The Communion of Saints, Chapter 13
CHAP. XIII.
Of our Communion with the holy Ghost.
ALthough the fellowship that we have with the holy Ghost, (who is ”1 Ioh. 5. 7.one with the Father and the Son,) may much be discerned by that which is before spoken of God & of Christ: yet because the scripture speaketh many things of the work of Gods Spirit in vsus, and particularly of the †… Cor. 13. 13Cōmunion of the Holy Ghost with vsus; it wilbe for the good and comfort of the Saincts, to consider the graces and benefits that do come vntounto them, by this cōmunion also in particular.
2. And this the rather, for that the Spirit is the Comforter, (that Ioh. 14. 16. foreign.other Comforter or Advocate,) which the Father at Christs request doth give vntounto vsus for to abide with vsus for ever, and chear vsus in the absence of our Lord Iesus from vsus, (who is gone vntounto his Father and ours) that we should not be left as *Ioh. 14. 18.orphans on earth, destitute of help and comfort amids our many trials and tribulations.
3. Very great is the grace, & admirable the strength and consolation, which this Comforter giveth to the Saincts; as the example of the Apostles themselves doth confirm; who al the while that Christ was with them in this world, though he ceased not to teach & inform thē, to comfort and embolden them, to reprove and blame them, as there was occasion: yet were they ‡Mat. 16. 8. 23. & 17. 20 & 20. 22. 24 25. & 26. 31 40. 56. Mark. 16. 14.weak and faint in faith, fearfull of their enimies, forgetful of Christs promises, without vnderstanding of his mysteries, and overcaried many wayes with their own infirmities. But when he had sent down vponupon them ”Luk. 24. 4….the promise of his Father, & endued them with power from on high, †Act. 1. 5.baptising them with the holy Ghost: then began they to speak with ‖Act. 2. 4. 11.other tongues, as the Spirit gave them vtterance, the wonderful works of God; shewed great *Act. 4. 8. 13. 1. 9. 31. 33.boldnes in preaching the word, & with great power witnessed the resurrection of the Lord Iesus, and ‡Act. 5. 12. 15 41. 42. & throughout the whol book.many signes and wonders were shewed by their hands, and they ceased not to teach and preach Iesus Christ amongst many troubles; rejoycing that they were counted worthy to suffer rebuke for his name.
4. Neyther vntounto them alone was the holy Ghost given, (though the abundance of his graces was powred most plentifully vponupon them;) but al that in those dayes, or before, or synce, do beleeve in the Lord Iesus Christ, ar sealed also with the same spirit of promise▪ & furnished in some mesure with the gifts of the same. Which grace the Lord himself proclaymed in that †Ioh: 2. 7▪ …last and great day of the Feast of Tabernacles, saying, vers. 30.He that beleeveth in me, as sayth the scripture, out of his bel'y shal flow rivers of water of life; speaking this *vers. 39.of the Spirit, which they that beleeved in him, should receiv; for if ‡Rom. 8. 9.any man have not the Spirit of Christ, the same is not his.
5. As ther is but †Ep… 4. 6. 5.one God and Father of al, and one Lord Jesus Christ; so is ther but one and ‖1. Cor. 12. 4. 5, 6.the same Spirit: although for the *vers. 8.—11.diversities of gifts which that Spirit distributeth among the Saincts, the scripture sometime speaketh as of ‡Rev. 1. 4.seven Spirits which ar before the throne of God; (seven being a ful and perfect number, and signifying †1. Sam. …. 5. Ier. 15 9. Prov. 26 25. 16.Many:) and these seven Spirits be the Rev. 5. 6.seven hornes & seven eyes, (that is the manifold and absolute power & providence) of the Lamb Christ Iesus; of whom it was prophesied, that †Isa. 11. 2.the Spirit of the Lord should rest vponupon him; the Spirit of wisdom, and Vnderstanding; the Spirit of counsel, & of strength; the Spirit of knowledge, & of the fear of the Lord: of whō also it was witnessed, ‖Io…. …. 34.God giveth him not the Spirit by mesure.
6. The Spirit, as he was at first *Gen. 1. 2. Psal. 33. 6.creator of the world, with the Father & ye Son; & ‡Iob. 26. 13.garnished the heavēs: so is he stil the †Luk 11. 20 with Mat. 12 28.finger of God, that worketh effectually al his actions, ‖Psal. 104. 30creating the creatures, & renewing the face of the earth. And generally as God speaketh vntounto men outwardly, by the ministery of his word: so sendeth he also inwardly, motions of his Spirit; against which many struggle, to their just judgement. In the old world *Gen. 6. 3.Gods spirit strove in man, as his word was ‡2. Pet. 2. 5.preached by Noah; but they †Iob. …2. 15. 17.sayd vntounto God, Depart from vsus: wherfore they were ”Iob. 32. 16.wrinckled before the time, and the flood was powred out vpō their foundation. Whē Israel came out of Aegypt, the Lord sent before them Mic. 6. 4.Moses Aaron & Miriam, to guyd them outwardly by kingdome priesthood and prophesie; he gave them also *Neh. 9. 20.his good Spirit to instruct them, and Iesus Christ his Son, the ‡Isa. 63. 9. Exod. 23. 20. 21.Angel of his face or presence, saved them: yet they both ”Psa. 106. 16.envied Moses, and Aaron the holy one of the Lord; and often †Psa. 78. 40. 41.provoked, grieved, & tempted God himself, and limited the Holy one of Israel; they rebelled & ‖Isa. 63. 10.vexed his holy Spirit, (ye Spirit of ye Lord *ver. 14.which had given thē rest▪) therefore was he turned to be their enimy, and fought against them. In these last dayes of the Gospell, we are also taught, how some that have tasted of the heavenly gift, & ‡Heb. 6. 4. 5. 6.were made partakers of the Holy Ghost; yet fall so away that they cānot be renewed vntounto repētance. So that even▪ wicked men and reprobates, do often receive *Num, 24. 2. Mat. 7. 22. …3.the gifts of the Spirit, whereby they do many great works, yet are not benifited hereby vntounto salvation▪ for they have not the grace of God to sanctifie those gifts, & seal thē vp vntounto the day of redemption; therfore God ‡1 Sam. 16. …4. Psal. 51. 11.taketh his holy Spirit from them, and sometyme sendeth his evil spirit in sted thereof, to vex them, as he did vntounto ”1 Sam. 18. 10Saul; & this worthily, seing there are of these wretches, that do even †Heb. 10. 29.despite the Spirit of grace.
7. But the Saincts elect of God, have an other manner cōmunion with the Holy Ghost; for their help comfort and sanctification in this life, and assurance of life eternall. For, because they are sons, ‖Gal. 4. 6.God sendeth the Spirit of his son into their harts, which crieth Abba Father; so they are *Gal. 4. 7▪no more servants but sons, and heyrs also of God through Christ, who hath obteyned of his Father ‡Ioh. 14. 16. 17.this Comforter to abide with them▪ for ever, even the Spirit of truth whom the world cannot receiv▪ because it seeth him not, neyther knoweth him; but they know him, for hee dwelleth with them, & shalbe in them; their ”Cor. 6. 19.bodies are the Temples of the Holy Ghost.
8. The communion which the Saincts have with the Spirit, is in many particulars; and that from the beginning of their dayes, vntounto the end. For Ieremiah †Ier. 1. 5.was sanctified, and Iohn Baptist ‖Luk. 1. 15.filled with the Holy Ghost, even from their mothers wombs. And we all that are born of God, have our regeneration and new birth *Iob. 3 5.of the Spirit: & according to his mercy are saved, ‡Tit. 3. 5.by the washing of the new birth, & the renewing of the Holy Ghost.
9. The word of God, which it the immortal seed whereby we are begotten, hath alwayes been vttered, explayned, and vnderstood, by means of this Spirit. David testifieth of himself, that ”… Sam. 23. 2the Spirit of the Lord spake in him, & his word was in his tongue: our †Mas. 22. 43. Act. 1. 16.saviour Christ, and his Apostles doe witnesse also the same concerning him; so the things that he spake, we must receiv, as the sayings Heb. 3. 7. with Psal. 95 7.of the Holy Ghost. The like is to be minded for *Act. 28. 25.Isaias ‡Mic. 3. 8.Michaias, and al other Prophets, by whose hands the Lord ”Neh. 9. 30. Zach. 7. 12.protested among his people by his spirit; for Prophesie (as the Apostle †2 Pet. 1. 21.saith) came not in old time by the wil of man; but holy men of God, spake as they wer moved by the Holy Ghost; the Lord Iehovah & ‖Isa. 48. 16.his Spirit sent them. Yea Christ himself had the *Mat. 1…. 18.Spirit of God put on him, that hee might shew judgment to the Gentils; and was anoynted with ‡Luk. …. 18. Act. 1…. 38.the Spirit, that he might preach the Gospel to the poor; and vntounto the Apostles whom hee had chosen, gave he cōmandements through ”Act. 1. … ▪the Holy Ghost, who also having received †1 Cor. 2. …the Spirit which is of God, spake the things that were given them of him, not in the words which mans wisdome taught, but which ‖ver. 13.the holy Ghost did teach them: so preached they ye Gospel vntounto the Saincts, *1 Pet. …. 1….by the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven.
10. VntoUnto this Gospel of salvation first preached by the Lord, and after cōfirmed by them that heard him; God ‡Heb. …. …. ….bare witnes both with signes and wonders, and with divers miracles and gifts of the Holy Ghost. For to one (as the Apostle sayth) †Cor. 12. …. 9, 10. &c.was given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to an other the word of knowledge, by the same spirit; to an other Faith, by the same Spirit; to an other, the gifts of healing, by the same Spirit; to an other the operations of great works; to an other Prophesie; to an other discerning of spirits; to an other diversities of tongues; to an other, the interpretatiōs of tōgues▪ and al these things wrought even the self same Spirit, distributing to every man severally as he would.
11. But these spiritual gifts, though they were powred out vponupon many; yet are they not, neyther ever were given vntounto al; as it is written, †1 Cor. 12. 30Are al doers of miracles? have al the gifts of healing? doe al speak with tongues? doe al interpret? Agayn, to al that have them, they ar not seals of the adoption of Sons; for if men have 1 Cor. 13. ….prophesie, and know al secrets and al knowledge; if they have al fayth, so that they can remove mountayns, and have not Love, they ar nothing. Yet is this *1 Cor. 1…. ….manifestation of the Spirit given to every man to profit withall: & as the Apostles were Gods witnesses concerning the things which they sayd; so ‡Act. …. 3….was the holy Ghost, whom God gave to them that obeyed him; the Spirit was one ”1 Iohn. …. ….of the three witnesses on earth, as the Apostle Iohn sayth.
12. As the mysterie of Christ was reveled †Eph. 3. 5.to his holy Apostles and Prophets by the Spirit, & they preached the Gospel vntounto others, 1 Pet. 1. 1….by the Holy Ghost sent down frō heaven; & as the ordinary permanent officers of the Churches, are made Overseers *Act. 20. 28.by the Holie Ghost, to feed the Church of God: so by the hearing of Faith preached, do men ‡Gal. 3. 2.receive the Spirit; which God openly shewed, when while Peter yet was speaking, ”Act. 1…. 44.the Holy Ghost fel on all them which heard th… word. And as by the work of the Spirit, the word is received and beleeved; so is the same also †1 Pet. 1. ….obeyed, kept and reteyned, ‖… Tim. 1. 14.through the Holy Ghost that dwelleth in us. The Sacraments also have by him their effects in vsus, as it is written, *1 Cor. 12. 13by one Spirit are we al baptised into one body, whither Iewes or Greeks, whither bond or free, and have bene a… made to drink into one Spirit.
13. And having thus our new birth, caling vntounto, and stablishing in the faith, by the work of the holy Ghost; we ar further by him confirmed, comforted, emboldned, & assisted, in al our spiritual battels against Satan, this world, and our own corruptiōs. For wear †Eph. 3. 16.strēgthned by Gods Spirit in the inner mā; & being armed with the word of God which is the ‖Eph. 6. 17.sword of the Spirit, we stand fast; and though the enimy come like a flood, yet *Isa. 59. 19.the Spirit of the Lord shal chase him away, as sayth the Prophet. And in rebuking the world, he vseth great boldnes, convincing ‡Iohn. 16. 8. 11.them of syn, of righteousnes, and of judgement: so that Gods servants ar ful of power †Mic. 3. 8.by the Spirit of the Lord and of judgement, and of strength, to declare vntounto the people their trāgression, and their syn; an example wherof we may see in ‖Paul. Act. 13. 9. 10. 11.Saul, who being full of the Holy Ghost, set his eyes vponupon Elymas the sorcerer and sayd; O ful of al subtilty, & al mischief, child of the Divil, enimy of all righteousnes; wilt thou not ce…se to pervert the straight wayes of the Lord? Now therefore behold the hand of the Lord is vponupon thee, & thou shalt be blind, and not see the Sun for a season. And this courage the Sainctes have even before Princes and potentates of … earth … …ay be … in †2. Chro…. 24 20. 21.Zech…ah son of Iehojada, who being clo…ed with the Spirit, and rebuking the transgressions of the people, was therefore stoned with stones, at the comandement of the king. For the ‖Luk. 12. 11. ….H…ly Ghost teacheth them in that …owr what they ought to say; wherefore they are to take no thought how or what to answer, but resting vponupon the ayd of Gods Spirit, do boldly say, *Psal. 119. 46… wil speak of thy testimonies (Lord) before kings, and wil not be ashamed.
14 But in the Saincts themselves, the Spirit is most mighty in operation for the subduing and sanctifying of their affections, and confirmation of their sowles and spirits in the love & favour of God. For whereas before time, some of them were fornicators, idolaters, theves, covetous, extortioners, or given to other like vices: ‡1. Cor. 6. 9. 10. 11.they … washed, they a …, they ar …ustified in the name of the Lord Iesus, and by the Spirit of God. And wheras while they were fleshly, †Iude. ver. 19having not the Spiri… they walked after the ‖Rom. 8. 4. 5. 8. 13.flesh, and favou…ed the things t… of, & could not …lease God, but were subject vntounto death: now hee that raysed vp Christ from the Dead, doth also quicken their mortal bodies, *v…r. 11.because that his Spirit dwelleth in them; and so is fulfilled that which in figure God sayd of old vntounto Israel; ‡Eze. 37. 13. 14.Ye shal know that I am the Lord, when I have opened your graves, ô my people, and brought you vp out of your sepulchres, and shal put my Spirit in you, & ye shal live. Who then living in the Spirit, do also ”Gal. 5. 25.walk in the Spirit, and by it do †Rom. 8. 13.mortify the deeds of the body, not ‖Gal. 5. 16. 24.fulfilling the lusts of the flesh, which they have crucified, but bringing forth the fruits of the Spirit, which are *Gal. 5. 2….love, joy, peace, long suffring, gentlenes, goodnes, faith, meeknes, tēperance▪ for when the Spirit is powred vponupon them from above; then ‡Isa. 32. 15.the wildernes becometh a fruitful feild, a… sayth the Prophet.
15. And God wch hath promise… to powr water vponupon the thirstie, … stoods vponupon the drie ground, t… ”Isa. 44. 3.powr his Spirit vponupon the seed … his Church, and his blessing vpo… their buds; wil not onelyonly †Luk. 11. 13.give the Holy Ghost to them that desi… him; but also continew his gifts … graces for the assurance of the… harts; so that they shall not labou… in vayn, nor bring forth in fear, because ‖Isa. 65. 23.they are the seed of the blessed of the Lord, & their buds with them. The love of God is *Rom. 5. 5.shed abroad in their harts, by the Holy Ghost which is givē vntounto them, and by him ”Eph. 4. 30.are they sealed vntounto the day of redemption; the same Spirit Rom. 8. 1….beareth witnesse with their spirits that they are the Sonnes of God; and hereby they 1. Ioh. 4. 13.know that they dwel in God, and he in them, because he hath given them of his Spirit, which is as a *foreign 2 Cor. 1. 22.pawn or earnest in their harts, whereby they do not onelyonly behold the glory of the Lord with open face, but are ‡2 Cor. 3. 18.changed into the same image, from glory to glory, as by the Spirit of the Lord. And this Spirit which they have received, is not the Spirit of bondage to fear again, (as at the ”Exod. 19. 16▪ & 34. 30.giving of the Law, and looking vponupon Moses face,) but is the Spirit of †Rom. 8. 15.adoption-of-children, whereby they cry Abba Father, even the Spirit of his Son Christ, ‖Gal. 4▪ 6.which God hath sent into their harts, because they also are sons, and the *Gal. 3. 14.blessing of Abrahā is come vpō them through Christ Iesus. So Gods good Spirit ‡Psal. 143. 10▪leadeth them vntounto the Lan… of righteousnes, and this is a par… of his covenant with them, tha… ”Isa. 59. 21.his Spirit which is upon them, an… his words which hee hath put i… their mouth, shal not depart out … the mouth of them or their se… or their seeds seed for ever. Neith… wil he hide his face any more fro… thē †Ezek. 39. 89.because he hath powred out his spirit upō the hense of Israel, as he hat… promised by his Prophet. From a… which proceedeth vntounto the Sain… vnspeakable peace comfort & joy which they find and feel, both … the receiving of the word, (as the Apostle sayth 1. Thes. 1. 6.ye received the wor… in much affliction with joy of the holy Ghost;) in the obedience the… vntounto in the kingdō of God; which is *Rom. 14. 17.righteousnes, and peace, and joy in the holy Ghost.
16. Amongst other benefits which the Spirit affordeth, this is one special, that it helpeth the Saincts infirmities in prayer; who …ls know not what to pray as they …ught, but †Rom. 8. 26. 27.the Spirit it self maketh request for them▪ with sighs which cannot be expressed; & the request which he maketh is according to …he wil of God, who sercheth the …arts, and knoweth what the meaning of the Spirit is.
17. But that the Saincts be not deceaved, and led astray from the truth, by any motion, suggestion, vision, revelation, or other means whatsoever, as from the Spirit of the Lord; our Saviour hath given vsus a rule, to discern the work of his Spirit, from the delusion of Satan; which is this, that his Spirit Iohn. 16. 13. 14.speaketh not of himself, but whatsoever he heareth he speaketh: that he glorifieth Christ, for he receiveth of Christs, (& *vers. 15.al things that the Father hath at Christs,) and sheweth it vntounto Christians. Therfore is he the Spirit ‡vers. 13.of truth, and leadeth into altruth, because he teacheth nothing but according to the word of God, which word is †Iohn. 17. 17.truth. And by that word must al spirits be tried; by it may be discerned the Spirit of truth from the Spirit of error: and Iosua, though he were ful of the Spirit o… ‖ Deut 34. 9.wisdome; yet was charged of God to *Ios. 1. 7. 8.attend vntounto the book of the Law, (for his direction,) to obser… and doe, according to al that was written therin.
18. Finally, the Spirit of God, hath generally in all things wrought much and mightily in and by the Saincts. With this was †Exod. 31. 3. 4.Bezaleel filled, in wisdome and in vnderstanding, & in knowledg, & in al workmanship, to find out curious works for the Lords Tabernacle; with this were the ‖Num. 11. 25seventy Ancients furnished for the goverment of Israel, & prophesied. With the wisdom of this Spirit, was †Deut. 34. 9. Num. 27. 18. 20.Iosua full, after that Moses had put his hands vponupon him, & given him of his glory, when he ordeyned him to be his successor in the kingdome. And what should I speak of al the Iudges, as of Othoniel, of Gedeon, of …ephte & of Samson, vponupon whom the ‖Iud. 3 10.Spirit of the Lord came, *foreign. 6. 34. & 11. 29. & 13. 25 & 14. 6. 1….clothed them, strengthned them, and prospered vponupon them; whereby they went boldly vntounto great battels, overcame their enimies, and …ent the wilde beasts that roared vponupon them. The Prophets also & Apostles, were ‡Eze 2. 2. & 3. 14. 24. & 37. 1. Act. 8. 29. 39. & 10 19. 20. & 13 2. 4 & 16. 6 7. & 20. 22. & 21. 4.caried and guyded by the Spirit, in their wayes words, and works; taught whom for to goe to, and from whom to refreyn; and had great intelligence of things ”Act. 11. 28.for to come; and in every citie, the †Act. 20. 2… ▪Holy Ghost witnessed, such thinges as Gods wisdom saw good to revele. So that the help which the Spirit ministreth to the Saincts, is infinite and incomprehensible; and they may saye to the Lord with the Prophet, ‖Psal. 13 9. 7.whishal I goe from thy Spirit? for loe, the wisdom of God *Prov. 1. 23.powreth out her Spirit vntounto them, & maketh them vnderstand her words: this ”1 Ioh. 2. 20.Oyntment they have from him that is holy, & do know al things: through the power of the Holy Ghost they ‡Rom. 15. 13.abound in hope; by the comfort of the Holy Ghost, they and the ‖Act. 9. 31,Churches of them are multiplied and by him the †Rom. 15. 16.offring vp of the Gentils (by the ministery of the Gospel) is sanctified: and whatsoever good thing is done among Gods people, is not by an Army nor strength, but *Zach. 4. 6.by the Spirit of the Lord of hosts, without which ‡1 Cor. 12 3.no man can say, that Iesus is the Lord.
19. Thus ar the Saincts of God, advanced to honour & dignitie, above al peoples on the earth; being themselves the ”1 Cor. 3. 1….Temple of God, & having his Spirit dwelling in them: injoying a most holy and happy cōmunion, †1 Ioh. 1. 3.with the Father, and with his son Iesus Christ, and with ‖2 Cor. 13. 13the Holy Ghost; the grace and peace and comfort whereof, passeth al vnderstanding, and can no way be sufficiently expressed, by the tongue or pen of man. And this holy cōmunion with his people God shewed of old by his prophet, in these gracious words, *Hag. …. …. 6.I am with you sayth the Lord of hosts with the ‡Christ. Ioh. 1. 1.Word, by whom I covenanted with you when you came out of Aegypt; and my Spirit remayning among you: Fear you not.
Al thy works prayse thee, ô Lord; & thy Saincts blesse thee.
Psal. 145. 10.