The Substance of Christian Religion, Lecture 20
The twentieth Lords day.
1 Cor. 6. 19.
What, know you not that your body is the Temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?
IN the words of the Text are contained a most powerfull argument against Fornication and the like sinnes; and it is taken from the contrary end, because the end of Christian's bodies is quite opposite to this sin. And that end is declared from the subject possessed, and possessor and indweller of it, the Holy Ghost; The subject is again explained by a Metaphor of a Temple, because namely our bodies are as it were houses consecrated to him. And that this argument may be made the clearer and stronger, the Apostle ads, that so the holy Ghost is the possessor of this Temple, or house, that he himself also is the indweller of it. And both these relations that we have to the Holy Ghost, are illustrated from their efficient cause; to wit, that they are of God; and from their consequent effect and adjunct; to wit, faith and certain knowledge of these relations between our bodies and the Holy Spirit, in these words; Know ye not brethren, &c.
Doct 1. The Holy Ghost is true and coeternal God with the Father, and eternal Son.
The Text doth give many reasons for this Doctrine.
Reas. 1. Because to have one and the same spirit with God, is all one as to be glewed or joyned to God, vers. 17.
Reas. 2. Because a Temple is not lawfully consecrated to any but to God; much less could it be lawfull that a man in stead of, or for a Temple should be consecrated to that which is not God. But here such a Temple which is most sacred is said to be consecrated to the Holy Ghost.
Reas. 3. Because the Holy Ghost is so said to be in us, as that we become his of right; and of duty; that is, God's rightfull possession, as the scope of the words clearly demonstrate.
Use 1. Of Information, for directing our faith arightly, not onelyonly unto the Father, and Son, but also unto the Holy Ghost, as the same one and true God.
Use 2. Of Admonition, that we diligently take heed to our selves, that we neither contemne nor neglect any holy thing, that comes or is breathed from the Holy Spirit; as the whole Scripture is said to have come from the inbreathing, or inspiration of the Holy Spirit; and all the motions of godliness are onelyonly attributed to the Holy Spirit, as to their Author. Likewise all the gifts of grace are bred in us from and by this Spirit of grace. In these all therefore we must take heed, that in no wise we resist the Holy Ghost, or wittingly, and willingly sin against him.
Doct 2. The Holy Ghost himself is given unto the faithfull. This appears in the Text.
Reas. 1. In that our bodyes are called the Temples of the Holy Ghost.
Reas. 2. In that he is said to be in us.
Reas. 3. In that we are said to have him, or to get him from God. Now the Holy Ghost is said to be given unto us, when he hath a singular relation unto us, and that for our good; that is, for our sanctification, & salvation of our soules; & moreover, because he powerfully works these things in us, that are agreable to his most holy nature, and which can no way be derived to us from flesh and blood. And hence it is also, that the gifts of the Holy Ghost, are called the Holy Ghost also, by that trope or borrowed kinde of speech, whereby the cause is put for the effect, which Schollers call a Metonymie.
Use 1. Of Exhortation, as well to thanksgiving to God, that gives so divine a gift; as to religious prayers, and calling upon God's name, that he would keep unto us, and more and more communicate to us this divine gift, Luk 11. 13.
Use 2 Of Admonition, to take heed of all such things, whereby the Holy Spirit is said either to be grieved, or extinguished; that is, from the grievousness of all such sin, as fights against the holiness of this divine Spirit, so that he cannot delight to dwell in us, but wholly, or in great measure withdrawes himself from us.
Doct. 3. The Holy Spirit is not communicated to our soules onelyonly, but to our bodies also.
It is in the Text, when our bodies are also called the Temples of the Spirit.
Reas. 1. Because as Christ redeemed not our soules onelyonly, but the whole man; so also the Holy Spirit ought to bring into subjection and possession the whole man to God, and to Christ.
Reas. 2. Because many duties of a spiritual life must be performed by the body also, and therefore the body ought to be subject to the Holy Spirit, and as a vessell, or instrument, be wholly in his power.
Reas. 3. Because our bodies are made liable to sin, and by sin to death, from which we must be freed by the Holy Spirit dwelling in us, Rom. 8. 11.
Use 1. Of Admonition, that we suffer not sin to reigne in our natural bodies; that we offer not our members weapons of unrighteousnesse to sin, but weapons of righteousnesse to God, Rom. 6. 12, 13.
Use 2. Of Exhortation, that we glorify God in our body, as it followes in the Text, verse 20. For we ought to have that care of our body in order to things spiritual, that is due to the Temple of God, as in the Text; and to an offering to be offered up in the Temple of God, Rom. 12. 1.
Doct. 4. The indwelling of this Spirit is a flat enemy to the … of sin in us.
This is the consequence of the argument in the Text; to wit, that the Temple of God cannot be prostituted to whoredome and other such sinnes, without Sacriledge.
Reas. 1. Because there should be an agreement between the Temple, and him whose temple it is, or to whom it is dedicated, as it is, 2 Cor. 6. 16. what agreement hath the Temple of God with Idolls? For by a like reason we may say; What agreement hath the temple of God with reigning sin?
Reas. 2. Because therefore the Holy Spirit dwels in believers, that he might impart holiness to them; and as his nature, and name, so also his indwelling and operation is an enemy to all ungodliness.
Reas. 3. Because if the Kingdome of sin should prevail in the Temple and dwelling of the Holy Spirit, this would turn to the disgrace, and disho… of the Holy Spirit himself. And this is indeed the thing, that is done, when some prophane men blaspheme and mock at the name of God, & of the Holy Ghost, because of the unworthy carriage of those, that make profession to be led by this Holy Spirit.
Use 1. Of Reproof, against such as turn the Temple of the Holy Ghost into … Den of Thieves, or into a Cage of unclean birds.
Use 2. Of Admonition, that we give no place to sin either in our soules or bodies, but as farre as is possible, that we imitate Christ, who, as it is written, Mat. 25. did cast out of the Temple of God, even buyers and sellers, and the tables of money changers, and Iohn 2 15. with a wl…ip drave out of the Temple sheep and beeves.
Doct. 5. All the faithfull ought: to have both faith and experience about this indwelling of the Holy Spirit in them.
This is intimated in these words; Do ye not know brethren; that is ye ought not to be ignorant of this, but to believe this, and … know it from your own proper experience, or fe…ling.
Reas. 1. Because this is amongst the greatest benefits that belong to our salvation.
Reas. 2. Because from this benefit depends the knowledge of all the rest that God hath freely given to us, 1 Cor. 2. 12. So that the same may here …e said, that is said of Christ, 2 Cor. 13. 5. Know ye not that Christ is in you, &c. So here, Know ye not what the Holy Ghost is in you &c.
Use 1. Of Direction, that we try our selves in this point, and never rest, as if it were well with us, untill unto our comfort, we can perceive that the Holy Spirit dwelleth in us.
Use 2. Of Exhortation, that we study to have this knowledge lively and powerfully, according to the intent of the Apostle here, who intimates to us, that this knowledge, if it be such as it should be, cannot consist with whoredome, or any such like impurity of life.