Christs Alarm to Drowsy Saints, Sermon 4

Christs Alarm to Drowsy Saints · Sermon 4

p. 72Revel. 3. 1.

And unto the Angell of the Church in Sardis, write: theſe things, ſaith hee that hath the ſeven Spirits of God, &c.

WEE have done with the Inſcription, And unto the Angel of the Church in Sardis, write. Wee come now to the Subſcription, and that is in theſe words. Theſe things ſaith hee that hath the ſeven Spirits of God, and the ſeven Starres; Which words contain a deſcription of the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, from whom this Epiſtle is ſent unto the Church, and hee is deſcribed very gloriouſly, to the intent that what hee ſaies, may bee the more reverently and ſeriouſly regarded. The Deſcription ſets forth two admirable properties and royalties of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt. Firſt, That hee hath the ſeven Spirits of God, that is, hee hath the Holy Ghoſt, to give to whomſoever hee pleaſe. Secondly, That he hath the ſeven Starres, that is, the Paſtours and Miniſters of the Church. Chriſt hath them all in his hand, to ſend them, to gift them, to aſſiſt them, to preſerve them, to vouchſafe them to a people, or to take them away, as hee liſts: and the Miniſters are called Stars, becauſe they are to ſhine in the firmament of the Church.

Firſt then, the firſt royalty of our Lord and Saviour Jeſus Chriſt, is, that hee hath the ſeven Spirits of God: by the ſeven Spirits of God, hee meanes the Holy Ghoſt; you will ſay the Holy Ghoſt is but one Spirit. By one Spirit wee are all baptized into one Body, 1 Cor. 12. 13. There is one Body and one Spirit, Epheſ. 4. 4. Through him, wee both have an acceſſe by one Spirit unto the Father, Epheſ. 2. 18. The Spirit of God is but one. Yee know there is but one God, in three perſons: one Father, one Sonne, one holy Spirit. There bee three that bear record in Heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghoſt, and theſe three are one, 1 Joh. 5. 7. there is but one Father, and one Sonne, whom the Apoſtle there calls the p. 73Word, for ſo hee is often called in the Scripture. The Word was made fleſh, that is, the Son of God was made fleſh: ſo there is but one Holy Ghoſt, one Holy Spirit. Why then does the Text here ſay of Chriſt, that hee hath the ſeven Spirits of God?

I Anſwer, yee may know that the Revelation uſes peculiar phraſes, auguſt, and myſticall. Now the reaſon why John ſpeaks thus in the plurall number, is.

Firſt, becauſe hee alludes to the manner of his Viſions, now in his Viſions, the holy Ghoſt was thus repreſented unto him, as yee may ſee, Rev. 4. 5. where he ſaw ſeven Lamps of fire, burning before the Throne, which are the ſeven Spirits of God. So, again, Rev. 5. 6. where hee ſaw a Lamb as it had been ſlain, having ſeven hornes, and ſeven eyes, which are the ſeven Spirits of God, ſent forth into all the earth. So, that this is one reaſon why hee calls the Holy Ghoſt, the ſeven Spirits of God, becauſe hee ſpeaks after this manner, of the Viſion that hee ſaw.

Secondly, another reaſon is, becauſe hee was to write to the ſeven Churches of Aſia. Now hee ſpeaks of the Holy Ghoſt in the ſame number, becauſe that one and the ſame Holy Ghoſt, is ſeverally and intirely powred upon them all. The Spirit of God was in Epheſus, and the Spirit of God was in Smyrna, and the Spirit of God was in Pergamos, and ſo in Thyatira, and ſo in Sardis, and Philadelphia, and Laodicea: and therefore hee calls him the ſeven Spirits of God, though hee bee but one and the ſame Spirit.

Thirdly, hee calls him the ſeven Spirits of God, by a common Metalepſis, of putting the effects for the cauſe, becauſe there bee many and ſundry gifts and graces, of the holy Spirit of God; the number ſeven being put to ſignifie the perfection of them, and the univerſallneſſe of them.

Now that the ſeven ſpirits of God, are nothing elſe, but that one and the ſame holy Spirit of God, is plain, out of Rev. 1. 4, 5. John, to the ſeven Churches in Aſia: Grace bee p. 74unto you, and peace from him, which is, and which was, and which is to come, and from the ſeven Spirits which are before his Throne, and from Jeſus Chriſt, which is the faithfull witneſſe. Which words are Saint Johns ſaluting of the ſeven Churches in Aſia, wherin hee wiſhes them all grace from the bleſſed Trinity, q. d. Grace bee to you and peace from God the Father, and from the holy Spirit of God, and from the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, the faithfull and true witneſſe: Calling the Father, which was, which is, which is to come, and the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, the faithfull and true witneſſe, and the Holy Ghoſt, the ſeven Spirits of God. It is the very ſelf ſame ſalutation that Paul uſes in all his Epiſtles, in effect; ſaving that this is more full, and more lofty and auguſt. Now then by the ſeven Spirits of God, hee cannot mean any creature or creatures, as Angels, or ſo: but hee muſt needs mean the Holy Ghoſt, becauſe hee prayes for grace from the ſeven Spirits of God, which no creature is able to give. Yee know God onelyonly can give grace, God onelyonly, is the Authour of all grace: Hee onelyonly can juſtifie, and ſanctifie, and quicken, and give a man eternall life, as James, Every good and perfect gift commeth from above, Jam. 1. 17. It were Idolatry in John, to wiſh to the Churches, grace from the ſeven Spirits of God, if hee meant by them any Angels, or any other creatures. Wee might worſhip the Angels, if they were able to give us grace, wee might pray to them, and ſerve them, and feare them and adore them, if they could bee the Authours of grace to us. Now this is Idolatry. Thou ſhalt worſhip the Lord thy God, and him onelyonly ſhalt thou ſerve, Matth. 4. 10. Of him, and through him, and to him are all things, to whom bee glory for ever, Amen. Rom. 11. 36. Yee know it is the glory of God to bee the Cauſe of all grace. Now what ſaies God? I am the Lord, that is my Name, and my glory will I not give to another. Iſa. 42. 8. Well then, you ſee what is here meant by the ſeven Spirits of God, even the holy Ghoſt himſelf, that one & the ſame holy Spirit of God. p. 75Theſe things ſaith hee, that hath the ſeven Spirits of God, that is, theſe things ſaith Chriſt, that hath the holy Spirit of God, to give him to whomſoever hee pleaſes.

Not as though that were all, that Chriſt hath the holy Spirit of God, for ſo Paul had the holy Spirit of God, I ſuppoſe alſo that I have the Spirit of God, 1 Cor. 7. 40. ſo Peter, and David, and all the Saints, all the people of God have the holy Spirit of God, nay, a man is dead in treſpaſſes and ſins, and is a meer carcaſſe, like a dead body without a ſoule, that hath not the holy Spirit of God, therefore that is not all the meaning of it, that Chriſt hath the holy Spirit of God; for ſo all the children of God have him, and are quickned by him up to all goodneſſe: But Chriſt hath the holy Spirit of God, that is, hee hath him to give to whomſoever hee pleaſes.

But it may be objected, is it not God the Father that gives the holy ſpirit to all his poore children?

I Anſwer, Yes, it is very true, Hee hath him to give to whomſoever hee is pleaſed to give him, for the Holy Ghoſt is his Spirit as well as Chriſt, hee flowes from them both. And therefore ſaith our Saviour, How much more ſhall your Heavenly Father give the holy Spirit to them that ask him? Luk. 11. 13. ſo that the Father gives the holy ſpirit to whom hee will, but it is in Chriſts name, Chriſt is the ſtore-houſe of this gift. When the Father gives his holy ſpirit unto any man, it is onelyonly in Chriſts name, as himſelf ſpeaks: The Comforter which is the Holy Ghoſt, whom the Father will ſend in my name, Hee ſhall teach you all things, Joh. 14. 26. Mark, it is onelyonly in Chriſts name.

Well, now wee ſee the point, That Chriſt onelyonly hath the Holy Spirit of God to give to whom hee pleaſes: If any poore creature would fain have the holy ſpirit of God to be in him, hee muſt come to Chriſt for him. Though the barrell bee never ſo full of good Wine, yet when it is hoopt round about, if one would have any, hee muſt draw it at the tap: ſo, p. 76Beloved, the Lord hath hoopt himſelf up from men, hee hath cloſed himſelf up from all men, by reaſon of mens ſins, hee hath ſhut himſelf up, no man can have any of his holy ſpirit, but hee muſt come and draw it at the tap: hee muſt come to Jeſus Chriſt, the Lord vents himſelf onelyonly in him, as Chriſt ſaith, hee that beleeveth on mee, as the Scripture hath ſaid, Out of his belly ſhall ſlow rivers of living water. What is that? this ſpake hee of the ſpirit, which they that beleeve on him ſhould receive, Joh. 7. 38, 39. Mark, Chriſt is the tap, yee muſt come to him by true beleeving, or yee cannot receive any of Gods holy Spirit. Hee only hath him to give to them that doe imbrace him. From him proceed all the graces of the Spirit, that any men doe injoy. This is his Roialty, as being the only King and Head of the Church, and the opened fountain, that all that would bee ſaved muſt repaire unto. Hee is the beginning of the Holy Ghoſt, the Holy Ghoſt proceedeth from him, as hee is the Son of God, and as hee is man, hee is anointed with him. The Spirit of the Lord is upon mee ſaith he, Luk. 4. 18. Ho, every one that would have him, come unto mee for him. Away with your ſins, and take mee, abhorre all your own waies, ſee what damnable creatures yee are in your ſelves, whether your luſts and corruptions carrie you, what will become of you, if yee goe on in your own paths? if yee would have grace, and mercy, and life, and ſalvation, come to mee, The Spirit of the Lord is upon mee, to powre him upon you, that yee may bee ſaved. I ſay Chriſt is anointed with him, the Lord hath given him his Spirit in abundance, hee hath enough ſpirit to infuſe into all that lay hold upon him, as John ſaith, God hath not given the Spirit by meaſure unto him, Joh. 3. 34. No, hee hath the holy Spirit without meaſure, hee hath all ſtore of ſpirituall graces, to afford to them that lack; a Treaſurie of all heavenly bleſſings, to inrich all his poore diſtreſſed Members.

The Reaſons of this Point, why Chriſt onelyonly hath the p. 77holy Spirit of God, to give where hee will, are three.

Firſt, Becauſe there is none but hee, that God is well-pleaſed in. God is out with all the ſonnes of men, by reaſon of ſin and wickedneſſe, they are all hatefull unto him, they are odious in his ſight, and the whole world cannot make him and them friends again, that ever hee ſhould give them grace and favour, much leſſe his holy Spirit. There is none in whom God is well-pleaſed but in his Son. This is my wellbeloved Son, in whom I am well-pleaſed. Father, and Holy Ghoſt, Both came and reſted upon him, ſaying, This is the onelyonly Hee, in whom I am well-pleaſed, Mat. 3. 16, 17. q. d. If yee get him to bee your Advocate, take him, and come unto mee with him, then I will bee friends with you, hee may help you with reconciliation with mee, hee may get mee to give you my holy Spirit, I am well-pleaſed in him, and in none but him. This is one Reaſon, ſo that Chriſt onelyonly can put his holy Spirit into thy heart, and ſo ſend thee to his Father. As Paul put a loving mediating letter in Oneſimus his pocket, and ſo ſent him to his Maſter: then hee will bee well-pleaſed with thee, when thou haſte Chriſts Letter of commendation about thee, then thou mayeſt goe to God from day to day, and bee accepted with him: None can doe this for thee but onelyonly Chriſt, hee onelyonly can put a mediating Letter in thy hand, hee onelyonly can give thee the interceſſions of his holy Spirit. Thouſands goe to God in mans duties from day to day, and becauſe they are without this, Chriſt hath not given them his holy Spirit, therefore they are not accepted. God is not pleaſed with them, they pray without his ſpirit, they cry God mercy without his ſpirit, they ſeek to enter in without his ſpirit, and ſo they are not admitted. Now when a ſoule comes to Chriſt, God is well-pleaſed with Chriſt, and therefore Chriſt can give him this love-token, Chriſt can give him the holy Spirit, and ſo hee ſhall bee admitted into favour with God. God is wellpleaſed in him. As Pharaoh was in Joſeph, and therefore p. 78Joſeph could preſent his Brethren unto Pharaoh, Gen. 47. 2. If any bodie elſe had preſented them, they ſhould never have found favour, but Joſeph could put acceptance upon them. Pharaoh was well pleaſed in him. So God is well pleaſed in his Son, and therefore he can doe it and none but He.

Secondly, Another Reaſon is, Becauſe the Holy Spirit of God will never enter into man more, except Gods Juſtice be ſatisfied. God is reſolved he will not put up thoſe indignities that men offer unto him, except they bring with them one, in whom his wrath is appeaſed. As Saint John ſayes, The Lambe ſlaine hath ſeven eyes, which are the ſeven Spirits of God. Rev. 5. 6. That is, hee hath ſatisfied Gods Juſtice, and therefore he hath the Holy Spirit of God ſo given, the Holy Spirit of God will goe to thoſe men that he hath ſatisfied Gods juſtice for, I ſay the Holy Spirit of God will not goe to any man, without ſatisfaction, if any one will ſhew him ſatisfaction, then the Spirit of God will ſay, I will goe where you will have mee, onelyonly let mee have ſatisfaction. Now, Beloved, Chriſt onelyonly can ſay to the Holy Spirit come a-long with me to this man, here's a ſatisfaction unto Juſtice, Therefore he only hath the Spirit at his diſpencing. And therefore if any man would have Gods Holy Spirit, he muſt bring the Lambe Divine ſlaine, with him to God. Lord here I have the Lamb ſlaine, and now let me ſee thy face, now let mee have thy Spirit, as David ſaid to Abner, bring me Michol, or never thinke to ſee my face. 2 Sam. 3. 13. q. d. never come to me, except thou bring mee my Michol with thee. The bringing of Michol with him, this might helpe him to ſee the Kings face. So, Beloved, when a man getteth the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, and brings him with him to God, this may helpe him to Gods Holy Spirit. Bring him along with thee, and thou ſhalt ſee my face, thou ſhalt have my holy Spirit. Neither will God ſend thee his Holy Spirit, neither will the Holy Spirit come to thee otherwiſe. Chriſt onelyonly hath him to give. Have Chriſt and have him.

p. 79Thirdly, another Reaſon is, why Chriſt hath the Holy Spirit to give, Becauſe he is fleſh of our fleſh, and Bone of our Bone, and wee may goe to him: hee is the fitteſt to have him to give, becauſe he being man aſwell as wee, wee may make bold to goe to him: My Brethren, wee are not able to goe to God for any thing, much leſſe for his Spirit, wee are not able to looke upon him immediately, as a man is not able to looke upon the Sun-Beames in their ſtrength, ſpecially if hee have ſore eyes: But let him get a Scarfe, or a Cypreſſe, and now hee may. Now the Sun-beames will ſhine upon him through the Cypreſſe, and not hurt him. The Scarfe is able to convey unto him the Sunnebeames, without dazling of him. So, beloved, Chriſt is able to convey the Holy Spirit of God into any man, our ſore Conſciences may look up to God through him, he moderates Gods looke, hee can make us looke God in the face, in a comfortable manner. Now we may aske any thing of him, even his Holy Spirit, and he will give him, as the Apoſtle ſayes: By him we have boldneſſe, Eph. 3. 12. O, beloved, they are great things that we need. We have need of ſuch great matters, that when the Conſcience is awakened, it can have no hope to obtaine, that God ſhould pardon ſuch vile wrecthes as we, that he ſhould accept of ſuch poore ſervices as ours, that he ſhould love ſuch filthy ones as wee are, that he ſhould give us a Kingdome, and his owne Holy Spirit to enliven us, to eſtabliſh our hearts, to be an earneſt of Heaven to us: how can we hope he will give us ſuch infinite mercies? Now the Lord hath put all theſe Bleſſings into the hands of his Sonne Jeſus Chriſt, that is fleſh of our fleſh, and bone of our bones. Now we may boldly goe to him for them. As Moſes when his face ſhone, Aaron was afraid to come neare him, Exod. 34. 30. Therefore hee put a vaile over his face: Now Aaron and others were able to come nigh him; ſo before, none were able to come to God for any thing, but now the Lord hath put a vaile of fleſh p. 80upon himſelfe by incarnating his owne Son, now we may make bold.

The uſe of this, is, Firſt; Is it ſo that Chriſt hath the ſevenUſe 1. Spirits of God? Then, what hath he not? He is an all ſufficient Saviour. He is Gods Steward, God hath put all his goods into his hands. No man can be aſſured of any thing that is good, but by comming unto him. All things are delivered to me of my Father. Mat. 11. 27. That is, I have all my fathers goods in my hand: Favour, Pardon, Mercy, Grace▪ Comfort, Heaven it ſelfe, yea and his holy Spirit and all, I have the diſtributing of them all. He is the ſtore-houſe whither all needy ſoules are to goe, He is full of all manner of good things, as John ſaies, Of his fulneſſe have we al received. Joh. 1. 1…. Looke what grace any of the Saints have▪ they have it all of him, he is Gods Conduit-pipe, the Lord opens himſelfe only in him; he is the tap, he lets out Gods Bleſſings, and Graces, and Spirit, like a ſluce. Hee is the Lord Treaſurer of Heaven and Earth: As Joſeph in Egypt, if any one would have Corne; they muſt goe to Joſeph for it, if they came to Pharaoh but for a pecke, or a gallon, preſently he ſent them to Joſeph, ſo the Lord ſends all that will have any drop of mercy, to his Sonne, if yee will not goe to my Sonne, yee ſhall not have one drop, yee ſhall dye in your ſinnes. This is my welbeloved Sonne, ſayes hee, looke yee heare him: hearken to him: obey him: be ruled by him: bow down unto him: doe as he bids you: if ye anger him, and will not ſtoop unto him: if your hearts will not burſt, if your minds will not off from the world, and other things, and be wholly intent unto him, if yee ſlight him, and ſuffer vain things to draw away your affections and thoughts and meditations from him; there is no redemption for you. No Salvation but onelyonly by beleeving in his name, he hath all the ſeven Spirits of God, no Spirit of Grace at all can be had but onelyonly of him, he was the Rocke, that Moſes muſt ſtand on, that the glory of Gods goodneſſe might paſſe before him.

p. 81Secondly, Another uſe is, hath Chriſt the ſeven Spirits ofUſe 2. God? then wee are without excuſe: if wee be without the Holy Spirit of God, Chriſt hath him to give: and yet how few will ſeeke him of Jeſus Chriſt! as Chriſt ſayes, Yee will not come unto me, that yee might have life. Joh. 5. 40. That is, if yee would come unto me, I would make your dead hearts to live, I would quicken you to all goodneſſe, I would powre my Holy Spirit upon you: But you will not come unto me, for it. This makes us without excuſe, That Chriſt hath the Spirit in him, for all that have a minde to him, and wee have no minde. How few among you to this very day have gotten yet Gods Holy Spirit? Yee pray, but yee have not the ſpirit of ſupplieation, to pray by, to lift up your hearts, to enliven your deſires, to be able to wreſtle with God to any purpoſe, no Spirit of grace ſtirring in you. When ye come to the houſe of God, ye heare Sermons but the Holy Ghoſt does not fall upon you to make them effectuall and mightie in operation, to convert you to God, to knocke off your baſe luſts: yee are dead in all holy duties, voide of all Heavenly graces, dull to every good thing, even as the Body without the ſpirit is dead. Nay the Spirit of the world dwelleth in moſt men tying and glving them to the things here below, and will not let them ſavor and relliſh the things of Heaven. Whereby they cannot ceaſe from ſinne nor work the works of God. Rare is that man, now-a-dayes, that hath the Holy Spirit of God remaining in him in any meaſure: nay if people were asked, whether they have the Spirit of God, yea or no, their owne Conſcience could anſwer. No they have not: they never felt any ſuch Divine ghueſt; their earthlineſſe and lumpiſhneſſe of heart in all the ordinances of God, their unaquaintedneſſe with God, their unſettledneſſe, and nakedneſſe, and blindneſſe in all the wayes of peace, plainely does declare it; and yet they will not come unto Chriſt that they might have life: he hath the ſeven Spirits of God, and yet they cannot finde in their p. 82hearts, to be inſtant and earneſt with him, when Pharaoh appointed Joſeph to diſtribute corne to all comers; Goe to Joſeph, ſayes he, Gen. 41. 55. the Text ſayes, all Countries came to Joſeph for Corne, becauſe the famine was ſore in all lands. But God hath appointed his own Sonne to be a diſpencer of the Spirit, and there is a ſore want of the ſpirit every where in all Townes and Pariſhes, and yet hardly any will come in. Certainely, this is the condemnation, that men intend their pleaſure, and their profits, and every outward thing, and never ſeeke to Jeſus, to have the Holy Spirit of God.

For Firſt, many of us have hard hearts that cannot melt at our owne ſinnes, nor the publike provocations whereby God is provoked, nor the generall calamities of the Church: our hearts are like a ſtone, and wee are not affected, nor can be affected, no relenting at the Word, no bleeding in any other good dutie, nothing moves us: the ſpirit could ſoften, yea, and take the ſtone away, and Chriſt ſaies hee would give him unto us, if we did deſire him. I will put a new Spirit within you, and take the ſtony heart out of the fleſh. Ezek. 11. 19. Hee hath ſpirit enough in him to doe it, and yet we will not ſue to him but in a feigned manner, and ſo a hard heart poſſeſſeth us ſtill, which marres all our familie-duties, and all that wee doe in the publike aſſemblies: nothing comes of all that wee doe. If our fooliſh hearts would come downe to be fervent after Chriſt, this might be be remedied. He hath the ſeven Spirits of God for the nonce. But a ſpirit of ſlumber bewitches us, and and nothing can awaken us to this very day. Never was there a more hard-hearted time, never more hard-hearted Chriſtians, nummed, and paſt feeling, wiſhing indeed the things mought be mended, but never putting forth our hand to have them mended.

Secondly, ſcarce any of us can pray, but in a blunt-hearted-wiſe: our prayers never ſtirre Heaven, never give ſo p. 83much as a lift to any of our luſts, neither are they any whit anſwerable to the miſeries that are on us, whether Perſonall or Nationall, the ſpirit could helpe us, and enlarge us, as Paul ſaies of the good Romans, Yee have received the Spirit of Adoption whereby yee cry Abba Father. Rom. 8. 15. and Chriſt hath this Spirit in his hand, to give. But we would rather ſit woulding and yawning then be downe on our knees before God. Every one almoſt hath heavy things that he is conſciencious of: terrible guiltines, horrible miſ-givings, ſelf-condē nings, uncertainties about his later end, doubtfulneſſe whether any thing be ſound, yea or no; and yet no heart of prayer, no ſtrainings after Chriſt to have the Holy Spirit of him. Nay, tittle tattle is preferred before comming about Chriſt: and every idle buſines more takes up our thoughts, then how we may injoy Jeſus Chriſt.

Thirdly, where is the man well-neer, that is holy? ſome indeed are civill, and not very many, no, not of them that would bee held for Profeſſers. For what Civility, Honeſty is there, when people are palpably proud, and palpably covetous, and palpably malicious, and ſpightfull, and envious? but, put caſe many be Civill; yet holineſſe is hardly any where to be ſeene. Where are any that are mortified unto ſin? Crucified to the world? Pilgrims on earth, Heavenly-minded? taken up with God? The Spirit indeed, is a Spirit of Holineſſe, Rom. 1. 4. And Chriſt hath him to give but hee cannot have our cuſtome: We are not thirſtie after ſuch matters.

Fourthly, Where is the Communion of Saints? a Theme I ſpake of the laſt Sabbath day. We are all like unto Ephraim. Ephraim hath mixed himſelf among the people. Hoſ. 7. 8. that is, they had no Communion of Saints there among them. They were a miſh-maſh people; there was a Chaos and a confuſion and a medly among them. If there be any that beare the name of Saints; They are like Lambs feeding all alone in a large place. Like Iſrael when they are ſcatterd. Hoſ. 4. p. 8416. Lambes withour flockes: Birds without mates: As if they were all frighted aſunder: No Communion of Saints, no Communion of graces, nor duties, nor hearts, nor affections. I confeſſe if we had the Holy Spirit of God, we would make a communion among us: As Paul ſayes. The grace of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt and the love of God and the Communion of the Holy Ghoſt be with you all, Amen. 2 Cor. 13. 14. He would make a Commuinon among us, and Chriſt hath him too, and there we might have him, but we care not for him: which is a moſt fearefull thing: a ſigne of horrible deadneſſe and liveleſneſſe in good: as it is with the boughes of a tree, when they are dead, they fall off, but they hang together as long as they are alive. Though communion of Saints, be an Article of our faith, yet we let it dye. We ſee in nature, if we ſling any meat to a Hen, preſently ſhee cluckes for all her Chickens to have part: So, looke what graces we get, we ſhould impart what we can: the Lord hath appointed mutualgiving good example unto one another, edifying one another, exhorting one another, admoniſhing one another, comforting one another, conferring one with another, ſupplicating one with and for another. As it is ſaid, Luke 5. 10. That Simon and James and Iohn were partners in their fiſhing, looke what fiſhes they caught, they divided among one another; ſo Chriſtians ſhould be partners. What they get at a Sermon, they are to impart, What they get in prayer, or at Sacraments, or in affliction; there be others that ſhould be partners with them: as the Apoſtle ſayes, Looke not every man on his owne things, but every man alſo on the things of others. Phil. 2. 4. O ſayes he, if there be any fellow-ſhip of the Spirit, thus it muſt be, that is, the Spirit would breed this fellowſhip and communion among you. Now, Beloved, where is this holy Spirit to be had but in Chriſt? I ſay wee are without excuſe, if we doe not get the Holy Spirit of God, Becauſe Chriſt hath him for us, if we would reſort to him, and therefore wee can have no plea.

p. 85Firſt, Wee cannot plead, wee have no need of the holy Spirit of God: what need wee have him, as long as wee beleeve there is ſuch a one? Is it needfull wee ſhould have him? I, that it is; why elſe did God make his Son to bee the diſpenſer, and the diſtributer, and communicater of him? O, Beloved, the Lord hath done this, becauſe wee cannot bee ſaved without the holy Spirit of God: would wee bee regenerated and born again; wee cannot without the Spirit: That which is born of the Spirit, is Spirit, Joh. 3. 6. Wee can never bee ſpirituall without the Spirit of God: none but ſpirituall men and women ſhall enter into the Kingdome of God. Drunkards, and adulterers, and lyers, and muckworms, and better men than they, are carnall men. Now to bee carnally minded is death, but to bee ſpiritually minded, this onelyonly is life and peace: ſo that wee cannot plead that.

Again, Wee cannot bee juſtified without the Spirit of God, Yee may ſay, O, wee hope to bee juſtified onelyonly by Faith in Chriſt; True, but if yee have not the Spirit of God, yee have no Faith, none have true faith in Chriſt, till firſt they have the holy Spirit of God, and therefore it is called the ſpirit of Faith, that is, a ſpirit inclining a man unto Chriſt; bowing of the minde, and heart, and ſoule, to all heavenly things in Chriſt, no man can bee juſtified without this, as Paul tells the Corinthians, But yee are ſanctified, yee are juſtified in the name of the Lord Jeſus, and by the Spirit of God, 1 Cor. 6. 11.

Again, Yee cannot have free-will to doe the will of God without the holy Spirit of God. I confeſſe, by nature no man hath free-will: I, but if yee bee not more then nature, yee cannot bee ſaved. Yee muſt have free-will to all the waies of God, or yee cannot bee ſaved. Now yee never can have this without the Spirit of God. Can yee mortifie every wicked luſt? can yee reſiſt the devill every day? can yee keep out the world, and ward off the temptations of the fleſh, yee can never doe it while the world ſtands in a holy p. 86courſe, without the holy Spirit of God. Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty, 2 Cor. 3. 17. Mark, there is freewill to all theſe things, that man hath liberty to doe ſupernaturall things, that hath the Spirit of the Lord, and no man elſe.

Again, Yee are none of Chriſts, if yee have not the holy Spirit of Chriſt; that is the Mark hee brands all his ſheep with, as a man ſaies, when hee heares tydings of any of his ſheep; ſaith hee, if they bee mine, they have ſuch a mark: they have an A. and a B. on the left ſide, or ſo: ſo ſaies Chriſt, if they bee mine, they have my Spirit, if any man have not the Spirit of Chriſt, hee is none of his, Rom. 8. 9. Hereby wee know that hee abideth in us, ſaith John, by his Spirit which hee hath given us, 1 Joh. 3. 24. ſo that wee have need of the ſpirit, and therefore this cannot bee our plea, that wee have no need: wee have ſuch need of Gods holy Spirit, that wee cannot bee ſaved without the having of him.

Secondly, wee cannot plead, wee know not where to have him. For Chriſt ſaith, hee hath him to give to all that will receive him. The Spirit of the Lord is upon mee, ſaith hee, Eſa. 61. 1. that is, hee is powred upon mee, that hee may run down upon all them that come to be my members. If Chriſt indeed had not come, if God had not made him Vehiculum Spiritus, if God had not put his ſpirit upon Chriſt, like water in a Fountain, to run out upon all that will hold their hearts under him; then wee might have ſome excuſe: Lord … wee know not where to have the Spirit. But the Lord hath told us where wee may have him. Wee may have him in his Son Jeſus Chriſt.

Thirdly, Wee cannot plead, wee cannot tell how to have him: For as yee know where to have him, ſo yee may know how to have him too: and yee all doe know, if wee had a heart wee may have him foure waies.

Firſt, By the hearing of the Word: you will ſay, yee have heard the Word many times; yet yee never received the p. 87holy Spirit yet. I anſwer, that's certain, but it is becauſe yee doe not come to it with a greedy yerning heart, with an open eare, and a willing minde to bee guided by it. For if ye came thus with this minde, yee would quickly have the ſpirit. Lord tell mee any thing, I doe unfeignedly deſire for to doe it; reprove any thing in mee, I doe ſincerely deſire to leave it. Come thus to the Word; I dare ſay, thou ſhalt not bee one quarter of an houre without the ſpirit, as Chriſt ſaith, Turn yee at my reproof: behold, I will powre out my ſpirit un to you, Prov. 1. 23. You will ſay, this is ſtrange, and have I heard ſo many Sermons, and never got the ſpirit yet? I, you never heard Sermons with an honeſt heart: You ſhall ſee, Cornelius and his company got the ſpirit at the firſt Sermon that they heard, when Peter Preached, the Holy Ghoſt fell on all thoſe that heard the Word, Act. 10. 44. How ſo? yee may read there in the Context, O ſaies Cornelius, Wee are all here preſent before God, to heare all things that are commanded thee of God. Ver. 33. Now, if wee have the Word daily preached, and wee get not the holy ſpirit of God; wee are without excuſe.

Secondly, By Prayer, if wee did pray faithfully unto God, wee ſhould have the holy ſpirit, as Chriſt ſaies: If ye that are evill, can give good gifts unto your children, how much more ſhall your heavenly Father give the holy Spirit to them that ask him? Luk. 11. 13. You will ſay, yee have prayed many a time and often, and yet yee finde no ſuch thing, and no marvaile; when a mans heart prayes onelyonly by the by: but if yee made it your buſineſſe, from day to day, if yee would ſeek for him as for life, and look upon it as more neceſſary then life it ſelf; then yee ſhould quickly ſpeed: But when yee will give God the blinde, and the lame, and your hearts run a whoring after other things; Heaven is not the main of all your care, and ſtudy: the Lord knows a hollow heart, and can tell how to deny it: none ſhall have his ſpirit, that doe not deſire him above all things, and labour after p. 88him above all things, and uſe all manner of meanes for him. The Spirit of God is a great gift, and wee muſt know its an infinite mercy to obtain him, and therefore wee muſt ſeek him accordingly. They that get him, doe not goe dreamingly to work.

Thirdly, By repentance; this is another means to obtain the Holy Ghoſt, as the Lord ſaith, Rent your hearts and not your garments, and turn to the Lord your God, &c. Joel 2. 13. what followes? And after that I will powre my Spirit upon you, ſaith hee, ver. 28. Never think to have Gods holy Spirit, and live after the fleſh, or goe on in a forme, or a careleſſe way: not onelyonly drunkenneſſe and whoredome, and capitall ſins, keep him out, but any other luſts and corruptions, that the heart clings unto; Rent your hearts then, let your drowzie doings pain you at the heart, let all your ſecurity, and unbeleef, and luke warmneſſe, whereby yee part ſtakes with God, let all theſe bee a burden unto you, and you heavy laden with them: this is the way-making for the Spirit of Gods comming in.

Fourthly, Take no deniall, let not ill-ſucceſſe beat you off; this is that which thruſteth back thouſands: They find little ſucceſſe at the firſt, and ſo they give over. But, Beloved, this is it, howſoever wee finde cold ſucceſſe in our holy labours, at the firſt, yet wee muſt goe on, though wee doe not finde our luſts die, though wee doe not finde that ſpeeding in Prayer that wee could wiſh, that prevailing in our endevours, that wee doe deſire, yet ſtill wee are to goe on, and ſtill wait upon God, in abounding in our care, untill the Lord grant us better ſucceſſe. The hard ſucceſſe that we have, muſt not hinder us, as the Apoſtle ſaith, Let us not bee weary in well-doing, for in due time wee ſhall reap, if wee faint not, Gal. 6. 9. That is, let us not bee diſcouraged with hard ſucceſſes, or any other ſuch like thing: certainly, if wee goe on wee ſhall ſpeed. When the Wiſemen came ſeeking for Chriſt at Jeruſalem, they had no good ſucceſſe there, they p. 89did not finde him there, yet they would not return back without him; But they went down to Bethlehem, and ſought for him there. When the Church had ſought Chriſt in her bed, ſhee had no ſucceſſe for that time. I ſought him, ſayes ſhee, but I found him not, Cant. 3. 1. What, would ſhee give over becauſe of her bad ſucceſſe at the firſt? No, ſhee trudged out into the Lanes and the ſtreets, ſhe enquired of the watchmen and ſtill ſhee had little or no ſucceſſe. But the Text ſaith, ſhee would never give over, till ſhe litt upon him. Beloved, wee muſt take heed of this. It is the impatience of mens hearts, if they cannot finde a bleſſing at firſt daſh, they will ſeek no further, then they ſtrike into a former, or a worſe condition: In the firſt of Haggai, yee may read, that when the Jews had been hindered by Cambyſes, from building of the Temple for a fit, they gave over: Becauſe they had no ſucceſſe, they would build no more, but fell a building their own houſes, ver. 4. yee know it was their ſin, and the Lord plagued them for it. Therefore, Brethren, it muſt bee our care, although wee doe not ſpeed at the firſt, not to ſlacken, or give in: As Iſaac would ſtill bee building▪ Wells, hee built one, and that had no ſucceſſe, hee built another, and that had as bad; ſtill there fell out ſtrife, what then? did he give over ſo? No, hee never would have done, till the Lord gave him a Rehoboth, a Well that there was no ſtriving about, Gen. 26. 22. ſo, wee ſhould never bee quiet, untill the Lord give us his holy Spirit; though wee doe not feele his workings in us at the firſt, no bad ſucceſſes though never ſo many, ſhould make us weary: But ſtill wee ſhould goe on, a ſeeking of the holy Spirit of God. Thus, as wee know where to have the Spirit of God, namely in Chriſt, ſo, wee know how too, and therefore wee are without excuſe, if wee ſuffer our ſelves to bee void of Gods holy and bleſſed Spirit; this is the ſecond uſe.

Thirdly, another Uſe, is, to you that doe indeed complainUſe 3. of great want of the Spirit: here you ſee where yee may p. 90have ſupplies even from our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, hee hath the ſeven Spirits of God. They labour to know Chriſt more and more: this is the way to have more and more of the Spirit, as the Apoſtle ſaith: That the God of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, the Father of glory, may give unto you the ſpirit of wiſdome and revelation in the knowledge of him, Epheſ. 1. 17. Get the knowledge of Chriſt more and more, and thus the ſpirit ſhall come to thee more and more. It is ſaid of the Indian Gymnoſophiſts, that they would lye all the day long, looking upon the Sun in the firmament, ſo ſhould Chriſtians doe, they ſhould lye looking upon Chriſt, the more ſpirit ſtill they ſhall have, if they doe ſo.

Firſt, May be ye want ſpirit to make you know the Lords will, you finde your ſelves backward from day to day: little or no heart to Gods Commandements; look up to Chriſt, and ſay, Lord there is enough ſpirit in Chriſt, and hee hath it for all them that doe want, and would have the ſame; O give mee ſome together with him, as hee ſayes, I will put my Spirit into you, and cauſe you to walk in my ſtatutes, Ezek. 36. 27. q. d. look up to mee, I will doe this for you.

Secondly, May bee yee want ſtrength, yee have many temptations, and you have no ſtrength to reſiſt them, they come in upon you like the breaking in upon you; may bee yee are tempted to deny all, and to ſay yee have nothing in you; ſometimes yee are tempted to give over all, ſaying, it is but a folly, I ſhall one day bee damned, and I were as good give over now, as to doe it afterwards, when it will bee worſe, and yee have no ſtrength to hold out; ſometimes yee cannot meditate; yee cannot pray, yee are fain to break off in the midſt; with baſe feares; with ſecurity, and vain hopes; you are tempted to doe as the world does, and yee have no ſtrength to oppoſe them: Look up to Chriſt, yee know the Spirit of Chriſt, is a ſpirit of power, and ſtrength, 2 Tim. 1. 7. and hee hath him for you: Look up to him then, and cry for his ſtrong ſpirit. Who knowes? may p. 91bee, you may bee able to ſay in the end, as Paul does: I can doe all things through Chriſt that ſtrengthens mee.

Thirdly, May bee, yee want boldneſſe to call God your Father: yee are in a quandary, whether yee ſhould call him ſo or no: yee are afraid, hee is none of your Father, and that yee are none of his adopted ones: yee ſhall but blaſpheme him to call him your Father, or to expect of him a childes portion; Look up to Chriſt, hee hath ſuch a ſpirit in him, whereby yee may cry, Abba Father, Gal. 4. 6.

Fourthly, May bee yee want life and quickning, you finde your ſelves very dead, even as the Church of Sardis in this place; I know thy works, that thou art dead. Look up to Chriſt, as here hee does bid thee, hee hath the ſeven Spirits of God, and hath that which will quicken thee. Chriſt himſelf, when hee was naturally dead, hee was quickned by his own ſpirit, 1 Pet. 3. 18. That very ſpirit can quicken thy ſpirituall deadneſſe, to every good word and work. His ſpirit is life, and that will make thee lively, though thy heart bee little better then a Timber-logge in duties, yet if that ſpirit get within thee, it will make thee agile, and active in every good thing. It is a horrible thing to ſee, how little, Chriſtians know of Jeſus Chriſt, though they have been thought to know Jeſus Chriſt ſo long a time, yet they doe not know him. Chriſt takes this very ill, as hee told Philip: Have I been ſo long time with you, and haſt thou not known mee, Philip? Joh. 14. 9. Chriſt could bee even angry with him, for learning him no better: what little ſpirit is there in Chriſtians now adaies! a ſigne, though they have been a long time a learning Chriſt, yet they hardly know him: For if wee knew him, Brethren, wee could not bee at enmity with the holy Spirit. Wee doe not look up to Chriſt.

You will ſay, what is it to look up to Chriſt in all your wayes?

I Anſwer, It is to follow Chriſt, as where John ſaid, Behold the Lamb of God that taketh away the ſins of the world.

p. 92The Text ſayes, That two of his Diſciples went away and followed after Jeſus, Joh. 1. 36, 37. O thought they, is hee the Lamb of God, does hee take away the ſins of the world, wee will follow him then. John bade them look at him, and they followed after him, that is, they lookt at him indeed, as a man looks at one whom hee follows: when a man ſo looks up to Chriſt, that hee follows him: when a man ſees him his onelyonly meanes to bee happy, and godly, and in the favour of God, the onelyonly meanes to doe well, and to bee well, and deſires indeed to follow after him, this is to look up to Chriſt, when a man labours ſincerely to follow the counſell and direction of Chriſt, in all his wayes; Hee bids him to deny himſelf, and that is the thing that hee labours for; Hee bids him to repent of all his ſins, and to ply himſelf to all Gods holy paths, and to rely upon him for ſtrength and acceptance, and mercy and pardon, and every bleſſing. What-ever thing hee looks for at the hands of God, hee ſets himſelf to follow Chriſts counſell, and to expect it in him. If hee ſee his ſins, hee looks up to Chriſt, and there hee ſees his death to defray them; when hee ſees what power they have over him, hee looks up to Chriſt for his Spirit to ſubdue them, in the uſe of all thoſe meanes that hee hath appointed; Prayer, Meditation, Watchfulneſſe, Striving, Purpoſing, Endevouring, and Fighting againſt all the luſts of his fleſh. And wherein ſoever hee failes, hee labours to bee humbled, and yet to look ſtill up to Chriſt, for forgiveneſſe, and more help againſt another time: This is to ſee the Son of God. Every one that ſees the Son, hath everlaſting life, Joh. 6. 40. This is to look up to Chriſt, to beleeve in Chriſt, to have Chriſt, to bee in Chriſt, to dwell in Chriſt, and Chriſt in him.

But you will ſay, I am afraid I never lookt up to Chriſt then, I never yet had him, for I have not his holy ſpirit, how ſhall I know whether I have the holy ſpirit? I Anſwer, firſt, I will tell thee, what bee not ſignes; and then ſecondly, what bee ſignes.

p. 93Firſt, What bee not ſignes, there are foure ſignes that people take to bee ſignes, and are not: Firſt, a civill Life, when a man is a mercifull man, kind to the poore, quiet and peaceable among his Neighbours, gentle, affable, courteous, wellconditioned; Theſe are no ſignes of having Gods holy Spirit: True, they are very commendable, and they that have the Spirit of God, muſt have them, and better than them. But a man may bee without the holy Spirit of God, and yet have all theſe; Paul ſhews that the very Barbarians ſhewed him no little kindneſſe, they kindled him a fire, though they were meer naturall men, Act. 28. 2. Our Saviour Chriſt ſhews that ſome are chaſte by nature, that are born ſo; ſo, many are temperate by nature, and loving by nature, and meek by nature, patient by nature; therefore, theſe are no ſupernaturall graces, theſe are no ſignes of the holy ſpirit.

Secondly, the profeſſion of Religion▪ This is no ſigne of the Holy Spirit neither for many profeſſe they know God, and yee are reprobate to every good work. Tit. 1. 16. that is, many profeſſe Religion, they will heare the Word, they will have prayers in their families, they will be of the better ſide in their Pariſh where they are, if there be any godly ones, they will be of their Company, if they can, and ſeeme to to doe as they doe, and yet they have a carnall heart, they doe very good workes every day, but they have a Reprobate and unapproved heart in them. They doe not doe them right.

Thirdly, Every kinde of repentance is not a ſigne neither, we read that Pharaoh Confeſſed, his ſin, and deſired the prayers of Gods people. Exod. 9. 27. Saul wept for his ſinnes. 1 Sam. 24. 16. Judas made reſtitution: Eſau bought repentance with teares. The world think certainly theſe were times of Gods Spirit; no, no: They were onelyonly Common effects of the ſpirit. The wicked may in a ſort repent of their ſinnes and beat them downe too, but the truths is, they doe not mortifie them. Like as if a man ſhould come into a garden, and ſee how a mole hath caſt up the earth, and made a p. 94fowle ſtirre in the Alleyes, and in the Garden knots, if hee tread it onelyonly downe with his foote, and doe not kill the Mole, anon after it will be as bad as before, ſo many wicked men may doe, they may beat downe their ſinnes every day, but they riſe up ſtill as bad as before; now they beat them downe, and ſo their luſts like the Mole caſt up againe. Thus the Mole is not killed. This is no ſigne of the Spirit. But a godly heart, he kils the Mole, he mortifies his ſin, indeed new Moles may breed, and caſt up again; but he riddes his ſoule more and more.

Fourthly, Every kind of faith neither, is not a ſigne of Gods holy Spirit, yee know the ſtony ground Believed, Luk. 8. 13.

Secondly, Now, for thoſe ſignes that be▪ Firſt, When a man is ſoundly convinced of his sinnes; This is an act of Gods holy Spirit, Joh. 16. 8. When a man hath the unction from the Holy one, The Text ſayes, that abides for ever, where it is, The anointing which yee have received of him abideth in you. 1 Joh. 2. 27.

Secondly, When a man hath had a ſound prick for his ſins, this lets in the Holy Ghoſt▪ as Peter told his hearers, That were prickt in their hearts. Act. 2. 37. he told them they ſhould receive the Holy Ghoſt.

Thirdly, When a man hath had an unſatisfiable deſire of reconciliation with God, as it is ſaid of Paul, that when hee was rightly toucht by the ſpirit indeed, hee could neither eat nor drink▪ Act. 9. 9. hee could not be quiet, till Ananias came and told him hee was reconciled with God.

Fourthly, When a man is another, and a new creature, Whoſoever is in Chriſt is a new creature, 2 Cor. 5. 17. the Spirit of God, where▪ ere Hee is, Hee is a new ſpirit, and Hee carries with him a new heart▪ Ezek. 36. 26. Hee works a thorow change, and hee renews minde▪ will, and affections, inclinations, memory, appetite, members and all: Hee does not onelyonly new-plaſter them over, but hee pulls a man quite down, and builds him up a new habitation of God, as Chriſt p. 95told the Centurion, if I come, I will heale thy ſervant, ſo, if Chriſt doe once come with his ſpirit into any mans heart, hee heales it, hee works a mighty mutation in that man into another man, as Paul tels the Corinthians, Yee were drunkards, but now yee are waſhed, yee were railers, yee were adulterers, yee were covetous, yee were unrighteous, But now yee are waſhed, 1 Cor. 6. 9, 10, 11. As Paul ſayes, I was a blaſphemer, and I was a perſecuter, but bleſſed bee God, now I have obtained mercy. Now I am not the man that I was; I was a lyer, but now, bleſſed bee God, I have the lip of Truth; I hated them that were godly, but bleſſed bee God, now they are the deareſt people to mee in the world.

Fifthly, when a man does ſupernaturall good things; naturall good things, a naturall man may doe, without the holy ſpirit of grace: when you ſee a man liſt up a hundred, or two hundred pound weight, you will ſay. I, this hee may do by nature; But if you ſhould ſee a man lift up five thouſand pound weight, you will ſay▪ there is more then nature in him: ſo, beloved, when you ſee a man loves ſin and comes to bee vaine, and cannot abide to bee ſtrict; if hee bee ſtrict a little, hee is ſoon weary of it, and layes it aſide; you may know this man hath not the ſpirit of God in him, but if yee ſee you love holineſſe, and hate every evill thing, that nothing humbles you ſo much as ſin, nothing takes you up ſo much as how to pleaſe God; now yee may know the ſpirit of God is in you, Why? This is above Nature. This then is another Uſe.

Laſtly, Hath Chriſt the ſeven Spirits of God, to give them to all that will come unto him? then what may Chriſt ſay to them that are contented without him, that have no care at all to come at him, that like not his government, that will not draw water at his Well? Hee hath taken paines to procure a ſtock of grace for them, to provide Merits enough for them, a ſalve broad enough for all their ſores, ſpirit enough to powre into all their hearts; and when hee hath done p. 96all this, they regard other things more than him. Truely, he may ſay as David did, when he was told of Nabals churliſh anſwer, Surely, in vain have I kept all that this fellow hath, in the Wilderneſſe. 1 Sam. 25. 21, Even ſo may Chriſt ſay: ſurely, in vain have I ſuffered for theſe men; in vaine have I come out of my Fathers boſome for them; in vain did I die upon the croſſe: They will have none of my ware, they reſpect not my graces, they will not come at mee for my holy Spirit, &c.