The Spirit of Man, Inference 1 – Inference 3
INFERENCE 1.
And by considering well the many Scriptures, that have been alledged, we may fairly see, That 'tis no strained Notion, which is the Design of this present Treatise. It must indeed be acknowledged, that in many of those Scriptures, the word [Spirit] may be taken in some of the common Senses put upon it. As for Instance; it may be taken for the Soul in general; and in some, for the Inward Part, as an Expression of Sincerity: But to take it for the Higher Faculties of Intellect and Will (as the Rational part, contradistinct from the Soul, or from the Liver; This, tho' it be the most common and approved Interpretation of this Text; I must confess I do not see sufficient Reason to allow it. I do not find (to my Understanding) the word so taken in any other Scripture: And therefore I take it to be, but a strained Sense, and thought of, only for this particular place, because of some Difficulty, that appeared therein.
'Tis true indeed, there is one Scripture usually alledged (Heb. 4. 12.) wherein Soul and Spirit are Distinguished one from the other: of which place Dr. Smith in his Portraiture of Old Age hath Discoursed, and Laboured to Evince, That Spiri…, there signifies the Superiour Faculties of man; And Soul, the Inferiour. This Discourse of the Doctor's was Considered in a former Draught on this Subject; which now, because that Ingenious Gen…leman is some Years since gone to his Rest, I think fit to omit, only he, that has Leisure may compare what is there said, with what we have said of the same Scripture in the beginning of this Discourse, and then judge as he sees meet. And as for the many other places quoted, wherein Mans Spirit is mentioned. (on which I now Desire you to Reflect) I suppose you will judg with me: That they may (for the most part) be very genuinely understood in our sense; and that the Interpretation of those Scriptures will, according to our proposed sense, be very Currant.
2. We may also hence In…err;
That 'tis Unjust and Unchristian to Cen…re a…d Cond…mn men for their Humane Spirits: To blame the Diversity of them, is to quarrel Gods Work of Creation, or Providence. Why hast thou made me (or him) thus (Rom. 9. 20.) for Natural Temper, and Modification of it, by Outward Circumstan…es is more Dependent on his Will, then our Industry.
We should rather observe how all this variety of Spiri…s may be made Eminently Servi…ble; for that every Spirit has its particular Natural Excellency; Tho' all have not that, wherein thou (perhaps) mayst peculinly Excel. One Servant of God is Chearful, and Sings at his work; Another goes sadly and carefully about it, for fear of miscarriage; yet both may be good, and Faithful Servants, and neither shall Lose his Reward, but Enter into his Masters Joy. Surely the Manifold Wisdom of God would not be so well made known by the Church in many Respects; (as Eph. 3. 10.) Nor the Manifold Grace of God. (1 Pet. 4. 10.) If every man (having Diversity of Gifts) Did not so Minister, even as he hath Received the Gift. In the (1 Cor. 12.) is a Large Discourse of Diversities of Gifts (v. 4.) Administrations, (v. 5.) Operations, (v. 6.) All by the same Spirit; and all Tending to the same holy Ends, Gods Glory, and the Churches good. The following verses set forth the Church under the Parable of a Humane Body; wherein every Member has its peculiar Ability and Use; so as the Eye cannot say to the Hands, or the Head to the Feet, I have no need of you; (v. 21.) But all are Servicea…le in their place and kind. This (he says) he wrote, that there should be no Schism; But the Members should have the same care or regard, one for another. (v. 25.) If this were well considered, and a Charitable Estimate made, of every mans several Spirit or Genius; it would much advance Love, Unity, and Mutual Honour, among Christians; Remove that Censorious, Offensive, and Froward Temper in many, that doth so much Disturb Peace and Tranquility, both in Church and State; and incline every man to think and say, if I Excel any man in some things, He may Excel me in many more.
USE 3.
We may hence also Learn, who can Reform, and (being Reformed) preserve the Spirit of man; even he, and only he, that Formed it; That Stretcheth out the Heavens, and Layeth the Foundation of the Eart… and F…rmeth the Spirit of man within hi… (Zech. 12. 1.) This may indeed be u…derstood of the Soul, as one of the En…nent Works of God, and so is here Rec…oned among them. The like may … said of that, Father of Spirits. (Heb. 1… 9.) And that (in Isa. 57. 16.) The Spi… should fail before me, and the Souls which… have made; Spirit and Souls may be take… as put Exeg…tically; yet, if you conside… what follow, (in that Zach. 12. 2.) I … make Ierusalem a Cup of Trembling, to … the People round about, when they shall be … the Fire. (v. 3.) A Burthensome Stone … all the people, gathered together against … And (v. 4.) Smite every Horse with Ast… nishment, and his Rider with madness. … (I say) considered, seems more to favo…our Sense. As it the Prophet had sai… The Malignant Spirit of Wicked Men … set against Gods People; But the For…er of Spirits can quickly confound the… can dash and break them, be they as … as the Horse Rushing into the Battle; … can soon fill them with Astonishme… and promises so to do.
Now if he can thus Over-rule the Sp…rits of the Wicked; He can as well Reg…late the Spirits of his Elect; Casting … Imaginations and every high thing, that Exalteth it self against the Knowledg of God, and bringing into Cap…ivity every Thought to the Obedience of Christ. (2 Cor. 10 5.) Thus the High Spirits (who are like Hills) are pulled down. And the mean, Low Spirits (like to Valleys) are lifted up; yea, the Crooked and Rough Spirits, shall become as a straight and plain place, to prepare the way of the Lord, and make his paths straight. (Isa. 40. 4.)
This Sense is agreeable to the Covena… made with Christ for his People, (Isa. 42 5) where Gods. Titles are much like those in Zechary; Who Created the Heavens, and Spread forth the Earth; H… that giveth Breath unto the People upon it (There's their Natural Life) And Spirit to them that walk therein. (This I take to be their Moral Life, or Conversation among men, to which the Spirit, we now speak of, does very much conduce) He gives the Spirit, Temper, or Inclination not only as a Gift of Nature, but as an Eminent Gift of Sanctifying Grace, whereby they walk Uprightly in the Earth.