 6. 16 dwell in them this he doth by building us as lively stones on Christ the choicest foundation stone by furnishing us with the Temple-furniture through the doctrine of Christ received and by consecration And he maketh believers Priests by consecâ—ation with the anointing and by the besprinkling of the blood of Christ by cloathing with the Priestly Robes of justification and sanctification and by bestowing on them the hearts and dispositions of consecrated Priests 12. Mansion or abode for ever in Gods people This work is most comfortable the world cannot receive the Spirit they know him not Christs true Disciples John 14. 16 17. know him and receive him and he comes and not as a guest for a night or so but as the inhabitant that dwells in them as in his house and Temple and abides therefor ever he dwells in them as the Comforter and the Spirit of truth he supplies Christs room and presence therefore they are not Orphans here is the anointing the Chrisme that abideth in them teaching 1 Joh. 2. 27. with ver 20. 24. them of all things that are delivered in the Scripture in which doctrine of the Word of truth the true Christian maketh conscience to abide and continue as ever they would continue in the Sonne and in the Father 13. The uniting them to Jesus Christ the husband of the Church and to all true 1 Cor. 16. 17. Christians as all of them make up one body and Bride of such a Lord the only Sonne of the living God and God blessed Rev. 22. 17. for ever in uniting true believers to Jesus Christ as Bridegroome he raiseth in them espoused conjugal love and fidelity vehement desires after his love-tokens the kisses of his mouth familiar talkings and confabulations walks together feastings mutual and imbraces these are set forth in that most spiritual book the Song of Solomon and the more they enjoy this hidden communion with Christ the more the Spirit raiseth in them desires unfeigned and fervent after with love of and waiting for the presence of Christ in his second coming which is the marriage-day the nearness of this union is such that it is thus expressed he that is joyned to the Lord is one Spirit and that is far nearer and more excellent than to be one flesh as man and wife are one the work of the Spirit is also to unite to Christians in such wise that they are all one body this is called the fellowship of the Spirit and the unity of Ephes 4. 4 Phil. 2. 1. Ephes 4. 3 the Spirit union with Christ and with Christians is the glorious work of the Spirit the ground of communion of communication and of sympathy or fellow-feeling These are the saving works of the Spirit in the Elect and Redeemed thus enumerated Arrha docet renevat juvat obsignatque salutem Spiritus ecce docet renovat copulatque regitque consolatur Arrha salutifera for the help of memory but not determining that they are wrought in this order there is an old received verse a pair of verses which name some of them but I hope none that are judicious will either say that there are none else or that these above-named so fully described in plain Scripture and so comfortably experienced by the Saints are not the saving workings of the Spirit but how lively quick significant and discriminating of this saving work are the Scripture expressions and praises attributed to the Holy 2 Cor. 4. 13 Zach. 11. 10. Isa 4. 4. Ghost they are these the Spirit of faith the Spirit of grace and supplications the Spirit of judgment and of burning the Spirit of holiness or of sanctification Rom. 1. 4. 8. 5. Rev. 11. 11 Rom. 8. 2. Eph. 1. 17 Isa 11. 2 3 2 Tim. 1. 7. Joh. 14. 17 Ps 51. 11 12. Eph. 1. 13. Psal 45. 7. 1 Joh. 2. 20 27. Joh. 14. 16 1 Joh. 5. 6 10. Eph. 1. 14. 4. 30. Rom. 8. 23 Ezek. 36. 25. Joh. 4. 10 14. 7. 38 39. Cant. 4. 16 Hos 14. 4. Mal. 3. 11. Tit. 3. 5. 2 Thess 2. 13. Ro. 8. 26. Joh. 14. 26 1 Joh. 3. 9. Joh. 15. 26 27. the Spirit of adoption the Spirit of life the Spirit of life which is in Christ Jesus the Spirit of wisdome and revelation in the knowledge of Christ the Spirit of wisdome and understanding the Spirit of counsel and might the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord the Spirit of love power and of a sound minde the Spirit of truth Gods holy Spirit Gods free or princely Spiâ—it the holy Spirit of promise the oyle of gladnesse the anointing the comforter the witness the earnest the seal sealing for the Saints are the seal sealed the first fruits clean water water of life a well-spring of living water the North and South wind that blowes upon the gardâ—n the dew and fire the renewing of the Holy Ghost the sanctification of the Spirit he that maketh intercession in the Saints he that brings all to their remembrance the seed that abideth in them he that enableth the belieer to bear witnesse to the truth of the Gospel with the spirit of a Martyr All this glory manifested in these saving works the children of God do feel and have the joyful experience of it in this life 14. The last saving work is for and in another world to be done at the last Rom. 8. 11 day and that is The quickening of their bodies out of the grave they shall be raised by the Spirits quickening of them as members of the body of which Christ is the head this is peculiar to the Saints who are sanctified by faith in Jesus Christ the Spirit which now dwells in them will in
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
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
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
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
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.
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
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
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 Moon under his feet and himself set above himself and above tâ—e world while he treads on mould and dwells in a leprous house of clay He cannot abide hypocrisie and loves nothing below that conversation which the grace of God in Christ teacheth He is passing on from faith to faith from glorious grace to glorious grace from strength to strength as one called to glory and vertue but speeding his way through daily mortifications and crucifixions of a home enemy within his own bowels he walks in the Spirit and so fulfills not the lusts of the flesh he walks not after the flesh that he might walk closely after the Spirit he that walks after the flesh knows not the flesh so well as he he avoids and passes by he comes not near but goes away from the flesh's walks for he hates the garment spotted with the flesh He would not defile his garments for fine linnen clean and white is his cloathing even the righteousnesses of the Saints all wrought without hands as himself is the workmanship of God in Christ Jesus by the Spirit in a new Creation yet since that the flesh will be with him the heighth of his spiritual temper is this he will take his garments and his fine array and wash them white in the blood of the Lamb. O spiritual man O Saint of the most high blessed be thou blessed be thy A blessing of his happy change way blessed be thy counsel in choosing this way thou art blessed in such a leader the Holy Ghost the Spirit of life and power what eye-salve but that which Christ alone is Merchant of by a Monopoly that enriches all the Church and infringes the liberty of none what eye-salve but that could have made thee so wel-sighted clearly to discern these two-fold leaders walks and walkers and as if thine eyes were in thy feet to turn thy way with such exactnesse from the one and turn thy walks unto this other Grace is in thy walk and Glory will be thy Crown Christ is not ashamed to call them brethren though he be in glory and they on the dung-hill Of this brood of travellers let my soul be it shall be my hiâ—hest honour among all men to be of this brother-hood which is so nearly allyed and so fast that they are all but one body animated acted and lead by one Spiriâ— and have all one way and walk and one description agreeing to one and all Thus far of the six things proposed for explication of this description which makes up the third great doctrine of this text now follow the uses to be made of this whole truth SECT 8. The use is three-fold 1. Of Tryal 2. Of comfort and 3. Of exhortation Three useâ— of the whole 1. Of tryal 1. This doctrine is full of tryal it is of a distinguishing and differencing nature such are all descriptions they describe not if they distinguish not that one thing may not be taken for another and the excellency of this description is that it is plain and manifest he that runnes may read who is in Christ by faith and who is not the Apostle would not have given it twice in one Context and in the same words in matters of such hiâ—h concernment and on purpose to settle us in sure consolation had it not been most easie to be discerned and palpable to all though malice will not suffer the tongue to own what they cannot but know in their heart The walk the conversation shews the man try then who hath the command of our lives observe that for if we live after the flesh we shall dye for ever but if through the Spirit we mortifie the deeds of the body our members that are on earth Rom. 8. 13 as uncleannesse covetousnesse and the like we shall live for ever and never be damned There are but two principles that rule the man one of these have the command of all men where the one commands there the other cannot that commands that hath power over the conversation It 's lustings and motions are reigning indeed that frame the walk of a man It is then no difficult thing to know what we are by our walks look upon your walk and see your estate The works of the flesh are manifest read and see Gal. 5. 19 20 21. And the fruits of the Spirit are many and go in a chain unsevered Gal. 5. 22. they are sweet and ripe not rotten not hedge-fruit they are such against which there is no Law although they are Gospel-fruit never grew but in that soil Did ever any men make a Law against them and the Law of God is wholly for them Be not deceived by profession and perswasion that thou hast spiritual life within thee if that inward spiritual life do not come forth in power to frame thy conversation after it and no more after Gal. 5. 25 26. the flesh If we saith our Apostle do live in the Spirit let us walk in the Spirit have you spiritual life in you have a spiritual conversation also have a spiritual conversation and you shall not fulfill the lusts of the flesh though you have flesh and the flesh lusting in you The sinnes of the godly are not as the sinnes of the wicked and the manifest difference is this the godly have no way of wickednesse in them no sinne is their way Ps 139. 24 and trade no sinne commands their walk they may fall into a sinne as a wicked man may sometimes fall upon a duty but that is not their course they up again and walk on in Gods way which their souls delight in and choose humbled and ashamed and speeding their way the more their delight is in the Law of the Lord now that allows no sinne neither do they every word of God is pure so is their way and purity of way is that they love there is no wickednesse in all the words of wisdome he that delights in the Word of God as his guide shall of necessity be led in wayes wholly differing from the counsel course and chair of sinners ungodly and scorners Gods children have spots too many but not the spots of unbelievers and hypocrites The spot of Gods children is not the spot of carnal Israelites or carnal professours of the Gospel whatever be the spot of the spiritual this is his beauty he walks after the Spirit he walks not after the flesh but after the Spirit Mark here these three distinguishing points in the trial of our estate First the spiritual takes the Spirit for the Commander and Orderer of his conversation as he would have the Holy Ghost live and rule in his heart and his soul live in the power of the Spirit given to him and dwelling in him so he resolves to walk in the Spirit the spiritual mans walk is a walk after the Spirit Secondly he walks thus refusing and watching against fleeing and warring against the flesh and against the affections and
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
the first is justified by faith freely of free-grace through the righteousnesse and redemption which iâ— in Jesus Christ and in his blood this is most true the great truth of the Gospel and it is of the same Gospel-truth that the â—ust the justified sinner now made just and righteous by faith and whose heart God hath purified and sanctified by faith the just shall live by his faith for the righteousnesse â—phes 1 6 2. 8 9. whereby he stands righteous iâ— revealed from faith to faith and not first to faith and then afterwards to works and he is still by free-grace accepted in Christ the beloved and is what ever he is by the free-grace of God We are saved by grace through faith and that is not of our selves it is the gift of God not of works lest any man should boast Salvation is by faith that it might be of grace were it of works it were no more of grace Will any say grace is not grace Why sayest thou I but I can do nothing I have done nothing I still sinne after forgivenesse I have upon me a very necessity oh my dayly sinnes and debts what will become of me for my sinnes since God hath graciously visited and called me Do we not see the Answer live by faith upon free-grace and upon the redemption which is in Christ as thou didst at first when thou wast nothing but sinne God hath begun thy salvation by faith and he will never turn thee over to the Law again to be perfected by it Wilt thou begin in the Spirit and then go to be made perfect by the flesh Fourthly That all that is required of us even repentance faith and uprightnesse as well as perseverance is promised given undertaken for and wrought by God the Father and by Jesus Christ the Sonne of the Father and by the Holy Ghost the Spirit of the Father and of the Sonne Why sayest thou despondingly I cannot repent I cannot believe I have a deceitful heart I cannot be rid of hypocrisie vain-glory and secret self-confidence art thou sensible of these condemn them judge thy self for them and go to him as a child to a father through Christ by the Spirit according to his Word for power to repent believe and to walk uprightly Owning thy disability look to him who whiles and in the bidding exhorting and promising giveth and worketh what he commands Say Turn thou me and I shall be turned Lord I desire to believe help thou mine unbelief accomplish in me all the good pleasure of thy goodnesse and the work of faith with power Take out of me the heart of stone and give me an heart of flesh give me a new heart and a new spirit and put thy holy Spirit into me which shall cause me to walk in thy Statutes and to do them Lift up thy drooping soul and say Let him command what he will who gives what he Commands and gives by commanding Fifthly That free-grace is the ground of all and abounds through all and reignes above all to eternal life Why sayest thou as one discouraged The sense of my sinne and guilt abounds how then can I have comfort In thy self thou canst not loath thy self upon the account of thine own righteousnesse thou canst not but in God in Christ upon the account of his free-grace thou mayest and mayest the more for all the mercy of this Covenant of loving kindnesse peace and salvation was and is for sinners guilty sinners chief sinners that were under sinne and death in their power and for no other that where sinne abounds grace might super-abound and was and is from free-grace above and against desert Sixthly That Jesus Christ is the second Adam and the Covenant is within and in him with us Why sayest thou How can it be that Christs righteousnesse should be mine how can any be perswaded of this Why sayest thou not How can the Rom. 5 12 and forwards to the end of the Chapter first Adam involve me in sinne and death is not the answer clear and full He is the first Adam and is not the answer as clear and full Jesus Christ is the second Adâ—m this he is to all who are in him thou findest the first Adam's disobedience hath made thee sinful and brought in death upon thee place thy self under the Word of faith receive what God there testifieth to be true and why not for God is true and thou shalt feele that the obedience of Christ will make thee righteous the fâ—ee-gift will come upon thee unto justification of life In this thing Adam was a fâ—gure of him that was to come even or the Lord Jesus Christ the second Adam SECT 4. In the third place Mark well The sinnes 3. Falls and backslidings though repeated shall not condemne the spiritual walker of those that walk after the Spirit shall not hinder the benefit of Christs salvation from them no not their falls in their walk not their back-slidings nor their relapses into the same iniquity again The Apostle boldly affirms there is ro condemnation to them tâ—ey are in Christ and to them that are in Christ there is no conâ—emnation They that are in Christ have the benefit of all the salvation which is in him salvation is full where there is no condemnation They sinne but Christ is their Advocate with the Father 1 Joh. 2. 1. Jer. 31. 18 19 20. Christ is their propâ—tâ—atâ—on They bemoan themselves for their untractable hearts God owns them for children dear by Adoption in Christ Jesus he spares and pities with fatherly yearning bowels as Ps 103. 13 14. Their falls was said before And as for their falls their falls are with rising again with as it were another conversion with a new setting in joynt again They grow better by their falls as did David and Peter not that it is ere the better that they fall or that they are better than those that hold on their way and walk in uprightnesse without falls but thus they are better than they were before they fell they recover the fall and walk on with the more self-denial watchfulnesse holy jealousie speedy stedfastnesse and redoubled zeal and power they were over-taken in a fault and they run the faster tread the streighter and surer They did the Lord dishonour and disservice they now mind the more his honour and some higher service if none fall in their way they will make famous to his honour their own shame owned in repentings but nevet more come near the very appearance of commission or perpetration of such sin by their good will Their falls therefore shall not hinder their salvation No nor their back-sâ—idings I distinguish Their back-slidings them thus A fall into some particular sinne A back-sliding is a departing from the faith or from the holy way back-sliding is of the nature of Apostasie in doctrine or practice there is a new Religion and another frame of conversation in back-sliding As Apostasie is
the chief good The chief good is that which when we have we are blessed but not having it we are miserable The chief good is God alone the enjoying and fruition of God is true blessednesse and true comfort This cannot be to a sinner but in Christ who is the propitiation the reconciliation and the atonement Therefore God in Christ is the sinners chief good Christ cannot be received but by his Spirit given thus then to be the Lord Christs in body and soul whether we live or die redeemed by his Precious blood from all our sinnes and from the power of Satan death and the grave and from the wrath to come and through Christ to be the Fathers own poâ—tion received into his fâ—vour and grace as his adoâ—ted childâ—en in Jesus Christ and to be under his fatheâ—ly care and providence that without his will not an hâ—iâ—e can fall fâ—om our heads and that all things are made to woâ—k together for our good and to have the Holy Ghost given to us to renew us to unite us to Christ to enable us to believe to moâ—tifie the flesh to give up our selves to obedience to make us willing and ready to live to him and walk after him and to assure of eternal life this is the onely true and sound consolation both in life and death And this is the estate of those that walk afteâ— the Sâ—iâ—it This true blessednesse cannot be in this life in perfection but onely in inâ—hoation or a begun enjoyment of the same and by faith and hope in a lively expectation of the full and perfect fruition thereof because there is death mortality sinful remaiâ—ders the wâ—ath to come wâ—ich must be utteâ—ly taken away and the soul and body placed in a state of glorious libeâ—ty befoâ—e there can be full enâ—oyment of perfect blisse because also the glory unto which we are called by the Gospel is farre greater than this world is capable of and soul and body in this earthly frame cannot receive it True blessednesse cannot be at all of this world nor of the things thereof could one man be possessed of them all which yet never was nor will be for they are mutable and passing away and if they were abiding yet they are not satisfactory nor can they fill all the capacities of the reasonable creature much lesse can blessednesse be of the things of this life to a sinner for by sin they are become accursed to the sinner and he accursed in their enjoyment They also cannot take away sinne make the sinner holy bring him into favour with God and so bring him to blessedness mistake not then Our comfort is not in this that we have attained and that we are already perfect but that we are in the begun state and that we shall assuredly attain and shall be perfect Our comfort consists not in this that we have no sinne but in forgivenesse at present and in the full blotting out expected when the Lord shall come again in glory Our holinesse or sanctification consists not in this that no sinne is at all in us but in this that our old man is crucified so that we be not servants to any sinne and that we are become servants of righteousness Our holy walking is in finding out our sinnes that they may not finde us out and in eschewing them that we may tread the wayes of God with a larger streighter firmer step and with an evener quicker pace Our progresse in holinesse is by daily mortifying the members on the earth and by bringing forth continually more fruits unto God as those that are alive from the dead Our perseverance is the maintaining of the combate Our present state is that of David under the anointing conflicting with our spiritual enemies that either are like Saul and his confedeâ—ates or like Absolom and his conspirators so that we are singing a Psalme like the third Psalme and it is not that of David upon the Throne singing the eighteenth Psalme whereof the title is A Psalme sung when the Lord had delivered him from the hand of his enemies yet it is the estate wherein we are assured to be singing it with perfect triumph one day Our comfort is begun and held out of godly sorrow we sow in tears and go carrying precious seed with us our comfort is a seed-season and the joy of a harvest-home Our comfort is in Gospel-promises blessings priviledges graces Our comfort is not in freedome from troubles temptations persecutions but in a heavenly Fathers disposing the troubles delivering from the power and poyson of the temptations and of persecutions as they are persecutions putting us into the upper form of his Saints on earth and placing us in highest honour and giving us the matter of greatest joy that can befall us in this valley of tears God hath registred and left upon file for a perpetual Record the way of the Saints comfort on this wise If when we are enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Sonne much more being reconciled we shall be saved by his life Ro. 5. 10. If God be for us who can be against us he that spared not his own Son but delivered him up for us all how shall he not with â—â—m also freâ—ly give us all Rom. 8. 31 32. Ps 56. 13. things Thou â—â—st delâ—vered my soul from death wilt not thou dâ—lâ—ver my feet from fallâ—ng that I mâ—y walk before â—od in the light of the living God hath shewed us the way wherein he Gods way of giving grace and comfort is the sight of his grace in Christ and not the eying of our duty or deservings 2 Cor. 3. 18. 5. 19. Ro. 1. 179 giveth both at the first conversâ—on and ever after all grace and comfort It is this he sets before sinners brought to see themselves their sâ—nnes and curseâ—nâ—sse thereby in the glasse of his holy Law the glasse and mirrour of his Gospel where in the beholding of the glory of God as he is in Christ reconciling the world to himself both Jewes and Gentiles concluded all under sinne not imputing trespasses and sending them to the Word and Ministry of reconciliation this sight of glorious grace changeth and transformeth them And as thâ—s righteousnesse of God provided to cloath a sinner withall is through the Gospel-glasse revealed more and more from faith to faith from one measure of faith to another greater and growing measure of faith so will the change and transformation be from glory to glory from one degree of glorious grace and comfort to another greater and growing degree of glorious grace and comfort and the work is no lesse nor lower than the work of the Spirit of the Lord the Lord the 2 Cor. 3. 17 18. Holy Ghost setting the sinner in blessed gracious and glorious liberty We work then at the wrong end when we toyle with our own hearts pore upon our sins think we will believe walk obey and the like and so
go on and encrease more and more and then finding by experience how weak unable wanting and extreamely failing we are we become dejected and sore perplexed and are ready to say If God hath given such promises to them that fear him why am I thus and almost ready to say As good give over all it will ever be thus with me I shall never get the victory over my sins I shall never attain to setled consolation and assurance Ah poor hearts take this advice Go Gods way to work Go the way after faith and grace received which God took with you when you were in your sins dead in sinnes Go that way still with thanksgiving for what you have in the sense of your sinnes and in ability to fetch the next step in the wayes of faith and holinesse be viewing the glory of the free-grace of God in the face of Jesus Christ even of Christ crucified presented by the Holy Ghost in the Gospel which he breathed oh this is the sight which will make you more and more like him and draw upon you to the life the image of such glorious grace and love to your exceeding joy This sight gives power to walk take and hold this course and thou shalt say with David thy loving Ps 26. 3. kindness is before mine eyes and I have walked in thy truth This sight impowring is the joy and rejoycing of the heart the joyful growing flourishing prosperity of the soul consists in the walking in the light of Gods countenance Ps 89. 15. reconciled and reconciling us to himself in Jesus Christ All power against sinne and unto duty and all comfort and joy all healthfulnesse soundnesse and thriving in our spiritual estate is this way conveighed It is not attained or maintained by extasies and raptures trances ravishments impressions impulses revelations voices joyes that come by Euthusiasme or inward immediate force of the Spirit these at the best are in Gods own hand and they may be given to a Balaam a wicked man a false Prophet a Conjurer a Witch they may be mixed with Satans working they may be of fancy and not of God at all or of faith they may be of Satan Diabolical delusions Now in our upright walking the joy of the Lord is our strength preserve it If this â—oy may be hindred Satan hath his Neh. 8. 19 desire of us let him not bereave you of it SECT 6. In the fifth place the sins of these holy 5. Their sins ought not to hinder their combating against the flesh walkers ought not to hinder their constant combating against the flesh the flesh lusseth against the Spirit and the Spirit against the flesh and shall the spiritual yield the day shall they sâ— down discouraged hath the Spirit undertook doth he lead and cause them to walk after him and shall the flesh and its workings turn them off Hear ye Christians of the Gentiles your Apostle the Apostle of the Gentiles this I say saith he walk in the Spirit and ye shall not fulfill the lusts of the flesh the flesh lusteth Gal. 5. 16 17. in you contrarily but walk on and ye shall not fulfill the lusts of the flesh 1. You have the better and have no cause to be discouraged these sinnes you see and finde are the flesh's forces but they are but the scattered gleanings of the Field which you have reaped the broken leavings of the body of the Army you have overthrown 2. God could have driven them at once out of you but they are left to learn us the use of our spiritual Armour without an enemy our prowess would not be proved our graces would not be tried our warlike discipline shewed our watchfulnesse excited our strength exercised Vertue lies along without an Enemy 3. We forget our state which is a warfare we fotget it if we admit thoughts of ease or fainting we are to carry our weapons in the one hand while we work in the Lords work with our tooles in the other hand we must fight that we may work and fight out our way Our walk cannot be maintained and held on but by a warre and we warre that we may walk 4. They should be so farre from hindering that they should raise our courage and heat cause us to smite our flesh with sorer blows make us beat down our bodies and bring them into subjection and teach us a point of heavenly wisdome in this warre that is to single out those sins as our special enemies and as the flesh's troops and life-guard say See here be these hellish villains and fall on with a shout against them 5. They should make us the more to think of our Leader and Acter the Holy Ghost and to say should such a man as I flee for fear who of Gods Saints and Souldiers would do it to save his temporal life or estate nay if the rebellion should grow hot high and prevalent yet fight the more and if we be made to cry out Wretched men that we are who shall deliver yet never cease so our holy Apostle Rom. 7. 23 24. gives us himself for a president 6. And indeed there is no cause of fainting and flagging for in the way of righteousnesse there is no death in this walk after the Spirit there is nothing but life and peace in the way that is called holy there is no hurtful thing molestation there may be and will be hurt and destruction there cannot be while thou art in this walk 7. Besides the maintaining of the combate is no losse in thy way the walk is speeded thou art not so much as diverted whiles thou art mortifying these earthly members for this walk is not measured by paces nor by tale of duties but by powerful conquests made over thy fleshly lusts And every resistance is a conquest 8. Let them not put thee to a disorder or an hurry keep thy minde sedate and thy walk steddy take heed of amazements the Spirit delights in a calme breast stand still and thou shalt see the salvation of the Lord and in quietnesse and confidence of faith is thy strength SECT 7. In the sixth place The sinnes of spiritual 6. The sins of the spiritual should not hinder their full dedition to the Spirit Rom. 8. 2 Gal. 5. 18. Ro. 6. 14. walkers should not hinder their full giving up themselves to the Law of the Spirit No rather should they make us to do it the more for 1. No other Law but the Law of the Spirit alone delivereth from the Law of sinne and death 2. They are not under the Law and while they were under it they could get no power against their sinnes but sinne had dominion over them therefore to go to the Law of works will not help them 3. They have had experience of the power of the Gospel that Law of the Spirit It hath broken down the dominion of sinne in them It hath broken off their hearts from the love of sin
they shall reap in joy they shall doubtlesse come again and bring their sheaves with them they shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting SECT 9. Come hither all you to whom the blessed Gospel of Jesus Christ is come The uses 1. Of information in foure things and inform your judgments in these following truths which arise from this comfortable doctrine 1. Consider what is wrought for and in a poor sinful creature before he can attain to this to walk after the Spirit First the Word of Gods grace the Gospel of salvation is preached by the Apostles with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven and by Pastours and Teachers sent of Christ who in his exaltation to glory in heaven hath received and given these gifts for men this Gospel is brought even unto thee in its truth and purity in these latter difficult times although false teachers have and do abound It is the first step of Gods approach in his way of saving mercy coming down from heaven to bring thee to glory Then secondly God by his Spirit through the Gospel preached which is his testimony illightens thee and reveals the things of salvation the mysteries of hidden wisdome unto thy soul Thirdly he enables thee to choose Christ Jesus and his Gospel above all other Religions whatsoever abominating them and above thine own carnal thoughts inventions lusts and ways and above thine own reason and thine own righteousnesse and the righteousnesse which is of the Law Fourthly the Spirit in and by the Gospel coming into thee sets thee free from the reign and dominion of the flesh of its mindings of its wisdome and of its wills desiâ—es affections and lusts and turns thee from its walks in which thou didst before walk and live and in which still the world lives and walks Fifthly the Spirit quickens the and gives thee life a new life life from above the life of grace which will be glory a life which is eternal in the beginning of it and being quickned and raised together with Christ sets thee on thy feet takes thee by the hand and teaches thee to go Sixthly the Spirit gives thee an heart to order thy conversation aright acording to the holy Commandments as becometh the Gospel from the power of faith and hope which set thee on high even to sit together with Christ in the heavenly places from whence thou lookest for him insomuch that thy conversation is in heaven Seventhly he gives thee power to walk after him going before thee in the Gospel engrafting the Word on thy heart and thereby counselling teaching exciting and inclining or bowing thy will as powerfully as sweetly drawing and making thee to runne in Gods ways Eighthly and with this power he gives a quick discerning and sense of the flesh and of its motions counsels and ways with resolutions mighty and prevailing to the framing of the course of the life not to walk after the flesh but to hold on thy walk after the Spiâ—it though the flesh be still contrarily lusting and working plotting and warring Thus the regenerate and spiritual though hampered and toyled with his corrupt nature walks not after the flesh but after the Spirit Doth so much go to make thee a holy liver and is not the work very great oh have not any low thoughts of this high mercy for which thou canst never sufficiently blesse the Lord nor canst retain the thankful sense thereof further nor longer than thou keepest up the thoughts of thine own and all mens alienations by nature from the life of God Believe it brethren it is not a mean despicable work to frame the conversation or walk according to the Word of Christ It is not little in it self although it seemeth to thee a small and little thing through vehement desires and longings in thee after greater progresse in the way called holy in which thy soul finds such pleasures that thou art impatient of contrary workings and of interruptions let me tell thee who thus walkest the work is so great that it carries the heart to the leadings of the Spirit and the heart is powerfully wrought upon and changed which none can bow and turn but God that made it or else it could not so powerfully order the conversation This is more then to delight in Gods Word and ways and yet that is a mighty work of grace observe for this Davids prayer Make me to go in the path of thy Commandments for therein do I delight Ps 119. 35. Ro. 7. 22 18. To will is of Gods gracious work To delight in Gods Commandments is the top and that which shews and proves the truth of the work of grace upon the soul enabling to will but to do to performe is more by farre God and Christ by the Holy Spirit have the last Phil. 2. 13. hand put to the work of salvation as farre as agreeth to his Saints in this life when the Spirit rules thy walk 2. Behold here the worth of such a Christian He is Gods workmanship in Christ Jesus created again unto good works which God hath fore-ordained that he should walk in In this walk see the man come out of Gods hands in the regeneration This is a choice creature made up to and by the will of the Spirit and his walk speaks it Behold an Israelite indeed in whom there is no guile God hath set out two admirable sights once in this sinful wicked world unto which all eyes should be turned the Lambe of God that taketh away the sinne of the world and the Israel of God delivered from this evil world redeemed from all iniquity purified to be a peculiar people to himself zealous of good works This a choice creature as for priviledges and dignity so for heavenly qualifications 3. Take here the maine reason why many under the Gospel attain not to a holy life which is this they take up with that light and with those gifts which will not subdue mortifie and crucifie the flesh they professe the Gospel but the Gospel is not the principle they live by and no other no lower will destroy the reign of sinne the holy Law will not therefore no other Religion no Institutions of Philosophy no light of the Law within man can subdue the flesh the Gospel alone if received into the heart will do it because it gives the Spirit now they by the Gospel never received the Holy Ghost the Spirit of renovation of Sanctification and of Adoption Untill this be had none can attain to an holy life 4. Take hence also the main reasons why the regenerate attain unto so little comfort for first they place not as they should the ground-work of their comfort in this That they are in Christ which this their walk doth evidence but they seek it in their walking which accompanied with sinnes and contrary lustings will beare no higher than to the power of an evidence and to a begunne work which is true but yet but in a part and
whereof there is but one body one Church and one way and all the particular Churches are all one in this that makes them Churches that is they are Churches of God which are in Christ 1 Thes 2. 14. Jesus holding the Commandments of God and the faith of Jesus and the note of distinction that differenceth them one from another and by which they are to be known one from the other is this one is in or at Jerusalem another in Ephesus some in Judea some in Macedonia with the like all that otherwise make Churches and Church-wayes which so hold and joyn together in they are held and reputed for a particular Church they make divisions and set bounds which Christ hath not set and therefore they walk as men and not as Christians whereas unity of the faith and of the Spirit which is one and the same thing and love which that faith worketh with humblenesse of minde and forbearance one of another expressed in our walks is that alone which becometh our holy calling by the Gospel Secondly they that go to be made perfect in the flesh by receiving the opinions Gal. 3. 1 3 that set up the power of mans free-will or the merits of mans works or the works of the Law for justification of a sinner in the sight of God or the sufficiency of the light in man as he cometh into the world or oâ—ght else that is of natural abilities or that tends to the exalting of mans worth or to boasting or glorying in man and not in the Lord Jesus alone and in the riches of Gods free-grace in Christ testifyed by the Holy Ghost in Scripture all such do savour of the flesh and look like carnal men and not like spiritual men Thirdly they that bite and devoure one Gal. 5. 13 15. another whereas they should serve one another by love Fouthly they that use their Christian liberty for an occasion to the flesh in Gal. 5. 13. with v. 11. Rom. 15. 1 2. Gal. 5. 26. 2 Pet. 2. 10. 1 Pet. 2. 13 16. self-pleasing in vain-glory in avoiding persecution by pleasing and humouring the persecutors in the matters of Religion and in despising dignities and disobeying their lawful though but humane and civil Laws Fifthly they that are worldly I mean that take licence to plunge themselves into too many affairs unnecessarily for profit sake or for honours or pleasures sake this is to live as the men of the world Ps 49. 11. 17. 14. Sixthly they that are sowing to the flesh more than to the Spirit that is who bestow their temporal goods and lay them out for the profits the honours Gal. 6. 6 7 8 10. the comforts the necessaries of this present life and not for the Gospel the good of the Church the upholding of the true Religion Ministry and Ordinances of Jesus Christ the relief of the necessities of others especially of the Saints nor to get wisdome and spirituals nor unto spiritual uses Seventhly they that are indulgent to the body in its vanities for attire culture and dresse beauty-spots paintings crispings and curlings and womanish excesses for delicious fare spotts idlenesse empty visits gossipings as they are termed expence of precious time in toyings and unprofitable talk and being busie bodies in other folks matters together with the unweaned use of things lawful and the unmanly vanities about the haire they that are moll soft and delicate ones are like the worlds minions and unlike Christians who are called to self-denial and to the Crosse and to converse like Citizens of the heavenly Jerusalem Eightly they that to enjoy their sensualities Jude 19. will separate themselves from the grave sober and mortified Christians Ninthly they that have the faith of our Lord Jesus Châ—ist with respect of persons one in gay cloathing is more set by than another Jam. 2. 1 2 3. though farre more gracious than he because he is but a poor man in poor cloathing and this respect of persons takes place in Church Assemblies Administrations and Affairs as well as in the heart the converse and the setting of our selves in Company keeping Tenthly they that grow carelesse and slighting of the Scriptures the Ordinances of Christ and means of grace upon what pretence soever as if they were above Ordinances or seekers of another more spiritual dispensation than that in and of the New Testament whereas this shall remain till the great day of judgment or as if they were fed by immediate revelations and impulses of the Spirit or growing loose or having a sufficient light within them or ought else which they may runne into being puffed up by their fleshly minds Eleventhly they that are in their sorrowes 1 Thess 4. 13. for the death of their friends immoderate and in their passions and affections violent in their speech foolish and jesting in their behaviour light and vain in their recreations excessive and under wrongs and injuries void of moderation of minde and rigid exactors of their own right whereas we should in our own right be ready to abate and moderate our minds and affairs bearing forbearing easie to be intreated and ready to forgive Phil. 4. 5. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but in matters of Gods right we ought not yield an hairs breadth Twelfthly they that watch not against the sinnes of lying fraud and over-reaching in bargaining with all deceit and guile These sinnes chosen and lived in denominate us carnal and if the regenerate give way to them and they begin to deface their conversations they make them look like men carnal as if they would put on the old man again as if they were in the first Adam old Adam So far of this caveat and of the use of comfort SECT 11. Thirdly and lastly be exhorted and 3. Of Exhortation to keep down the flesh By using ten helps to tame the flesh Isa 40. 6. 2 Pet. 1. 24 25. perswaded to cherish the Spirit and keep down the flesh and for this end take the helpes which God giveth to tame the flesh they are these First the necessity of dying Cry cry to thine own soul All flesh is grasse the grasse withereth and the flower fadeth away Nothing will abide but that which is born of the incorruptible seed of the Word the Word which is preached which liveth and abideth ever Secondly The rejection of all excellencâ—es Mat. 11. 5 6. 1 Cor. 1. 26 27 28 29. in which the flesh glories their rejection in Christs Kingdome The poor are Gospellized when the wise and rich are scandalized God doth choose the foolish weak despised and things that are not and passeth by the mighty noble learned and brings to nought the things that are he doth not always the greatest works of conversion by the learnedst Ministers or by men of greatest parts and gifts Thirdly An irrevocable curse is upon all that the flesh likes best this the book called Ecclesiastes sheweth the whole visible Creation is
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