Twenty-Four Sermons, Sermon 11
SERMON XI.
June 16. 1696.
ACTS V. xxxii. latter Part.
And ſo is alſo the Holy Ghoſt, whom God hath given to them that obey him.
THE Infinitely wiſe God knows very well how to ſerve his own Intereſts and Ends, both by acts of Judgment and Mercy. Ananias and Saphira are ſuddenly struck dead at the beginning of this Chapter; and on the contrary, many ſick are healed in the following part of this Chapter; both are over-rul'd in an eminent manner for the propagation of the Goſpel in thoſe early New Teſtament times. This ſo enrag'd the High-Prieſt and his Party among the Jews, that they ſeiſe and impriſon the Apoſtles, v. 17, 18. but the very next Night an Angel is ſent to open the Priſon-Doors, and ſet them at Liberty, and commands them to go and Preach in the Temple, which they did accordingly betimes in the Morning, v. 19, 20, 21. Their Enemies being amaz'd at this Deliverance, and afraid of a Tumult among the People, bring them without violence, before the Council, who charge them with Stubbornneſs and Sedition for perſiſting in the exerciſe of their Miniſtry, after they had forbidden them, ver. 29. Hereupon Peter in the Name of the Reſt, makes a noble and couragious Defence. He tells them, that what they did, was to avoid the guilt of Diſobedience to God, whoſe Authority is greater than Mans; ver, 29. And that the ſame Jeſus, whom they had Crucified, God had raiſed, and exalted to be a Prince and Saviour, to give Repentance, and Remiſſions of Sins, ver. 30, 31. This was the ſumm of what Chriſt himſelf had order'd to be Publiſht in his Name, and theſe were the Things which they were Commiſſioned to Teſtifie; Luke 24.47, 48. Therefore the adds in the Text, [And we are the Witneſſes of theſe Things,] The ſpreading of this Doctrine in the World, was a truſt which they had receiv'd, and they dared not to be ſilent; their Lord had expreſly ſaid, Ye ſhall be Witneſſes unto me, both in Jeruſalem, and in all Judea, &c. Chap. 1.8. And no Prohibitions or Threatenings muſt ſtop their Mouths, or tempt them to neglect their Duty. But this is not all; that which follows in the laſt Clauſe of the Verſe, is yet more conſiderable: [And ſo is alſo the Holy Ghoſt whom God hath given to them that obey him,] q.d. Though you quarrel with us, and oppoſe our Teſtimony, there is a witneſs above all Exception, who may not only ſilence, but Cure your lnfidelity; we are not alone in this Work, we have one to back us, who is greater than all, even the Spirit of God himſelf. This agrees with what Chriſt had ſaid, John 15.26, 27. When the Comforter is come — he ſhall teſtifie of me; and ye alſo ſhall bear witneſs —
The Words are the Concluſion of Peter's Reply to the Jewiſh Sanhedrim, in which we have a brief Abridgement of his Sermon, or larger Diſcourſe, upon the Day of Pentecoſt, though that and this had very different Effects; they who heard that, were pricked to the Heart, and it iſſued in their ſaving Converſion, Chap. 2.37. They who heard this, were cut to the Heart, and conſulted about ſlaving the Apoſtles, ver. 33. of this Chapter. The ſame Expreſſion is us'd concerning Stephen's Murderers, Chap. 7.54. And ſignifies the galling of their Conſciences; Which provoke them to a more furious Reſiſtance of the Truth, when they have been perſuaded to embrace it. Thus, that very Word (in ſubſtance the ſame) which is the ſavour of Life unto one, becomes the ſavour of Death unto another.
Obſ. The Holy Spirit whom God hath given to them that obey him, is a Witneſs to Jeſus Chriſt. The Text is not a direct Aſſertion of the Doctrine of the Trinity, but we have here all the Three Divine Perſons brought in and mentioned together. Our Lord Chriſt is the Perſon witneſs'd to, the Holy Ghoſt is the Perſon witnesſſin, and God the Father is the Perſon whom this Witneſs proceeds from, and is ſent by. Theſe are the Three that are ſiad to bear Record (or witneſs) in Heaven, 1 John 5.7. And indeed they all Teſtifie to each other. The Father bore Witneſs of Chriſt, John 5.37. Chriſt alſo was given to be a Witneſs to him, Iſa. 55.4. And in this Place, the Holy Ghoſt is named as a Witneſs to Chriſt. In handling this,
I. Shew in what Senſe the Holy Spirit is given.
II. Whom he is given to.
III. How he performs the Work and Office of a Witneſs to our Lord Jeſus.
IV. Uſe.
I. In what Senſe is the Holy Spirit given by God? In many Places, which 'tis needleſs to repeat, the ſame Phraſe occurs to us, eſpecially in the New Teſtament. To prevent miſunderſtanding, in ſo fuudamental a Point, I ſhall endeavour (with an humble regard to the greatneſs of the Myſtery) to open it Negatively and Poſitiverly.
1. Negatively. The giving of the Spirit by God the Father, does not import the Spirits being Inferiour to the Father, nor does it exclude the Purchaſe and Gift of Chriſt.
1. This does not import the Spirit's being Inferiour to the Father. How difficult ſoever it be to conceive the Order which is among the Perſons in the Godhead, we are ſure, 'tis impoſſible that there ſhould be any inequality. The Bleſſed Spirit is one with the Father, and to him belong all the glorious Perfections of the Supream Being; he is the moſt High God, as the Father is. All the Three Perſons have the ſame Infinite Eſſence, and Nature, the ſame Underſtanding, Will, and boundleſs Power. If any one Perſon be put beneath another, his Deity is thereby deſtroy'd; and therefore, we muſt take heed of any ſuch unſcriptural Imagination concerning the Spirit of God. The Holy Ghoſt is given indeed, but not as by a Superiour, who hath a command over another, whether he will or not; for he is given with his own Conſent; and one equal may give another, if they agreee to do ſo; as in like manner Jeſus Chriſt, whom the Scripture calls God's Fellow, is alſo ſaid to be given of God.
2. This does not exclude either the Purchaſe, or the Gift of Chriſt. The Holy Spirit is given by the Father, and yet Purchaſed and given by the Son too.
1. Purchaſed by Chriſt, the Son of God. He hath obtained the Spirit for us, or elſe we ſhould never have partaken of him. Hence it is that he is ſaid to be ſhed on us through Jeſus Chriſt our Saviour, Tit. 3.5, 6. His Bloud was the Price of this Priviledge, his Interceſſion procures our actual Enjoyment of it. John 14.16. I will pray the Father, and he ſhall give you another Comforther, &c. After the finiſhing of his Work on Earth, and Exaltation to Glory, the Apoſtle tells us, That he receiv'd of the Father the Promiſe of the Holy Ghoſt, Acts 2.33. The Promiſe of the Holy Ghoſt, here is put for the Holy Ghoſt promiſed; to ſpeak ſtrictly, Chriſt receiv'd the Promiſe of the Holy Ghoſt, in the Everlaſting Covenant of Redemption, upon ſuch and ſuch Conditions which he was to perform in the fulneſs of Time; but now, thoſe Conditions being perform'd, he receiv'd an abundant Accompliſhment of this Promiſe, not for himſelf, but for thoſe that belong to him.
2. The Spirit is given by Chriſt. He is ſaid to ſhed him forth; in the laſt cited Place. So he engag'd to ſend him, John 15.26. Chap. 16.7. The ſame Act may very well be attributed both to the Father, and Son, as concurring in external Operations. My Father worketh hitherto, and I work, Chap. 5.17. The Father is repreſented as the Maker of all Things, very frequently, and ſo is the Son; In the Beginning God Created the Heaven and the Earth, and in that beginning Jeſus Chriſt was with God not as an unactive Spectator, but as a Co-worker. Believers are ſanctified by God the Father, Jude 1. And they are alſo ſanctified in (or by) Chriſt Jeſsu, 1 Cor. 1.2. The Greek Particle is the ſame in both Places; foreign, and foreign. Therefore 'tis manifeſt that the giving of the Holy Ghoſt by God the Father, is not at all inconſiſtent with the diſpenſing of the ſame Gife by our Lord Chriſt.
2. Poſitively. There are Four Things which ſeem to be ſignified to us, by the Father's giving of the Holy Ghoſt.
1. That the Grace and Love of the Father, is the ſpring of all Divine Communications. Here is the firſt Riſe and Original of all the good that we receive; 'tis all reſolv'd into the Father's good Pleaſure, as the Primary moving Cauſe. John 3.16. God ſo laved the World that he gave his only begotten Son, &c. 'Tis from the ſame Fountain of Eternal Love in the Boſom of God the Father, that this Gift of the Holy Ghoſt does iſſue alſo. 'Tis very remarkable therefore that our Lord directs the Faith of his Diſciples to faſten chiefly hereupon, Chap. 15.26, 27. I ſay not unto you, that I will pray the Father for you, for the Father himſelf loveth you. The meaning is not that Chriſt would omit to mediate for them, or that his Mediation was not to be eyed by them, but the meaning is, that the Father's Love, does prevent as it were, this Act of Chriſt, and is the very ground which 'tis built upon; for Chriſt had never been appointed to this work, if God had not lov'd us.
2. That the Communication of the Spirit is altogether free and undeſerved. He is truly given; and whatſoever is proper Gift, is not beſtowed as a recompence to any previous Endeavours, but in a way of moſt gracious voluntary Diſpoſal; it might be withheld, denied and kept back, without the leaſt ſhadow of unrighteouſneſs or wrong to the Creature. God is under no Obligation to give the Spirit to any, but what by his own Promiſe he hath laid upon himſelf; and there is no Promiſe, but what Mercy is as much concern'd in the making, as Truth in the keeping of. God hath practiſed to give the Spirit to them that ask him, and for our our Encouragement, he is deſcrib'd as more willing to give the Spirit upon our asking, than the tendereſt Parents are to give neceſſary Suſtenance to their own Children, Luke 11.13. But is this ever the leſs an Act of Grace, becauſe we are put to beg it? And is not our very begging an effect of Grace receiv'd? For we cannot ask the Spirit, without the Spirit; the Spirit of Supplication is poured out, where Pleaded for.
3. That when the Spirit of God is once communicated, he is never totally recall'd, God does not take away what he gives, of this ſort. His ſaving Giſts (as the Gift of the Holy Ghoſt moſt certainly is) are without Repentance, Rom. 11.29. In them is Continuance; (as the Prophet ſpeaks, Iſa. 64.5.) Their Duration runs Parallel with the being of the Giver. They that are really made partakers of the Holy Ghoſt, in his ſpecial ſanctifying Operations cannot loſe him. He is given to abide with them for ever; they are his Living Temples, which ſhall be at no Time forſaken, or left deſolate. There may be tranſient workings, and long ſtrivings of the Spirit, with carnal Hypocrites, but they are not indeed poſſeſt of him, and therefore are ſinally without him. There was a notable Difference between the Anointing of Saul and David; the former with a Vial, 1 Sam. 10.1. The latter with an Horn of Oil, Chap. 16.1. God's Ceremonies are very ſigniſicant; the Horn was a more ſolid, the Glaſs a more brittle Subſtance, to intimate the permanency of the Divine Preſence with David, and its ſudden removal from Saul.
4. That the Communication of the Spirit is an exceeding valuable Bleſſing. When God is ſaid to give the Holy Ghoſt, it implies the Priviledge of thoſe that receive him. 'Tis an inſtance of ſingular Favour on God's Part, and a Matter of unſpeakable Advantage on their Part, both to themſelves and others.
1. 'Tis the greateſt Advantage to themſelves. There are many good and perfect Gifts of God, but this Gift excells. The Promiſe of Chriſt in the Old Teſtament, and of the Spirit in the New, contain all the Promiſes in Eminency. There are ſome Things which God gives in Anger, but he never gives the Spirit ſo. There are ſome Things which God diſtributes promiſcuouſly, and ſome times, to thoſe whom he hates, moſt plentifully; but the Spirit is a Gift which the World cannot receive, John 14.17. Other Things may be the lot of ſuch as are reſerved to the Day of Deſtruction, but they that have the Spirit are ſealed to the Day of Redemption.
2. Tis a great Advantage to others alſo, 1 Cor. 12.7. The Manifeſtation of the Spirit is given to every Man to profit withal. No Perſons in the World ſo uſeful in their Places, as they that partake of this bleſſed Gift. It was this which recommended Joſeph to the Egyptians, Gen. 41.38. Pharaoh ſaid unto his Servants, can we find ſuch an one as this, a Man in whom the Spirit of God is? One fill'd with the Holy Ghoſt is worth a Thouſand of common Men; he is a capable Inſtrument of much more good in his Generation, than all the Philoſophers, Criticks, and Diſputers of his World with their vaſt ſtores of unſanctified Learning.
II. Whom is this Spirit given to? The Anſwer is in the Text, to them that obey him. For the clearing of this, there are Three Things, which ſhould be a little enquir'd into; Who is the Perſon here ſaid to be obey'd? What is meant by our obeying him? And how we are to underſtand the Spirits being given unto ſuch?
1. Who is the Perſon here ſaid to be obey'd? [To them that obey him,] foreign. 'Tis indeed applicable to all the Three Perſons; Father, Son, and Spirit, as they are all the juſt Objects of our Obedience, God the Father is to be obey'd in the Commands which he gives forth, God the Holy Ghoſt is to be obey'd in his inward Motions upon our own Hearts; but I incline rather to their Judgment who Interpret this eſpecially of God the Son, Jeſus Chriſt, This ſeems the faireſt Conſtruction, if we view the Words in the Original, we are his Witneſſes, foreign i.e. Chriſt's Witneſſes. Chriſt is the Perſon ſpoken of firſt and laſt; the Verſe begins and cloſes with him, Now that Chriſt hath a right to our Obedience, is undeniable.
1. Becauſe we were made by him; and as his Creatures, we are bound to be his Servants. He that brought us into Being, may upon that Account require the utmoſt Performance of Duty from us.
2. As he is our Redeemer. he is entitled to be our Ruler. He may very well give Laws to us, that hath reſtor'd our Lives to us; as the impotent Man urg'd to the Jews, when they cenſur'd him for carrying his Bed on the Sabbath-day; John 5.11. He that made me whole, the ſame ſaid unto me, take up thy Bed and Walk, q.d. it becomes me to follow his Orders, to whom I owe my Recovery. Chriſt is Saviour and Lord to the ſame Perſons; and all that are ranſom'd by him, are thereby engag'd to be ſubject to him.
2. What is meant by obeying him here? Some render it by Believing; and that this muſt be included (if it be not principally intended) I would offer theſe few Argumeuts to prove.
1. Faith it ſelf is the higheſt Act of Obedience. We read of the Obedience of Faith, Rom. 16.26. As the great End of the Goſpels Publication; and the very ſame Words are render'd Obedience to the Faith, Chap. 1.5. If we ſhould take Faith here for the Doctrine of Faith, 'tis evident that the receiving of this Doctrine is ſet forth by Obedience, In believing we obey; for this is his Commandment, that we ſhould Believe, &c. 1 John 3.23. Indeed 'tis the moſt difficult Duty, as they that are found in the Performance of it, are able to declare from their own Experience. Preſumption is eaſie, but the true Exerciſe of Faith is hard Work.
2. Faith is the Foundation of all Evangelical Obedience. Obedience is that which inſeparably reſults from it, but can never be preſuppoſed to it. By Faith, Abraham, obeyed, when he was called to go out of his own Countrey into a ſtrange Land, Heb. 11.8. And whoever obey from any other Principle, they are nothing in God's Account, and all that they do, will avail nothing to them. Receiving of Chriſt is the firſt Act, and yielding our ſelves to him, is conſequent upon it.
3. We are expreſly ſaid to receive the Promiſe of the Spirit through Faith, Gal. 3.14. foreign, and Faith is oppos'd to Works, twice in this very Caſe of receiving the Spirit, ver. 2, 5. And therefore the Goſpel, which is the Doctrine of Faith, as diſtinguiſht from the Law, which is the Rule of Works, is ſtiled the Miniſtration of the Spirit, 2 Cor. 3.8. A Road of doing, ſeparate from believing, is not the Way of the Spirit of God.
3. How are we to underſtand, the giving of the Spirit to them that obey Chriſt?
1. It muſt not be underſtood, as if this were the Reaſon of the Gift, or the actual Qualification of the Perſons before the receiving of this Gift. Our foreſeen Faith and Obedience is not the Reaſon why God gives the Holy Ghoſt to us; for he is given freely (as hath been ſaid) from no other Motive, but the meer Kindneſs and Goodwill of God to loſt and undone Sinners. Nor are any Perſons ſo qualified and prepar'd for the receiving of the Spirit, before he is given to them; for we are unbelieving and diſohedient, till the Spirit hath been mightily at Work in us. The whole Race of Manking, are by Nature a wretched Company of Inſidels, and Rebels againſt Chriſt, without the Spirit. And there is not the leaſt Diſpoſition in us to any Duty whatſoever, but what is of his producing.
2. Believing and Obeying are the preſent Effects of the Spirit's Influence upon our Souls, aſſoon as he is given us. He is given in Order to this End, and this End is immediately and infallibly brought about by his powerful Agency. When the Holy Ghoſt was given to the Gentiles, their. Hearts were inſtantly purified by Faith, Acts 15.8, 9. To have the Spirit and remain one Moment an Unbeliever, is a Contradiction. So we read of Sanctification of the Spirit unto Obedience, 1 Pet. 1.2. Where the Spirit is, he Acts as a Sanctifier; and where he Acts ſo, it inſtantly appears by the Fruit of Obedience; which flow naturally from it. So the Promiſe runs, Ezek. 36.27. I will put my Spirit within-you, and cauſe you to walk in my Statutes, &c.
3. In the Exerciſes of Faith and actings of Obedience, we have more and more of the Spirit given to us. So we may underſtand the giving of the Spirit to them that obey Chriſt and believe in him, not of the firſt Donation, but of the increaſed Degrees and Meaſures of the ſame Spirit to thoſe that have him already. In this Senſe, we read of the Spirit's being given and receiv'd, John 7.39. He was given before Chriſt's Aſcenſion, but more ſparingly; when he was aſcended, the Spirit came down in greater Flouds; there was a more ſignal and liberal Effuſion. So, though the Spirit is poured out, that we may believe, yet after we believe, there are ſtill larger Portions continually given forth. This the Apoſtle calls the ſupply of the Spirit, Phil. 1.19. 'Tis the ſame Word which is uſed, 2 Pet. 1.5. Add to your Faith, &c. God does not ſtop at the firſt Gift, but vouchſafes daily further additional Supplies.
III. How is the Work and Office of a Witneſs perform'd by the Spirit to our Lord Jeſus? Anſ. This may be ſhewn under four Heads diſtinctly. How he did it before Chriſt's coming, and during Chriſt's ſtay on Earth, and after his Departure to Heaven? And how he does it even now at this preſent Time?
1. How did the Spirit perform the Work and Office of a Witneſs to Chriſt before his Coming? Chiefly by Propheſie. Now here two Things are to be prov'd; that Propheſie was indeed a Witneſs to Chriſt, and that the Spirit did witneſs by it.
1. That Propheſie was a Witneſs to Chriſt. This the Scripture moſt poſitively Aſſerts, Acts 10.43. To him give all the Prophets Witneſs, &c. There are very numerous and plentiful Inſtances which might be given of the Truth of this, if we look into the Prophetical Writings of the Old Teſtament, which unanimouſly Point to Chtiſt, as their main Subject. Our Lord calls the Jews to ſearch the Scriptures in General, upon this account, becauſe they teſtified of him, John 5.39. Various Predictions concerning Chriſt even in the Books of Moſes, in the Pſalms of David, in the Greater and Leſſer Prophets, in thoſe that Propheſied before the Captivity, and in them that Propheſied after the return out of Captivity. There were few or none among them all, but what foretold the coming of the Meſſiah, and gave ſome Character of him.
2. It was the Holy Spirit who witneſs'd hereby to Jeſus Chriſt. The Spirit of God is ſaid to teſtifie in the Prophets, Neb. 9.30. 1 Pet. 1.11. Whatever is written in the Word, he is ſtiled a Witneſs of, Heb. 10.15. Becauſe he dictated to the Pen-men of the Word, not only the Matter and Subſtance, but the very Expreſſions themſelves. For Propheſie (as the Apoſtle ſays) came not in Old Time by the Will of Man, but Holy Men of God ſpake as they were moved by the Holy Ghoſt, 2 Pet. 1.21. When the Word was brought to them, it was not leſt to them to invent or chuſe out ſuch Terms as they thought beſt for the declaring and reporting of it; but they were acted herein by the Divine Spirit, (as Paſſive Inſtruments) to deliver all that which he ſuggeſted and nothing elſe. The Gift of Propheſie was entirely his, without and antecedent Preparations of their own; and the Exerciſe of this Gift was from him, and under his Conduct and Management alſo. Therefore the Angel might juſtly ſay, Rev. 19.10. The Teſtimony of Jeſus is the Spirit of Propheſie. This Teſtimony was born to Chriſt before his Coming, and the Spirit was the Author of it.