The Excellency of the Gospel Above the Law, Treatise · Part 1

The Excellency of the Gospel Above the Law · Treatise · Part 1

p. 14Vers. 17.

Now the Lord is that Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.

The Lord is that Spirit that takes away the vaile,The Explication of the words. that is spoken of before.

Hee sets downe what Christ is, by what he doth; Christ is that Spirit, because he gives the Spirit.

And then a sweet effect of the Spirit of Christ, Where the Spirit of Christis, there is liberty.

The Spirit here is not taken for the person of God; as if the Holy Ghost had said, The Lord is a Spirit, p. 15and not a bodily thing, though that be a truth.

And as it is not meant naturally, so not personally, Christ is that Spirit, as if Christ were the holy Ghost, that were a confusion of persons; nor as restrained to the third person; the holly Ghost is the Spirit. Neither (as some heretofore would have it) to shew that the Spirit is Iehovah, God: It is neither to shew that Christ is God, nor that the Spirit is God, nor that Christ is the holy Ghost: But it is meant in regard of a speciall dispensation, The Lord is that Spirit; that is, the Lord Iesus Christ, who is the Lord of his Church by marriage, office, &c. is that Spirit; that p. 16is, hee 1. hath the Spirit in himselfe eminently; and, 2. dispenseth and giveth the Spirit unto others; all receiving the Spirit from him as the common root and fountaine of all spirituall gifts.

First, he was that Spirit, as having the holy Ghost in himselfe as man,1. Christ hath the Spirit in himselfe the holy Ghost filled the Humane Nature, and made it spirituall: The Spirit is all in all in the Humane nature of Christ, and whatsoever hee doth, he doth, as it were, being full of the Spirit, in himselfe. He gives the Spirit as God, and receives it as man; so hee both gives and receives: the Spirit proceedeth from the Father p. 17and the Sonne as God, but the Spirit sanctified Christ as man, as it did in the Virgins womb; the holy Ghost sanctified that blessed masse of his body; it sanctified him, and filled him with all graces and gifts; whereupon it is said he received the Spirit without measure; Christ hath the Spiri… in greater measure than any other.that is, in …bundance: Christ hath the Spirit in himselfe in a more eminent excellent manner than all others; and it must needs be so for these reasons:

1. From the neere union betweene the Humane na…ure and the Divine, they …re one person; therefore …here is more Spirit in Christ than in all creatures, …ut them together; then in p. 18all the Angels, and all men, because the Divine nature is nearer to Christ, then it is to the Angels, or to any creature.

2. Christ hath the Spirit without measure, both in regard of extention and intention (as we say,) he hath all graces in all degrees, even next to an infinite; all others have it in their measure and proportion.

3. The Spirit doth rest upon Christ invariably; in other men that have the Spirit it ebbes and flowes, it is sometimes more, and sometimes lesse; there be spirituall desertions, not onelyonly in regard of comfort, but in regard of grace (though not totally;) but the Spirit rests p. 19…n Christ eternally in a full …easure: and therefore you have it thus in Esa. 11. 2. The Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the Spirit of Wisedome and VnderUnder standing, the Spirit of Counsell and might, &c.

4. By reason of his place or offices in relation to the Church, as Head, Husband, King, Priest, Prophet, &c. the Head is made by nature the seat of the more noble faculties; as of Seeing, Hearing, Understanding, Iudgeing; and is furnished accordingly with greater plenty of spirits, for the ruling and governing the whole body; so Christ is the head of the Church, and the governement of all the world is laid p. 20upon him, and all excellencies are derived from him unto all his members, as from the Root life is derived unto all the branches; and therefore he must needs have the Spirit in greatest abundance: his fulnesse of the Spirit is as the fulnesse of the fountaine, ours is but as the fulnesse of the Cister…; hee hath grace in the Spring, wee have it but in the Conduit; his graces are primitive, ours derivative; we have nothing but what wee have received; therefore it is sayd, hee hath the oyle of gladnesse powred upon him above his fellowes.

Hee hath his name from Annoynting, Christ. p. 21Hee was annoynted; that is, separated and ordained to the office of Media…orship, by annoynting, not properly, that is, with any materiall oyle, but with the Spirit; this was in regard of his Humane nature onelyonly, but it was above his fellowes; that is, above all Kings and Priests, for they are his fellowes in regard of titles; hee was above them all, for all have their annoynting from him, therefore he is the King of Kings, and the Prophet of Prophets &c. Also above all his fellowes; as we take his fellowes; for Christians, they are his fellowes; I goe to my God, and your God, &c. he is the first borne amongst p. 22them, and in all things hee hath the preeminence.

5 Hee is to be as the patterne, we are to follow him▪ wee are predestinated to be conformed to …im, and to grow up to that fulnesse which is in him; and in thi… respect there is cause why hee should have the Spirit and all the graces of it is greater abundance, that hee might exceed all, even Christians of greatest growth and perfection: hee is to bee a patterne and example to all, to the strongest as wel as to the weake. Eve… Paul himselfe, who was … Leader to others, for the excellency of the grace … Christ that was in him, … a follower of Christ; Be … p. 23followers of mee, as I am of Christ.

Q. When did this fulnesse of the Spirit come upon Christ, when had hee it?

Ans. There was a fulnesse of the Spirit powred out upon Christ in the union of the Humane nature with the Divine; Vnion and Vnction went together: there was annoynting of the Spirit, together with the union of the Spirit.

2. There was a more full manifestation of the Spirit in his Baptisme; when the holy Ghost fell on him in the shape of a Dove, then he received the Spirit, hee was to enter into the Minist…ry of the Gospell; the p. 24Spirit of the Lord God was upon him, because hee had anoynted him to Preach good tidings unto the meek, &c. Esa. 61. 1.

3. But the fullest degree of declaration and manifestation of the Spirit upon Christ,When the fullest manifestation of the spirit in Christ was was after his Resurrection: after he had satisfied fully for our salvation, then the stop of his glory was taken away: For to worke our salvation, there was a keeping backe of the glory of Christ from his Humane nature, that hee might bee abased to suffer for us; when hee had fully suffered for us, that stay of his glory, his abasement was taken away, and then nothing appeared but all p. 25glory and Spirit in Christ. All things were put under his feet, and he was set upon his Throne as a glorious King: His Priestly Office appeared in his death; his Propheticall Office, before his death; but then hee appeared to be King, and Lord of all in the Resurrection. Thus wee see how Christ is that Spirit; that is, hee is full of the Spirit in regard of himselfe.

Secondly, he is that Spirit in regard of his dispensations towards his Church and Children:2 Christ giveth the Spirit. The Lord is that Spirit; that is, 1. of all truths, and 2. of all persons, to give life and quickning to them.

First of truths:1. To all truths and Ordinances. what is p. 26the scope of the whole scriptures, but Christ? from the first Promise of the blessed Seed, The Seed of the woman shall break the Serpents head, to the end of the book? What is all the Scriptures without Christ? The Law is a dead letter, yea and so is the Gospell too without Christ, hee is that Spirit which gives life unto all the Scriptures; Moses without Christ is but a shadow without a body, or a body without a soule. Take away Christ, what was the Brazen Serpent? What was the Arke? What were the Sacrifices? What is all? Is not Christ all in all these? The Kings, and Pr…ests, and … they were types of p. 27Christ, all the Promises they were made and fulfilled in Christ, the Law Ceremoniall aymed at Christ, the Law Morall is to drive us to Christ, Christ is the Spirit of all; and the Scripture without Christ, it is but a meere dead thing, it is but a shell without a kernell, as it is to the Iewes at this day.

2. Christ is that Spirit, in regard of persons,2 To all persons that are spirituall. quickning them; hee is an universall Principle of spirituall life, infusing it into al his Church and Children: Christ is alwayes with his Church from the beginning of the world, and will bee to the end. It was no losse to the Church that Christ in his bodily presence l…ft it, for p. 28hee left them the Comforter, his Spirit, by which he wrought greater workes after his Ascension than hee did before. He is annoynted with the oyle of gladnesse and grace, above his fellowes, but all was for his fellowes; whatsoever he is, or hath, all is for his Church and Children; for us he was borne, for us he was given; hee is a King, a Priest, a Prophet for us: he dyed for us, he rose againe for us.

And he doth all he doth toward the Church,Why Christ worketh all by the Spirit. as hee hath the Spirit, and by the Spirit. The Father is the first in the Trinity, from whom all comes; and the Son by whom all things are; but the holy Ghost is the immediat worker p. 29of all things, next the creature; all things are applied from God the Father, through the Sonne, by the Spirit: what Christ wrought, and what the Father in wisdome devised, was applyed by the Spirit: and so the framing of us to be fit for such a glorious condition as wee have by Christ, is also by the Spirit. And this is the reason why Christ giveth the Spirit to those to whom hee purposeth to give faith or love, or to worke any gracious worke.

For where Christ saveth he doth it not onelyonly by merit and satisfying the wrath of God for us, but also by san…tifying and effectuall working in us, that he might p. 30be a perfect Saviour. Now the Essentiall vigour and operative Principle in all things, either wrought by or from the Father or the Sonne, is the Spirit. As in Man there is his will from which he resolveth and purposeth, there is wisedome and understanding by which hee proceedeth, and then there is a vigorous power in man by which he executeth and doth all: so is it in this working of God; the Father plotteth and determineth of what is to be done; the Sonne, who is the wisdome of the Father, dispenseth what the Father willeth; the holy Spirit, the power of both, finisheth and worketh all upon us, and p. 31therefore hee is called the power of the highest, Luk. 1. 35.

Whatsoever works come from God to the creature in generall, and are wrought in the world as works of Creation and providence, are immediately by the holy Spirit, nakedly considered, as the third person comming from the Father and the Sonne. And in those speciall workes, wrought in his Church and on his Children, all things commeth from the holy Ghost, but not simply considered as the third person, but as hee is the Spirit of Christ; that is, first sanctifying and filling the Humane Nature of Christ, and then sanctifying and filling p. 32us; Christ could not give the holy Ghost immediately to us, wee being in enmity with God, and separated from him through our sinnes, but he must first take it to himselfe, who having by his death and sufferings reconciled us to his Father, and purchased the Spirit for us, may now dispense and give forth his Spirit to us.

If we had stood in Adam, wee should not have received grace so as now we doe; for we should have received it from the first Adam but as from a man; now wee receive it not from meere man, but (which is much more) from the second Adam, who is God-man: nay, p. 33Adam himselfe received not his grace after so glorious a manner as we doe, for he received it from the Spirit nakedly considered as the third person in the Trinity, and as all other creatures received their excellencies: but wee receive it from the holy Spirit, which doth not onelyonly proceed from the Father and the Son, but commeth, as it were, through our owne nature (which was marvellously united to God the Sonne, and made one with him) unto us, and worketh in us.

The first Adam was a living soule, the last Adam was a quickning Spirit: he quickened himselfe when p. 34he was dead, and hee quicke…s all his members too: first, hee receives the Spirit himselfe, and the same Spirit that filled and sanctified his humane nature, the sam… Spirit sanctifieth his Church which hee loves even as himselfe, as he loveth that his owne humane nature, which the holy Ghost sanctified, so doth he love his owne mysticall body, his Church, being mystically united to him, and sanctifieth it by the same Spirit.

Christ dispenseth his Spirit unto us,Christ communicateth the Spirit to u… divers wayes: as, as Head of his Church; and this he doth in divers respects.

1. As he is God,1. Of influence by way of immediate influence; he p. 35powreth it out upon us as the prime and pricipall cause; and this he doth as God, not as man, for the Man-hood cannot worke above it selfe, it cannot doe the worke of God, it cannot worke grace or give the Spirit.

2. As he is Man,2. By way of merit (considered as joyned together with the God-head) by way of merit and satisfaction, he procureth the Spirit to bee given & powred out, which is done by the Father and the Sonne on all those who are beloved in the Sonne; so that the Spirit is given by Christ, with the Father, as Mediator, Meritoriously: for hee by suffering and satisfying, procured the gift. p. 36Christ himselfe is the first gift, yea the greatest that ever was given, the giving of Christ to dye, to satisfie the wrath of God, and to obtaine eternall life: Next to … maine gift is the gift of the Spirit, in which is the seed of all gifts and graces; and this we have by his Merit and Mediatorship. Yet this wee must likewise remember, that although Christ be sayd to give the Spirit, as he doth, yet the holy Spirit giveth it selfe too; for there is such an unity in the Trinity of consent and nature, that though the Father and the Sonne send the Spirit, yet the Spirit comes of his owne selfe; though the Father and the p. 37Sonne give the Spirit, yet the Spirit giveth himselfe.

3. Wee have the Spirit from Christ not onelyonly by way of Merit,3. By way of example. but in some kind by way of Example; hee is the exemplary cause of all graces in us; looking to whom, wee are transformed (as wee shall see afterwards) from glory to glory: For when wee consider that Christ hath done so much for us, as to save us, and redeeme us, and dye for us, this begetteth a love in us to Christ, and makes us often to thinke of him, and desirous to imitate him, as wee usually doe such as we love and highly esteeme of.

The dispensation of the Spirit is in most abundance p. 38Christ giveth the Spirit in greatest abundance after his Resurrection.after the resurrection of Christ, as hee appeared in himselfe then to bee most spirituall and glorious after he rose againe, so then being as the Sun in its full height and perfect beauty, casteth his beames most plentifully abroad, and that for these reasons:

1. Because then hee having finished the worke of Redemption, and satisfied the wrath of God fully, and given contentment to Divine Justice, and accomplished all by his death, there was nothing to hinder the blessed gift of the Spirit. It is sayd, that before, the holy Ghost was not given, because Christ was not glorified: The gift of the holy Ghost especially p. 39depends upon the glorifying of Christ, when he had fulfilled the worke of Redemption, and was raised to glory, God being pacified, gave the holy Ghost as a gift of his favour.

2. Then againe after his Resurrection and Ascension he did give the holy Ghost more abundantly than before to his Church, because now hee is in heaven, and hath the advantage of the place, being exalted on high: As that glorious creature the Sunne, by the advantage it hath, being placed in the heavens above us, is able to shine upon the greatest part of the earth at all times; and wee need not call the p. 40Sunne downe from its place to come into our houses, or fields, or gardens; no, where it is seated in its proper place or orbe, it hath the best opportunity in most abundance and largest extent to send downe heat, and light, and influence to inferiour things: So Christ doth his Church more good now he is in heaven, from whence he sends the Spirit, then hee could doe if hee were below; because though his Humane nature be confined in heaven, his person is every where: and being ascended now farre above all heavens, he giveth gifts more liberally and plentifully, insomuch as he filleth all things, Eph. 4.Ephes. 4. 10.Eph 4:10 hee p. 41enlargeth the tents of his Gospel, and hath taken in a greater people to himselfe. We see in Winter when the Sunne is low and neare the earth, all things are dead, and cold; but when the Sunne in the Spring commeth to over-top us, to bee in a higher point above us, wee see how all things put a new garment upon them, there is a new vigour and freshnesse in them; so there was more abundant vigour of the Spirit when Christ came in the Flesh, his vertue appeared much more every way then before. But when this blessed Sonne of righteousnesse was advanced, and seated at the right hand of his Father, where p. 42his Nature was perfectly inriched, and perfectly adorned with all kind of graces whatsoever in the highest glory of them; his influence of light and heat now beginneth to be increased, and the efficacy and working of it to bee felt every where. The glorious beams of the Sunne beganne to be scattered, and the light of the Gospel to shine to a greater number of people; now there was no respect of persons, whether Jew or Gentile, bond or free, male or female, all was one, the Commission was enlarged to all; Mark. 16. Goe preach the Gospell to every Creature; and with the Word the Spirit went, and was received, p. 43and those that were added to the Church, even such as should be saved, were many thousands.

Thus have wee opened the meaning of the words, and shewed how Christ is that Spirit, both in respect of the Spirits being eminently in him, and his giving of it, and spirituall gifts by it; all the vigour, and life, and influence we have, that is spirituall and supernaturall, and above the ordinary course, is from the Spirit▪ and whatsoever the Spirit hath, or doth for us, is done as sent from Christ, in whom the Spirit is in all fulnesse: Now wee shall shew how many wayes the consideration of these truths p. 44will be profitable and usefull to us in the course o… our lives, and for the comfort of our spirits.

Vse. Christ is the Spirit of the Scriptures, of all Truths of all Ordinances. Wee may be this bee able to reconcile the Scriptures, one place with another, where they s…eme to contradict: The Law is said to be a …, a ministr ation of condemnation, &c. 2. Cor. …. but in the 19. Psal. there it is sayd, The Law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soule, &c. These places are thus reconciled: The Law is said to be dead, so it is without Christ, without the Spirit which quickneth, and so is …he Gospell too, p. 45even a savour of death; and so are the Sacraments also as well as the Word, dead Ordinances if Christ be not in them. The Law is sayd to be perfect, and to convert the soule; so it doth when the Spirit goeth along with …t, as it did ordinarily before Christ came in the flesh, as in Davids time; but after Christ was come, who was the substance of those shadowes, they became beggerly Rudiments, as in Pauls time; and the Spirit did not worke with them, but with the Gospel, the hearing of Faith, Gal. 3. 2.

Vse. And we may understand likewise from hence, what the reason is that an OrdinanceWhy the Ordinances of God are no more effectuall unto us. at one time differeth p. 46so much from it selfe at another time in respect of the life and comfort of it, as we often find even in our owne experience; as also why the same Ordinance (be it the Word or Sacrament, &c.) at the same time is profitable to one, and another hath no benefit at all by it: This is from the presence or absence of Christ, who is that Spirit. What is the reason that Wine, or Aqua-vitae, doth more refresh and strengthen then common water? It is of the same substance, of the same colour that other water is? but there is more spirit in it; all things worke answerable to the spirits that is in them So what is the reason that p. 47…he reading or hearing of …he same thing affecteth one, …nd not another at all? the …ubstance of the thing is the …ame, but the spirit is not …he same; the spirit goeth with the one, and not with …he other. Wee grant that our negligence in preparation and attention, our pride and earthly-mindednesse, our want of faith to mingle with the Word; these, or …he like, may be causes why wee are many times sent …mpty away: yet this still …ust be observed as a most …vident truth, that all the efficacy and fruit of any Or…inance dependeth upon Christs being present in it who is that Spirit that quickneth. … most powerfull p. 48meanes that ever was ordayned for our good, will be dead and heartlesse if hee be not there, by his Spirit to put life into it: It may seem… strange what Iohn saith, chap. 6. The flesh profiteth nothing. The flesh of Christ,Iohn 6. 63John 6:63 our nature which Christ tooke, and in which so much was wrought for us, which is the greatest Ordinance o… … this flesh profiteth not nor will there be any benefit of it, if it be not applied unto us spi…ually; for it is not the flesh simply considered, but as by it, and with it we receive the Spirit of Christ; which Spirit quickneth and maketh the fl…sh o… Christ meat indeed. As i… is with the flesh of Christ, p. 49… with all other ordinan…es, the Scriptures profit …othing, preaching profit…th nothing, the Sacra…ents will profit nothing, …here is none of these will … meate indeede, unlesse … spirit of Christ quic…en them.

Therefore we ought to … with all the ordi…nces of God, a desire …at Christ would joyne …is spirit, and make them …ffectuall: wee ought to …ome to the ordinances in … dependance upon Christ …or a blessing upon them, … for his presence in …em, who is the life and …cope of all, and then wee …hould not finde such dul…esse, and deadnesse in p. 50them. It is the sinne o… this age this formality,Formality is the sin of this age it is the sinne of those tha… have any thing in them (set desperate drunkard… and roarers and such wretches a side, as plainely discover themselves to be acted by the spirit o… the Devill) take them tha… conforme themselves i… any fashion to religion, the killing sinne that they ly… under is this same dea… formality; they will heare a Sermon now and then, looke on a booke, and i… may be pray morning and evening; but never looke up to the living and quickning spirit Iesus Christ, so that all they doe is dead and loathsome, like sal… p. 51that hath no savour. What is the best liquor if it hath lost its life and spirit, but flat and unsavory? and blood when the spirits are out of it, what is it but loathsome goare, so are all their performances, even like sacrifices that had no fire in them, the Lord loathed such sacrifices as he did Cains, and so hee doth all our flat and livelesse services, yea and our persons too, being as Iude saith, fleshly, and not having the spirit.

Vse. 3 What neede is there, that we should sanctifie all we take in hand by prayer, when we goe to heare a Sermon, when wee take up the Bible to reade a p. 52Chapter alone by our selves, or in our families, we should lift up our eyes and hearts, and voyces to heaven, we should say to Christ, Lord joyne thy Spirit, be present with us, without thee thy Word is dead, our hearts are dead, and will harden under the meanes, and darken in the light, and we shall fall under the heavie condemnation of these secure and formall times, if thou leavest us.

Vse 4 Christ is sayd to be that spirit, to send the spirit as God, and to receive it as man, in fulnesse,Comfort that Christ hath …ulnes of the Spirit. and that for our sakes, it is a point of much comfort, that there is such abundance of p. 53Spirit in our nature in Christ, and for the behalfe of the Church, that wee have a fulnesse to receive of: It was a comfort to Iosephs brethren, and that family, that Ioseph was full of honour, and rules the second in the kingdome, therefore they should want nothing that was good in Egypt; is it not a comfort for Christians to know that Christ is the spirit, that he hath the spirit to give, the spirit of wisedome in all straights, the spirit of truth to keepe us from all errours, the spirit of strength for all services, the spirit of comfort for all afflictions, hee that is their Lord, hath abundance p. 54of spirit in him, and for them; therefore when we want any grace, or gift of the spirit, wee should goe to Christ, for God doth all by Christ, Christ doth all by the spirit, desire Christ that hee would vouchsafe his spirit to rule us, counsell us, comfort us, and strengthen us. Therefore in our emptinesse, (as indeede we are empty creatures of our selves) let us goe to Christ for the spirit, he hath received that fulnesse for us, desire him that out of his fulnesse, he would vouchsafe to give unto us.

It is the reason why Christians are so dead,Why Christians are so dark spirited and so dull, and so darke in p. 55their spirits, they doe not first consider themselves, and then goe to Christ, we should all, in all exigents whatsoever, make use of this our great high Treasurer, the great high Steward of heaven and earth, of this our Ioseph, the second Person in heaven, he is at the right hand of God, and all to fill his Church with his spirit, our comfort is now that our strength and comfort lyes hid in Christ, that is neere to us as man, and neere to God as God, he is betweene the Father and us, he is neere the Father as being of the same nature with him, hee is neere us as being of the same nature p. 56with us, so being a Mediatour in office, and being so fit for a Mediator in nature what a comfort is this.

Indeed there is no comming to God, no entercourse betweene God and us immediately, but betweene God-man and God and us, who is the Mediatour betweene God and us, hee comes betweene, in Christ we goe to God, in our flesh in our nature, and in Christ, and from Christ, and by Christ, we have all grace and comfort; from Christ we have all as God, together with the holy Ghost, and the Father, and wee have all in Christ as a head p. 57and husband, and we have all through Christ, as mediator by his merit, therefore wee should goe to Christ every way.

Vse 5 Let us labour to bee in Christ that we may get the Spirit it is of great necessity that wee should have it. Above all things next to redemption by Christ, labour for the spirit of Christ.

Christ is our Saviour, not onelyonly by merit and satisfaction, but by efficacy and grace, that is, as hee hath purchased us for his people by his blood; so hee will subdue our corruptions,Motives to stirre us up to get the Spirit. and rule us by his Spirit.Rom. 8. 13.Rom 8:13

For first, Hee that hath not the Spirit of Christ, is p. 58none of his; those that have not the efficacy of the spirit in them to rule them, shall not have benefit by his death to reconcile them, for these goe alway together, Christ as a King to rule, and as a Priest to dye, He came by blood and by water; to satisfie, and to sanctifie.

Secondly, there is a necessity of the Spirit, that we may be new Creatures: it was the Spirits brooding upon the Chaos that brought forth all, so the Spirit must sit upon our soules before any change will be made: Now there is a necessity that wee bee changed, and that wee bee new, or else wee can never p. 59bee inhabitants of the new heavens and the new earth, we must have the Spirit of God: therefore Zech. 4. 6. as in the materiall Temple, Its not by might or by power, but by the Spirit; So in rearing up spirituall Temples, it is not by strength of wit or parts, but by the Spirit; therefore the Spirit is necessary for us, even as our being in grace is necessary.

The holy Apostles wee know till the Spirit came more abundantly upon them; what darke creatures they were? but when the holy Ghost was come upon them, how full of life, and light, and courage they were, that the more they p. 60suffered, the more they might suffer: So it will bee with Christians, the more spirituall they grow, the more lightsome and couragious, the more strong, the more lively and vigrous to all duties: the holy Ghost is the substantiall vigour of all creatures what soever; all the spirituall vigour of every thing, comes from the holy Spirit, and the holy Spirit from Christ.

For nothing can worke above it selfe, nature cannot worke above nature; That which elevates nature above it selfe, and sets a spirituall stampe, and puts divine qualities upon it, is the Spirit of God. That p. 61divine quality is called Spirit: There is the flesh, and the spirit; all in us is flesh by nature, and what soever is spirituall and divine, commeth from the Spirit, and therefore it is called Spirit; you see therefore a necessity of the working of the Spirit, even as there is a necessity to bee new creatures, and to bee spirituall. If we will be spirituall, wee must have it from him, that is first spirituall, the Spirit himselfe, that is the principle and fountaine of all that is spirituall.

Thirdly, wee are called oft times to doe, and suffer such things as are above nature, and therefore wee p. 62must have a spirit above nature, when wee feele sin, to beleeve the forgivenesse of sinnes; when wee see death, to beleeve life everlasting; and when wee are in extremity, to beleeve God present with us to deliver us; to beleeve contraries in contraries, is a strange almighty worke of faith, by the works of the Spirit. It is above the work of nature to dye, to end out dayes with comfort, and to resigne up our soules; for nature sees nothing but darknesse, and desolation in the grave and destruction … nothing can make a man comfortable in death, but that which rayseth him above nature, p. 63the Spirit of God.

Now these things and many such like, we must do and suffer, if we be Christians, and therefore wee must have the Spirit to enable us to doe all.The Spirit the soule of the soule. The spirit is to the soule, as the soule is to the body; what is the body without the soule? a ca…k…ss…, a loathsome dead thing; what is the soule without the spirit? a Caos of darknesse and confusion.

Well,How to know if we have the Spirit. how shall we know whether we have the spirit of Christ or no?

We may know it partly by that I sayd before.1. It's working. The Spirit is a vigorous working thing, and therefore all three persons, take up…n p. 64them the name of Spirit, but the Holy Ghost especially, because he is the spirituall vigour. The Spirit is an operative thing, the spirits are the quintessence, and extraction of things, that is nothing but operation, God that is nothing but a pure act is said to be a spirit, those that have the spirit of God, are full of act, and vigour, the spirits of dull creatures, are active, when they are ex…racted, shall the spirits of bodies bee vigrous, and shall not the Holy Ghost be vigrous, that is a substantial vigour? therefore, if a man have the Spirit of God in him, it will worke in him, it is very operative.

p. 65Therefore it is compared to fire,The spirit compared to fire. in diverse respects, for, first, Fire it is of a working nature,1. It is active. it is the instrument of nature, if we had not fire, what could we worke? all Fabrickes and all things, are done by Fire, especially mettalls, they are framed, and made mallyable by fire. So the Holy Ghost, it is a working thing and softneth the heart, and makes us mallyable, it makes us fit for the impression of all good.

Secondly Fire, againe,2. It transformes things. though bodies be darke, it makes them lightsome like it selfe, Iron is a darke body, but if the fire penetrate it, it makes it lightsom: We are darke creatures of our p. 66selves, if we have the Spirit it makes us light.

Againe,3. It carries upwards. Fire it mak…s chearefull, and it ascends upward; if a man have the Spirit of God, his conversation will be upward, his conversation will bee heavenly, he minds the things of God, he doth not grovel here below, so in diverse such respects, the Holy Ghost is compared to Fire, and hath such effects in us, in some sort wee finde our understandings enlightned, and our selves quickened, and carryed up to be above nature, in holy and heavenly actions, and then it is a good signe that we have the Spirit of Christ. A part will follow the whole, as p. 67we see a part of the earth, it falls to the center, because all the earth is heavy, all the whole earth fals down to the Center, and therefore every little clod will doe it, so Christ our head that hath abundance of the Spirit is in Heaven, and if we have the spirit, we will follow him, and minde the things where Christ is.

Where the Spirit of Christ is likewise,2. It is convincing. Ioh. 16.John 16 it convinceth, as it is Iohn 16. that is, it brings a cleare evident conviction with it, that the truth of God, is the truth of God: It is no doubtfull thing, therfore when a man st…ggers in the truth, in this and that course, whether he should doe this, or that, it is p. 68a signe, hee hath not the spirit, or that he hath it in a very little measure, because the Spirit is a convincing thing, as light it convinceth a man, he doth not doubt of that that he seeth at noone day, so that that a man seeth by the Spirit, he is convinced of, when a man doubts, and wavers, whether hee should take a good course or a bad, and wavers, it is a signe, he is carnall, and hath not the Spirit of God, for if hee had the Spirit it would convince him, and set him downe, you must take this course, if you will bee saved,To convince what. That is said to convince, that saith more for a thing then any thing can p. 69say against it. Now when a man hath the Spirit of God, he can say more for God and for good things, and good wayes then all the devils in hell, by discouragement can say against them. Therefore, when a man cannot say any thing for God, and for good causes to purpose, he hath not the spirit of God, the spirit of God would so convince him, that hee should answer all cavils, and objections. The argument is wondrous large, I give you but a tast to know whether the Spirit of Christ be in you or no.

In a word,3. It makes us like Christ. if Christ bee that spirit, and have infused the spirit into us, it will p. 70make us like him, it will transforme us into his likenesse, it will make us holy and humble, and obedien… as hee was, even to the death; these things, migh… bee largely followed, bu… we have occasion to spea… of these, in other portio… of Scripture, therfore that yee may get the Spirit of God,Directions to get the Spirit. take these directions.

We must goe to Christ,1. Labour to know Christ. studdy Christ, if wee will have the Spirit, studdy the Gospell of Christ, what is the reason that before Christ, there was so little spirit in comparison? there was but a little measure of the knowledge of Christ, the more Christ is discovered, p. 71the more is the spirit given,Why there was so little spirit before Christs time. and according to the manifestation of Christ what he hath done for us, and what hee hath, the more the riches of Christ is unfolded in the Church, the more the Spirit goes along with them▪ The more the free grace, and love of God in Christ alone is made knowne to the Church, the more Spirit there is, and againe backe againe, the more spirit, the more knowledge of Christ; for there is a reciprocall going of these two, the knowledge of Christ, and the Spirit: What is the reason, that in Popery, the Schoolemen that were witty to distinguish, p. 72that there was little spirit in them? they savoured not the Gospell, they were wondrous quick in distinctions,Why so little spi…rit in Popery. but they savoured not the matters of grace, and of Christ, it was not fully discovered to them, but they attributed it to satisfaction, and to merits, and to the Pope, the head of the Church, &c. They divided Christ, they knew him not, and dividing Christ, they wanted the Spirit of Christ, and wanting that spirit, they taught not Christ as they should, they were darke times, as themselves confessed, especially about nine hundred, and a thousand yeares after p. 73Christ, because Christ was vayled then in a world of idle ceremonies (to darken the Gospell and the victory of Christ) that the Pope made, who was the Vicare of Sathan, these were the Doctors of the Church then, and Christ was hid, and wrapped, in a company of idle traditions, and ceremonies of men, and that was the reason that things were obscure.

Now when Christ, and all good things by Christ,1. The knowledge of Christ makes life and death comfortable. and by Christ onelyonly are discovered, the vaile is taken off: now of late for these hundred yeares, in the time of reformation, there hath beene more p. 74spirit, and more light somenesse and comfort, Christians have lived, and dyed more comfortably, why? because Christ hath beene more knowne; and as it is with the Church, so it is with particular Christians, the more they studdy Christ, and the fulnesse that is in Christ, and all comfort in him alone to be had, Wisedome, Righteousnesse, Sanctification, and redemption, the more men grow up in the knowledge of Christ, the more they grow spirituall, and the more spirituall they grow, the more they grow in the knowledge of Christ, therefore if wee would have the spirit, let p. 75us come neere to Christ, and labour to know him more, who is the fountaine of all that is spirituall.

Then againe if wee would be spirituall,2. Not to trust to any performance without Christ. let us take heed we trust not too much to dead things, without Christ, to have a kinde of Popery in the worke done, to thinke that reading, and hearing, and receiving the Sacrament, and that the government of the Church will doe it, as if it were as man would have it, put case there were all these, (which are excellent good things,) but what are all these without the spirit of Christ, a man may bee dead with all these, p. 76though he heare never so much, and receive the Sacrament never so often, if a man goe not to Christ the quickning spirit in this manner; Lord these, and my soule too, are dead things without thy spirit, therefore quicken me, joyn Christ with all our performances, without which all is nothing, and then he will be spirituall to us.

And when wee goe to Christ,3. Be careful in use of meanes. for the spirit (as we must beg it, if wee will have it, (God will give the holy Ghost to them that aske him) remember that we use the meanes carefully, reading, and hearing, and holy communion of Saints, because p. 77though these without the spirit▪ can doe nothing, yet the spirit is not given but by these, these are the golden conduites of the spirit of Christ: no man is ever spirituall but they are readers, and hearers, and conferrers of good things, and attenders upon the meanes of Salvation, because God will worke by his owne tooles, and instruments; therefore it is sayd, Revel. 1. That Iohn was full of the spirit upon the Lords day, Let a Christian sanctifie the Sabbath, as he should doe, he will be in the Spirit on the Lords day, more than on other dayes: Why? Because then he is reading, p. 78and hearing, and conferring, and in some spirituall course, and the more a man on the Lords day is in a spirituall course, the more he is in the spirit; Iohn was in the Spirit on the Lords day, so much for those words,

The Lord is that Spirit.