Commentary on 1 John, Commentary · Chapter 2 · Verse 27
1 JOHN 2.27.
But the annoynting which yee have received of him, abideth in you, &c.
Doct. EVery Child of God, even the leaſt and the meaneſt have received the Ʋnction of the Spirit, of this we heard, verſ. 20.
But ſomething is to be conſidered in the varying of the words, verſ. 20. he ſaid, they had it; here he ſaith, they have received it of him.
Doct. The Children of God receive this Ʋnction of the Spirit from God, from the Father, and from Chriſt.
John 14.16, 17. John 16.13. Gods ſending, and our receiving are relata, 2 Cor. 1.21, 22. Gods giving, and our taking mutually agree one to another; and ſometimes God the Father is ſaid to ſend the Spirit, and ſometimes God the Son; it is God that ſends it, but Chriſt that hath prayed that he would ſend it, John 14.16, 17. and by his Death and Aſcenſion hath he purchaſed and procured the Spirit for us, Acts 2.32.33.
The Reaſons why we muſt receive this Unction from God, and from Chriſt.
Reaſ. 1. Becauſe of our ſelves; what we have by Nature is a ſpirit of errour, and falſhood, and corruption, and therefore becauſe we have no Unction from the firſt Adam, no ſpirit that heales us, and ſoftens us, and chears us, we have no ſpirit that doth annoynt us, but rather beſmear us, and daub us with baſe luſts; therefore if we have any Spirit of Grace, it is needfull that we ſhould receive it from the ſecond Adam
2 We receive it from the Father, becauſe by Chriſt we are made Sons and therefore have need of the ſpirit of Sons, Gal. 4.4, 5, 6. all of us like Chriſt his eldeſt Son; Gods Spirit is the mark whereby he owns us, it is the earneſt penny that we have, Rom. 8.14. that we might be comforted, therefore called the comforter, John 16.13. the earneſt penny, and firſt fruits of eternal glory; an earneſt penny is part of the payment, of the ſame nature with the whole, this Spirit is part of the payment which we ſhall then receive in abundance, now in a ſmall meaſure; we have now little love, and faith, &c. but he will make perfect love, perfect knowledge, perfect ſtrength.
3 That Chriſt ſhould give it, is from his death whereby he purchaſed it, Gal. 3.13, 14. and by his Aſcenſion he ſhed abroad his Spirit in our hearts; as when Elias was aſcending into Heaven, he ſpread abroad his Mantle upon Eliſha, whereby he was cloathed with a double Spirit; ſo when Chriſt aſcended into Heaven, he ſpread abroad his Mantle as it were, his Spirit, which every Chriſtian taking, is cloathed with the Spirit of Chriſt, with the Spirit of gladneſſe and holineſſe.
Ʋſe 1. Shews the wonderfull love of God, even to the leaſt and meaneſt of his Servants, that not only gives us his Son to be our Redeemer, but his Spirit to be our Sanctifier, ſo large is God in his bounty; no wonder then if he give us health, and peace, and friends, and means, and maintenance, for he that gives us his Son, and his Spirit, will he deny us leſſer things? ſo that this is not only an expreſſion of his love, but an argument of our faith and conſolation, he that gives us his Son, and his Spirit, will give us all things, Luke 12.32. Fear not little flock, &c. and no wonder, for he hath given us the earneſt here.
Ʋſe 2. To teach Gods Children, not to be proud of any Spiritual gift that God gives us, 1 Cor. 4.7. if all we have we have received, what have we to boaſt? And let us not inſult over others, for they may receive the Spirit of Unction as well as we, as Paul did, though he were a perſecutor; ſo, much leſſe ſhould we deſpiſe weaker Chriſtians than our ſelves, what if they have received but a little meaſure of faith, and love, and patience, &c. why that little is ſo much that it ſeals them up to eternall happineſſe, they have received ſo much that they are inveſted with the garment of Chriſt; therefore let there be no ſtriving, or contention, or contempt among Brethren, ſeeing all have received this Unction.
Ʋſe 3. Have you received the Spirit? then ſo walk in him, rooted, and eſtabliſhed in him, Col. 2.6, 7. why have you received it, but that you may pray, and preach, and buy and ſell in this Spirit? therefore let every one ſo walk that he may expreſſe that he hath received the Spirit of God, Gal. 5.25. as yee have received the Spirit, ſo walk in him, put forth the life of the Spirit in every employment, not your own ſpirit, but ſhew forth the grace of him which hath called you out of darkneſſe into his marvellous light.
Doct. 2. The Spirit which the Children of God have received of him, dwells in them for ever.
John 14.16, 17. it is an in-dwelling and abiding Spirit, 1 Cor. 3.6. & 6.29. Epheſ. 2.20, 21, 22. the Spirit of God builds a Tabernacle in you, and dwels in you.
Reaſ. 1. Now the Spirit is ſaid to abide in us, becauſe having knit us to Jeſus Chriſt, we are become of his fleſh and bone, now it were both a diſhonour and unſeemly for Chriſt to have any liveleſſe dead member, therefore that God might make us ſerviceable unto him, he continues his Spirit to us, that may inliven us.
2 God that gives us this earneſt penny, would have it continue with us till the payment be compleat.
3 The ſame reaſon that moves God to give us his Spirit, moves him to continue it to us, we have as much need to be like God in our whole courſe, as at firſt, and have as much need of aſſurance of Glory, Phil. 1.6. the ſame God that begins the work, will alſo continue it to us.
Ʋſe 1. A ground of trial of our eſtates; if we have no ſpirit but the ſpirit of the old Adam, the ſpirit of pride and malice, and covetouſneſſe, truly this is not the Spirit of Chriſt that makes us like him, this is not that Spirit that Chriſt purchaſed for us by his Death, and Aſcenſion; but ſuppoſe we had ſome of the Spirit of God, the ſpirit of Wiſdom, as Achitophel, the ſpirit of joy, as Herod, the ſpirit of Zeal, as Jehu, the ſpirit of fear, as Felix had, yet we have not this Unction of the Spirit, unleſſe it dwell in us. What is it to be wrapt with a ſpirit of a Balaam, or a Saul? it was only for a fit, and what comfort was it to them? it was a ſhuttle ſpirit by ſtarts, and did not abide in them, therefore let us try whether we have received the Spirit, if we have received a dwelling ſpirit, it is a true ſpirit.
Obj. But ſome may ſay, Alas, what then will become of me; it may be now I pray, but ere night wholly unabld; now inlarged, then ſtraightned; I have now a ſpirit of zeal, and courage, ſoon after all cold, and weak, and dead; wonderfull was the zeal and courage of Elias in ſlaying four hundred of Baals Prophets openly, 1 Kings 18.40. he went through it with ſuch zeal and ſpeed, as if he had been ſent from Heaven, yet Cap. 19.1, 2. when Jezabel ſent to him he fled for his life, and was ſo weary of his life, that he wiſhed death; now his Spirit was cold, and diſcontent, aad weary of his life. So David, Pſal. 119.24. David ſaid, he had made the word his delight, yet ver. 25. he ſaith, his ſoul cleaves to the duſt, and prays to God for quicking.
A. This Spirit that is ſo to abide, doth not always abide in the ſame meaſure, nor in the ſame meaſure of expreſſion; but we muſt know, though there be ſeveral garments, yet the Soul is never naked; a man hath not always his Holy-day garments ſweetly perfumed, but ſometimes homely, mean garments; ſo Elias when he ſlew Baals Prophets was cloathed with zeal, and Holy-day garments, afterwards he remitted of it, and yet had he the Spirit of God on him, he was not naked, though he was not cloathed with the Spirit in ſuch a meaſure; even ſo ſometimes we have even poor ragged homely garments, and much of our nakedneſſe appears, and ſometimes again may be, when God hath greater buſineſſe for us to do, cloathes us with better, richer garments, a greater meaſure of the Spirit; but yet conſider, though we have not the ſame meaſure, yet always ſome garment of the Spirit reſts on us, be it but the ſpirit of love, to our Brethren, or grief for the want of it, yet we are not left naked.
Ʋſe 2 May exhort su, if we have this Spirit dwelling in us, then let us uſe him honourably, and courteouſly as an in-dweller; he is come from farre, even from Heaven, ſent from our Father, and he brings joy and comfort with him, therefore let us give him honourable entertainment; he is ſent to guide us in all our ways, to be a pledge of our eternall inheritance, therefore let us not entertain him like ſome gueſt that we are weary of in two or three days; you muſt know this gueſt came not for a day, but to dwell with us for ever, John 14.16. therefore take heed of grieving him, Eph. 4.13. he comes for your good, and benefit, for your redemption. When a man keeps a Ward, and for keeping him keeps a great eſtate, a Kingdome, he would be very carefull; ſo the Spirit is ſuch a Gueſt, that if you keep him, you keep Life and Salvation, you keep an eternall Kingdom by him, therefore take part with Gods Spirit, joyne with the Spirit of God quench it not; what an heavie complaint made Stephen? Acts 7.51. Iſa. 63.10. the Spirit may be ſo grieved and vexed by men, that he will depart from them.
Q. How ſhall we keep our ſelves from grieving the Spirit?
A. As God hath given him to guide you, ſo look that you be guided by him; if you entertain him kindly he will comfort you, if you grieve him, he will grieve your ſpirits.
2 Be carefull to nouriſh him; do not ſtrave this Gueſt, neglect not the Word, and Ordinances, which are the food of the Spirit; Quench not the Spirit, deſpiſe not Prophecie, 1 Theſ. 5. as if the deſpiſing of Prophecy, were the quenching of the Spirit; therefore feed the Spirit of God, with-draw not food from it, prefer not outward things before it, it is a wonder how leane our ſouls will grow, if we do not nouriſh the Spirit.
3 Take heed eſpecially of living in any known Sin, for that damps and deads the Spirit, therefore David wofully camplains, Pſal. 51.8. to 12. Reſtore, &c. as if it were quite gone, his very bones were broaken, that is, not of his body, but his ſoul, i. e. the ſtrength and ſtaff of his ſpirit, the Spirit is like fire, every groſſe ſin is like water caſt on it, it quencheth it.
Ʋſe 3 A ground of much conſolation to Gods ſervants; you can never ſay you dwell alone and want company, you cannot want good company if the holy Spirit dwell in you; I am not alone ſaith Chriſt, but the Father is with me; ſo may a Chriſtian ſay, I am never alone, the Spirit of God dwells in me, he is an in-dwelling and abiding Spirit.
Doct. 3 The annoynting of the Spirit, teacheth us all things, of which you heard, verſe 20.
It teacheth all things needfull to ſalvation, needfull to life and godlineſſe, 2 Pet. 1.3. and not only ſo, but needfull to our places, and callings, and ages.
Doct. 4. The anonytment of the Spirit is ſo plentifull and ſufficient, that we need not be taught better things, nor in a better manner, than the Spirit teacheth.
Jerem. 31.32. not that we need not Magiſtracy or Miniſtry, but he ſpeaks comparatively, you ſhall not be ſo helped by any Inſtuctions without the Spirit, as with the Spirit, the Spirit ſhall declare the Truth in Jeſus.
For Explication.
1 The Holy Ghoſt teacheth fully, 1 Cor. 3.9, 10, 11. the ſpirit of a Chriſtian is inquiſitive concerning all things, now the Spirit helps him to ſearch even into the deep things of God, ſo that the Spirit is a full teacher.
2 The inſtruction of the Spirit is plain and clear, 1 Tim. 4.1. Joh. 16.25. Chriſt ſpake in parables, but after his aſcenſion, the Spirit revealed things clearly.
Three things go to clear diſcerning, the object muſt be clear, the medium clear, and the eye clear, and then we may clearly diſcern; now the Holy Ghoſt plainly reveals the Counſells of God, and then opens our judgements to diſcern it, and then cleares all the mediums, ſo that a Chriſtian may plainly diſcern; ſo that the Tpirit is a clear Inſtructor, no men need be taught more clearly, 1 Cor. 2.4, 5.
3 The Inſtruction of the Spirit is a certain Inſtruction; ſcarce any truth, but a Chriſtian can tell it by experience; as a woman that is breeding a Child feels ſuch qualmes and diſtempers, that ſhee knows thereby ſhee, is with Child; ſo they that have had the breeding of the Spirit in their hearts: and have perceived his motions, they know more clearly than any other, verſe 20. Yee know all things, it is a ſcientificall Inſtruction about certain experimentall things; they know the danger of ſin, the ſweetneſſe of Grace.
4 The Spirit teacheth us moſt profitably; for that is the dexterity of the Spirit, that it tells you what uſe you are to make of ſuch a Scripture, ſuch a Sermon, ſuch a Providence, ſuch an Affliction; I am the holy one of Iſrael, that teacheth you to profit, Iſa. 48.17. let the Miniſter ſpeak never ſo powerfully, and plainly, yet the heart of man cannot diſcern it, and profit by it; unleſſe the Spirit ſtrike in with it, we ſhall do little good.
Ʋſe 1 May deſcover the vanity of the Popiſh Doctrin, that would not have men truſt their own ſpirit, but follow the judgement of the Church; this is a poor Inſtruction; what if the Spirit of the Church become Apoſtaticall? what is become of all the famous Churches of Aſia and Grecia; have not they warped from the truth? therefore if men ſhould follow the Spirit of the Church, they might fall from the truth, but you ſee how St. John magnifies the Inſtruction of the Spieit; you need not that any one teach you otherwiſe than the Spirit within you witneſſes.
Obj. May not a mans Spirit be a deluſion, muſt we truſt every private ſpirit?
A Though it be in a private man, yet it is not a private Spirit, but the ſame Spirt common to the whole body of Chriſt; his Spirit is not limitted to publick perſons or Miniſters, but to all generally that are the Members of Chriſt; ſo that we do not maintain it to be a private ſpirit, though in a private man, for it is a publick ſpirit; the Spirit breaths where it liſts, and whereever it breaths, none need teach more or better.
Ʋſe 2 If Gods Spirit be ſo ſufficient, then let us make uſe of the Spirit, to diſcern falſhood, and to know the truth; not to reſt in what Miniſters, or Parents, or Maſters teach, but what the Spirit teacheth, that follow; one dayes Inſtruction of the Spirit, will lead you into more knowledge than a hundred Sermons.
Ʋſe 3 Look that you keep the Spirit in good order; if you grieve the Spirit, he hath no comfort to teach you, as Parents or Maſters take no delight to teach their Childreen or Servants, when they take no heed to what they teach them; but if the Spirit ſee you be willing to hear and liſten, and reach after what he reveals, the Spirit teacheth us with delight, but if you grieve Gods Spirit by ſenſuall luſts, the Spirit is ſo diſcouraged, that you ſhall find his Inſtruction very thinne and weak; if Gods Spirit ſee you doe not intend to make uſe of what he teacheth, he will have little delight to teach you.
Ʋſe 4 Reproves ſuch as content themſelves in Ignorance, by ſaying they are not book-learned, and therefore there is not much expected from them; why, if you give up your ſpirits to Gods, his Spirit will teach you all things, he will teach you without book, as much as ſhall be needfull for you.
Ʋſe 5. Of conſolation to Gods Servants, that have alwayes a Teacher within them, they carry a Prophet about them, a Miniſter about them: every man deſires to have the beſt Teacher for his Child, you cannot put your Child to a better Teacher than the holy Spirit, Iſa. 54.14. John 6.45. your children ſhall be taught of me, therefore pray to God to teach you, and to counſell you, he will give you that counſell and direction, none can give. Vide plura verſe 20.
Doct. 5. The Spirit of God in the hearts of his ſervants is not a ſpirit of deluſion, but of truth.
They might ſay, every man will boaſt of his own ſpirit, we know there are many lying ſpirits abroad; how ſhall I know that I have the true Spirit? why, he ſaith it is not a lying, but true Spirit, ſo our Saviour calls it a Spirt of Truth, John 16.13. John 14.16, 17. and it is a ſure Spirit.
1 Becauſe it makes us true men, whereas by nature we are full of falſhood and lyes, Ron. 3.4.
2 It reveales the Truth of God in a true manner, it teacheth ſuch things as agree with the Scripture, the word of truth.
3 It is given by the God of Truth, therefore muſt needs be true.
4 Becauſe it teacheth nothing but what it receives from Chriſt, and Chriſt teacheth nothing but what comes from the Father, the God of Truth, Joh 12.49, 50. therefore muſt needs be true.
Q. But how ſhall I know that my ſpirit is not a ſpirit of Error and deluſion, but of truth? 1 Kings 22.22, 23, 24. when went the Spirit of the Lord from me to speak to thee? yet there was a lying spirit amongſt them, we ſee here was a lying ſpirit in four hundred Prophets, and he cunningly conveyes himſelfe like an Angel of Light, how ſhall a Child of God diſcern the true Spirit from a Spirit of deluſion?
A. They that have received a Spirit of Error, may be deluded by a Spirit of Error, but they that have received the Spirit of Truth, cannot be deluded by a Spirit of Error. But how ſhall I know that I am not deluded, and that my Spirit is a Spirit of Truth?
1. By the Teſtimony of this Spirit; there is ſuch a clear light in the Spirit, that he will reveal himſelfe plainly enough, 1 John 5.3. The Spirit bears witneſſe that the Spirit is Truth.
2. You ſhall finde the Spirit of God is ever ſuitable to the Word of God; that Spirit that teacheth you other things than the Word, or withdraws you from the Word, that Spirit is a deluſion; the Word begat us, and a Chriſtian loves to be ſucking at it.
3. It is a Spirit of Truth, if it make you conformable to Chriſt; meek and lowly as Chriſt was patient, and going about doing good as he did, where ever we come; that is the proper work of the Spirit, to make us holy as he is holy, meek as he is meek, pure as he is pure.
4. We may diſcern the Spirit by his fruits, a tree is known by the fruit, good fruit comes not from a corrupt ſpirit, take any corrupt ſpirit, it ſo confounds and troubles the ſpirits of men, that they cannot bring forth good fruits, but the holy Spirit is ſo meek and plain, that it doth not diſturb nature, but perfect it, but a bad ſpirit doth not perfect, but corrupt nature, Gal. 5.22. But the fruits of the Spirit are, Faith, and love, and meekneſſe, it is a ſign an evill Spirit was upon Zedekiah, 1 Kings 22. becauſe he was ſo boyſterous, and rude, and impatient, he ſtruck Micaiah on the face, but Gods Spirit is meek, and humble, and lowly.
Ʋſe. 1. May teach us to ſee the excellency of a Chriſtian, above other wicked men, Prov. 12.10. the way of a Chriſtian is the way of Truth and goodneſſe, but the wayes of the wicked are deceitfull, and will certainly ſeduce us, but a Chriſtian hath fellowſhip with the Spirit of Truth.
Ʋſe. 2. It muſt therefore ſtir up men to labour to be partakers of this excellent Spirit, this Spirit of truth, the way of righteouſneſſe will not deceive us
It may be many times by following the Spirit, we run into dangerous wayes. the way of truth is a ſtraight narrow way, but it is a ſafe way; keep your way, and it will keep you; the Spirit of Chriſt will carry you on ſtrongly, Jer. 20, 10. men thinke that Chriſtians walk in dangerous wayes, ſet like Chriſt on the top of a pinacle, but we ſhall find that theſe wayes of truth will not fail us, but lead us on to eternall happineſſe, therefore get this Spirit of Truth.
Ʋſe. 3. A ground of comfort to all them that have received this Spirit, this Spirit will not deceive you; if Gods Spirit were not in you, you were of all men moſt miſerable; but we have a Spirit that will not fail us, as Policarpus ſaid, Theſe eighty ſix years have I ſerved Chriſt, and he never deceived me, therefore now I will not leave him.
Doct. 6. The anoyntment of Gods Spirit teacheth us our perſeverance in Chriſt, i. e. doth aſſure us that we ſhall abide in him.
Rom. 8.16, 17. The ſame Spirit beareth witneſſe with our Spirits; two Spirits bear witneſſe, Gods, and ours, and both co-witneſſe our adoption; our ſpirit, that is, our renewed, regenerate Spirit, for Gods Spirit would not joyn with our corrupt Spirit, but with our renewed Spirit, and this makes us become the Sons of God; for there is a manifold difference between the fruits of the Spirit and the fleſh; but beſides this renewed Spirit of ours, Gods Spirit witneſſeth, the other indeed was the fruit and effect of Gods Spirit, but Gods Spirit it ſelfe is ſome lively and comfortable witneſſe, which ſpeaks more clearly and fully, than the created graces of God in us; if you would ſpeak of an immediate work of the Spirit, it doth it by ſuch peace of Conſcience, and joy, as paſſeth underſtanding, Phil. 4.7. foreign it ſhall ſo guid your hearts; this peace that Gods Spirit immediately poures into the heart, is without underſtanding, and the witneſſe Gods Spirit gives to our ſpirits, makes us that we never doubt more as formerly.
2 It works in us joy unſpeakable, and full of glory, 1 Pet. 1.8. there is ſuch a witneſſe as fills our hearts with glorious Conſolation, Rom. 14.17. and this fills our ſouls, ſo that a man taſts of the firſt fruits of Heaven, in his light we ſhall ſee light, Pſal. 36.8, 9. there are certain times when God ſends this into our ſpirits, and that is uſually in the end of many Conflicts, God abundantly recompenſeth our work.
3 Sometimes when we are preparing for ſome great triall, then God ſends ſome more ſpecial help of his Spirit; as it was with our Saviour, when he was to be tempted forty dayes, immediately before he had a teſtimony from Heaven, Thou art my beloved Son, &c. preſently after he was led into the Wilderneneſſe to be tempted of the Devill, Matth. 4. and as the Angels rejoyce at our converſion, Luke 15.10. ſo when God hath any great Temptation for us, he poures down more enlargement and comfort of the Spirit; ſo when Chriſt was to be Crucified, he was a little before gloriouſly Transfigured, and when he came riding to Jeruſalem, exulting and rejoycing, preſently after he went to be Crucified, Rom. 5.8. and often in the midſt of tribulation, ſo oft after Afflitions and Conflicts, God comes to comfort us with happy enlargements, 1 Pet. 4.14. not onelyonly a ſpirit of grace, but a ſpirit of glory▪ as it did on Steven, Acts 6. ult. 1 John 3. ult. hereby we know that we abide in Chriſt, even by the Spirit, 1 Cor. 2.9, 10, 11, 12.
Reaſ. 1. From the names and titles given to the Spirit in Scripture; three names, all which witneſſe this truth.
1 It is called the Comforter, Joh. 14.16, 17. not ſo much comforting us in outward Croſſes, but ſpecialy becauſe he comforteth our hearts, by aſſuring us we are Sons, and Daughters of God, and Heirs of life, for elſe it were not above the world, for the world can comfort us in temporall things, but here is a comforter that far tranſcends the world.
2 The Spirit is called the ſeal and earneſt of our inheritance, Epheſ. 1.13, 14. Ephſ. 4.30. 2. Cor. 1.21. now a ſeal hath a three-fold uſe.
1 It hath an uſe to keepe ſecret, or diſtinguiſh.
2 Not only ſo, but to confirme us in all Leaſes, Bonds, Covenants; ſo the Spirit not only keeps us ſure, and diſtinguiſheth us from all Hypocrites, but ſeales us by confirming the happineſſe of our eſtate preſent, and future.
3 It is a ſeal alluding to the ſeals of Princes▪ wherein their perſon is pourtrayed; ſo this Spirit is the very Character of Gods Image, and faſhions us after the Image of God, and hereby he confirms and eſtabliſheth all the Promiſes to us, 2 Cor. 1.20. and Epheſ. 6. the Article: ſhews, that not only the gift of the Spirit, but the perſon of the Spirit witneſſeth.
3 He is called the earneſt, whereof three Uſes.
1 It bindes and aſures a man.
2 An earneſt is part of the payment, though ſmall in regard of the whole; ſo the Spirit of grace is part of the payment, and ſhall remain with us till the full payment.
3 Becauſe it abides with us after the whole payment.
Ʋſe. May ſerve to comfort the hearts of all that have received the Unction of the Spirit, they have an aſſurance of their ſtate of Grace here, and Glory hereafter.
Obj. How comes it to paſſe then, that ſo many Chriſtians are ſo troubled?
1 There is a double Reaſon;
Firſt, Sometimes by imaginary cauſes, when there is no ſuch cauſe; as,
1 In caſe of deſertion; we think we have quenched and grieved the Spirit, and therefore it hath left us, but God doth not aſſure us that the Spirit in a full and glorious meaſure ſhall abide in us, but ſome fruites of it ſhall alwayes remain.
2 Sometimes outward Croſſes and Afflictions make us doubt, as David, Pſal. 73. ſurely, I have cleanſed my heart in vain.
3 Sometimes Melancholy may ſo diſtemer us, that we will hardly be perſwaded of that whereof we have no cauſe to doubt.
Secondly, There are ſome real Cauſes; as,
1 If we live in any known ſin, that breaks the very bones, Pſal. 51.8. deprives us of the vigour of the Spirit.
2 The high prizing of earthly contentments; when we exceedingly delight our ſelves in Husbands, or Wives, or Children, which much benumbs and dims the light of the Spirit, Matth. 13.44, 45. when a man ſo prizes this Pearl, he keeps it with him in comfort.
3 The proud frame of our ſpirit hinders our peace; we are all naturally of proud …ofty ſpirits, and if God ſee not in us an humble meek ſpirit, Gods Spirit will not ſo freely converſe with us, Iſa. 57.15.
4 Impediment of our peace, is ſuſpending of our peace upon our own performances, becauſe we cannot pray ſo enlargedly, nor hear ſo profitably as ſometimes we have done, but then we deceive our ſelves, Rom. 5.1. becauſe then we do not look for peace and juſtification from grace, but from the works of the Law, whereas we ſhould depend wholly on the Merits of Chriſt; and thus by theſe means we grieve the Spirit, and blur the ſeal, and ſo dim and dull our peace and comfort.
Ʋſe 2 It may confute a Popiſh errour, who ſay, it is preſumption, and dangerous to think we may have aſſurance of Gods favour; but we ſe we may know it by the witneſſe of the Spirit