The Bowels of Tender Mercy Sealed in the Everlasting Covenant, Religious treatise · Part 1 · Chapter 4 · Section 9
SECT. IX.
4. A Fourth ſingular comfort unto you who have God to be your God, is this, The Spirit of God is yours.then the Spirit of God is yours. He alſo is given unto you; for this is one part of the Covenant, Ezek. 36. 27. I will put my Spirit within you. 1 Theſ. 4. 8. He hath given unto us his holy Spirit. 1 Joh. 4. 13. Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, becauſe he hath given us of his Spirit. Nehem. 9. 20. Thou gaveſt them alſo thy good Spirit. Acts 5. 32. The holy Ghoſt whom God hath given to them that obey him.
The Spirit of God may be conſidered ſeven wayes, and as to every one of them The ſpirit is ours in reſpect of his Titles and Attributes. The Spirit of God of Chriſt, of Glory.he is yours; In reſpect, 1 Of his …itles, or Attributes. 2. Of his gifts and fruits. 3 Of his works or operations. 4. Of his helps or vertues. 5. Of his joyes and comforts. 6. Of his Office or Function. 7. Of his preſence or abode.
1. The Spirit is yours in reſpect of his Titles and Attributes: he is called ſometimes,
1. The Spirit of God, 1 Cor. 2. 11. and the Spirit of Chriſt, Rom. 8. 9. and the Spirit of glory, 1 Pet. 4. 14. This very Spirit is given unto you, who have God to be your God; we have received the Spirit which is of God, 1 Cor. 2. 12 God hath ſent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, Gal. 4. 6. O what a glory is this? what a dignity? what a comfort? that the ſame Spirit which is in Chriſt, is alſo in you? that you have Chriſt, and you have the Spirit of Chriſt.
2. The holy Spirit: Grieve not the holy Spirit of God. Epheſs. 4. 30. ſealed with The holy Spirit.that holy Spirit of promiſe, Epheſ. 1. 13. above eighty times is the Spirit of God ſtiled the holy Ghoſt, or Spirit, in the Scripture. And under this notion alſo is he given unto you; as we are ſaid in Heb. 3. 14. to be partakers of Chriſt, ſo are we ſaid in Heb. 6. 4. to be partakers of the holy Ghoſt: and as Chriſt is ſaid to be given unto us, Iſa. 9. 6. ſo the Holy Ghoſt is ſaid to be given unto us, Acts 5. 32. 1 Theſ. 4. 8.
This is the excellency of the Spirit of God, that he is holy, and this is our excellency that we are holy, and the holy Spirit is given unto us for this end, to make us holy (like unto the Father, and the Son, and himſelf) hence it is that we are ſaid to be ſanctified by the Holy Ghoſt, Rom. 15. 16. 2 Theſ. 2. 13. 1 Pet. 1. 2.
3. The free Spirit; ſo he is called, Pſal. 51. 12. Ʋphold me with thy free Spirit The free Spirit.He is a free Spirit on a two fold account; 1. Becauſe he works where and on whom, and when, and how he himſelf pleaſeth: he blowes where he liſts, Joh. 3. 8. 2. And he is a …ree Spirit, in as much as all ſpiritual freedom and liberty is received of us from him; hence the Apoſtle, 2 Cor. 3. 17. where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.
4. The good Spirit by Spirit is good, …ſa. 143 10 Thou gaveſt them of thy good Spirit, The good Spirit▪Neh. 9. 20. The Spirit is eſſentially good, and counſels good: he is indeed a good Spirit unto us; All the good thoughts in us, and all the good deſires in us, and all the good we have or ſhall receive from God in Chriſt, is handed to us by this good Spirit, yea and all the ſweet ſights of God himſelf that ever we enjoyed, and all the taſts that ever we have had of Jeſus Chriſt, and all the joyes and contentments in our ſouls, we are beholding unto this good Spirit for every one of them; though in ſome reſpect you are not beholding unto the Spirit for dying, and ſuffering, and ſatisfying, and reconciling, and purchaſing for you, yet this I may ſafely affirme, that for all the enjoyments of all the ſweet comforts depending on the ſufferings of Chriſt, you are ſingularly beholding to the good ſpirit for them; you never could have partaked of Chriſt, nor of any one good purchaſed by Chriſt, had it not been for this good Spirit.
5. The powerfull or mighty Spirit: The Spirit of the Lord is called the Spirit of The powerful Spirit.might, Iſa. 11. 2. The power of the holy Ghoſt, Rom. 15. 13. the power of the Spirit of God, verſe 19. the power of the Higheſt, Luke 1. 35. It was the power of this Spirit which did convince you of your ſins, and which did break your heard harts, and did reſcue and deliver you from the power of darkneſſe; which doth ſubdue your iniquities, and pull down your ſtrong bolds: It was, and is this powerfull Spirit by whom the Miniſtrations, or Ordinances of the Goſpel have been, and ſtill are of power with you. The Word is called the ſword of the Spirit, Epheſ. 6. 17. The Miniſtrations of them ſelves are weak, it is the concomitant preſence of the Spirit which makes them powerful and lively for your converſion, comfort, and ſalvation; you had laine in the ſame condition, and darkneſſe, and bondage, and death with other men, had not the powerful and mighty Spirit of God put forth the greatneſſe of his own ſtrength to the alteration of your hearts by his own grace.
2. The Spirit is yours in reſpect of his gifts and fruits; You read in 1 Cor. 12. The Spirit is ours in reſpect of his gifts or fruits.14. of diverſities of gifts of the Spirit for edification, or to profit withall, ver. 7. and you read of the firſt fruits of the Spirit, Rom. 8. 23. and of the fruits of the Spirit, Gal. 5. 22.
The Spirit of God (as to theſe gifts and fruits) is called the Spirit of grace, Zach. 12. 10. and the Spirit of wiſdome, Iſa. 11. 2. and the Spirit of knowledge, and of the fear of the Lord: and the Spirit of faith, 2 Cor. 4. 13. and the Spirit of love, 2 Tim. 1. 7. and the Spirit of ſupplication, Zach. 12 10. the fruit of the Spirit, ſaith the Apoſtle in Gal. 5. 22. is love, joy, peace, long-ſuffering, gentleneſſe, goodneſſe, faith, (and ver. 23.) meekneſſe, temperance.
There are ſix things which I would briefly obſerve concerning the graces, or fruits Six things concerning the graces of the Spirit. They are the beauties of a Chriſtian. They are neceſſary to ſalvation.of the Spirit.
1. They are the Beauties, Glories, Ornaments, Chains, Pearls, Jewels of a Chriſtian; you have no excellencies till you partake of them, but are dead, loathſome, polluted and vile.
Theſe are the very image of God.
2. They are neceſſary unto ſalvation: No man can be ſaved without them. They are the way to the kingdom, though they be not the cauſe of reigning in the kingdom: without holineſſe no man ſhall ſee the Lord, Heb. 12. 14.
3. They are pledges of ſalvation: therefore called the firſt fruits, which were They are pledges of ſalvation.the beginnings and the pledges of the full harveſt: and alſo the earneſt of the Spirit which he leaves with us to aſſure us of that glorious happineſſe which we are to receive ſhortly in fulneſſe.
4. They are given to none but unto ſuch as ſhall be ſaved. There are the common gifts of the Spirit, which are for the edification of others. Theſe they may have They are given to none but ſuch as ſhall be ſaved.who ſhall periſh, like thoſe who helped to build the Ark, and yet were drowned. But there are the ſpecial gifts of the Spirit which are for Renovation of the ſoule, and for the preparation of it for glory. Theſe are given to none but unto ſuch who are elected unto ſalvation: As many as were ordained to eternal life believed, Act. 13. 48. Matth. 11. 25. Hid theſe things from the wiſe and prudent, and haſt revealed them to babes.
5. Every gift or grace, which accompanies ſalvation, is (by the Spirit) given Every grace accompanying ſalvation, is given to every child of God.to every child of God; to every one who hath God to be his God in Covenant: every one of them hath every ſaving grace of the Spirit.
1. The spirit of grace; I will poure upon the houſe of David, and the inhabitants of Jeruſalem, the Spirit of grace, Zach. 12. 10.
2. The Spirit of knowledge. They ſhall all know me from the leaſt of them unto the greateſt of them, Jer. 31. 34.
3. The Spirit of wi…d…me. The Father of our Lord Jeſus Christ give unto you the Spirit of wiſdome, Eph. 1. 17.
4. The Spirit of faith; We have the ſame Spirit of faith, 2 Cor. 4. 13. You are all the children o… God by faith in Chriſt Jeſus, Gal. 3. 26. To them that have obtained like precious faith with us, 2 Pet. 1. 1.
5. The Spirit of love, 2 Tim. 1. 7. Ye your ſelv…s ar… taught of God to love one another, 1 Theſ. 4. 9.
What ſhould I ſpeak of godly ſorrow, repentance, humbleneſſe, meekneſſe, patience? &c. whatſoever gift is neceſſary to our ſalvation, the Spirit doth certainly work in every one of the people of God, although not in the ſame meaſure, proportion and height, yet to the ſame truth, and for the ſame efficacy unto their ſalvation.
Every child of God hath the ſame Spirit of grace, and faith, and love; and though one Chriſtians graces may fall ſhort of anothers for the quantity, yet they do not fall ſhort for the preſent quality, nor for the future glory; The weakeſt grace of the Spirit, is able to change the heart and ſave the ſoul.
6. The Spirit doth cheriſh, and preſerve, and keep all thoſe ſaving gifts of his The Spirit doth cheriſh and preſe ve all thoſe ſaving gifts in us.in you: As a Parent who begers the children, he looks unto thoſe children, and maintains and keeps them; All your graces are the births of the Spirit of grace; and as they are the effects of his power, ſo alſo are they the objects of his care; and therefore as they receive life from his preſence in the Ordinances, ſo ſhall they receive ſtrength, and growth, and ſtability from his continual influence upon them; We are ſ…rengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man, Epheſ. 3. 16. As we are changed from our ſhameful condition to glory by the Spirit, ſo by the ſame Spirit are we changed from glory to glory, 2 Cor. 3. 18.
3. The Spirit is yours in respect of his works or operations: And truly, this The Spirit is theirs in reſpect of his works and operatiōs.conſideration makes out an exceeding happineſſe unto the people of God, in as much as the participation of all their happineſs depends upon the workings of the Spirit of God in whom they are intereſted by this Covenant of grace.
There are five choice works which the Spirit doth for all the people of God, Five choice works which the Spirit doth for all Gods people He doth unite Chriſt and them.who have God to be their God.
1. He doth unite Chriſt and them; Although the benefits by Chriſt are unexpreſſibly precious, yet the fruition of them is impoſſible with…ut a precedent union with Chriſt (foraſmuch as union is a neceſſary foundation for Communion) you muſt be in Chriſt, and being his, himſelf and all his benefits become yours.
Now it is the Spirit which makes up this union; as love makes the union 'twixt Chriſtian and Chriſtian; and as faith makes up the union from us to Chriſt (for we are planted into Chriſt, and are eſpouſed unto Chriſt, and live in Chriſt by faith) ſo the Spirit makes the union 'twixt Chriſt and us; there being no other way for him to be joyned unto us, and to become Relatively ours, but by his own Spirit; it is the Spirit which doth let out the heart of Chriſt to us, and who doth bring in our hearts unto Chriſt; it is the Spirit by whom Chriſt applies himſelf unto us, and apprehends us, and by whom we alſo do apprehend and apply Chriſt; by his Spirit he takes hold of us, and by the ſame Spirit it is that we take hold of him. In a word, it is the Spirit by whom Chriſt ſpeaks to our hearts, and by whoſe light we ſee the excellencies of Chriſt, and the great love of Chriſt, and who gives Chriſt (as it were) into our hands, and mightily allures and prevails upon our hearts, to give themſelves unto Chriſt again; as Chriſt had never been effectually revealed unto you but by the Spirit, ſo you had never been effectually brought to Chriſt but by the Spirit; you had been Chriſtleſſe for ever without him.
And now conſider the happineſs in having this Spirit, which hath wrought ſo effectually as to unite Chriſt and you, and you and Chriſt, that Chriſt is yours, and you are his; by him are you perſwaded and drawn, and brought into the poſſeſſion of Chriſt, and all the benefits by Jeſus Chriſt.
2. He doth conform us unto Chriſt; We all (ſaith the Apoſtle in 2 Cor. 3. 18.) beholding as in a glaſſe the glory of the Lord, are changed into the ſame Image, He doth conform us unto Chriſt.from glory to glory by the Spirit of the Lord. As by the Spirit we do diſcern a moſt glorious nature of holineſſe in Chriſt, ſo by the Spirit we are changed into the ſame image of holineſſe. Hence are we ſaid to be born again b… the Spirit, John 3. 5, 6. and to be renewed by the holy Ghoſt, Tit. 3. 5. And to be ſanctified by him, 1 Pet. 1. 2.
You read that Chriſt was conceived by the holy Ghoſt, and he was anointed by the Spirit; So is every Chriſtian; he becomes a Chriſtian by the Spirit, and he is anointed by the Spirit: The oyntment indeed is firſt poured upon our head, and then upon us; but as it is the ſame ſpirit in us which is in Chriſt, ſo it is the ſame anointing; only it is in Chriſt as the head, and without meaſure; and as in the pattern unto which we are conformed by the Spirit. As by the unction of the Spirit, we become like Chriſt in nature, ſo alſo in Relation; God hath ſent forth the Spirit of his Sonne into your hearts, crying Abba-Father, Gal. 4. 6.
Now judge of the bleſſedneſſe of having the Spirit; He is the cauſe of our union, and he is the cauſe of our unction: he brings us into Chriſt, and he anoints us with the ſame grace wherewith Chriſt himſelf was anointed, ſo that we are like Chriſt himſelf; we are anointed with the ſame Spirit, and therefore we muſt needs be excellent and choice perſons, and very lovely in the eyes of God.
3. He doth reveal unto us, the higheſt, and the choiceſt things of ſalvation; He is called the Spirit of Revelation, Eph. 1. 17. becauſe he opens He revealeth to us the choiceſt things of ſalvation.and reveals thoſe things unto the people of God, which are hid from the eyes of others.
There are five precious things which the Spirit reveales unto you.He reveals,
1. The myſtery of life unto you; even Jeſus Chriſt, who cannot be known The myſtery of life.or acknowledged but by the Spirit. Fleſh and blood cannot reveal him: No man can confeſſe him; No man can ſay, that Jeſus is the Lord but by the holy Ghoſt, 1 Cor. 12. 3. But we ſpeak the wiſdome of God in a myſtery, even the hidden wiſdome, which God ordained before the world, unto our glory, 1 Cor. 2. 7.
2. The love of God unto you: The love of God is ſhed abroad in our hearts, The love of God.by the holy Ghoſt which is given unto us, Rom. 5. 5. He makes the greatneſſe of the love, and your propriety in it known unto you, and the exceeding riches of grace, &c.
3. The preſenc of Christ within you: Hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us, 1 John 3. 24. Chriſt without, nay, Chriſt The preſence of Chriſt.within us, is not diſcerned by us without the Spirit.
4. The wonderful glory prepared for us: Eye hath not ſeen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared The glory prepared for us.for them that love him: But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit, for the Spirit ſearcheth all things, yea the deep things of God, 1 Cor. 2. 9, 10.
5. The moſt precious gifts boſtowed on us: In this life we have received the The moſt precious gifts boſtowed on us.Spirit which is of God, that we might know the things that are freely given us of God, 1 Cor. 2. 12. The ſight of your own graces, is by the aſſiſtance of the Spirit.
O what a happineſſe is all this, to know Jeſus Chriſt, and as preſent in my ſoul! To know the love of God in mine heart! To know the exceedingly exceeding weight of glory prepared, and prepared for me! and to know all that God hath freely given me, in order unto that exceeding glory! This, &c.
4. He fits us for that ſalvation which Chriſt hath purchaſed for us. As the He fits us for that ſalvation which Chriſt hath purchaſed for us.blood of Chriſt did purchaſe our ſalvation, ſo the Spirit of Chriſt doth fit us for the enjoyment thereof; He makes us meet to …e partakers of the inheritance of th… Saints in light: The Apoſtle ſpeaking of this ſalvation, under ſeveral expreſſions in 2 Cor. 5. 1, 2, 3, 4. he addes in the fifth verſe, Now he which hath w…ough… us for the ſelf-ſame thing, is God, who hath given unto us the earneſt of his Spirit. And this fitting work of his upon us for the ſalvation purchaſed by Chriſt, he doth execute,
Partly by cleanſing and purifying ou… ſinful hear…s, and mortifying thoſe luſts, which otherwiſe would render us unfit, and uncapable of that glorious ſalvation.
Partly by endowing and beautifying the ſoul with Chriſt and his righteouſneſſe, and his graces, that thereby an enterance may be made for us, into the everlaſting Kingdome of our Lord and Saviour Jeſus Chriſt, 2 Pet. 1. 11.
Partly by leading and upholding us in all the wayes of Chriſt, untill we come to receive the end of our faith, even the ſalvation of our ſouls.
5. I will adde but one work more of the Spirit on your behalf, which is this, He works all our works in us and for us.He works all your works in you, and for you: Conſider your works, either of faith or obedience; your works of faith in reference to the promiſes of God; and your work of obedience in reference to the precepts of God; although you are the perſons who do believe the one, and obey the other, yet it is the Spirit of Chriſt which is the cauſe, and the powerful principle of thoſe in you. He it is who doth make your hearts to believe, and who doth cauſe you to walk in his Statutes, and do them, Ezek. 36. 27.
4. The Spirit is yours, in reſpect of his help or vertue; The Spirit helpeth our The Spirit is ours in reſpect of his help and vertue.infirmities, Rom. 8. 26.
And there are ſix things wherein the Spirit is an help unto all the people of God.
1. In all their Communions with God.
2. In the weakneſſes of all their graces.
3. In the actings of every grace.
4. In the conflicts of grace.
5. In the darkneſſe upon their ſpirits.
6. In the … of their ſouls.
1. The Spiri… … them in in all their communions with God; in their Meditations He help them in all their communions with God.of God, in their hearing of the Word of God, in their addreſſes of prayer unto God; and as to this, the Apoſtle gives a ſpecial inſtance in that, Rom. 8. 26. Likewiſe the Spirit alſo helpeth our infirmities, for we know not what we ſhould pray for as we ought: but the Spirit it ſelf maketh interceſſion for us, with groanings which cannot be uttered. When we are to pray, there is in us ſometimes an infirmity of ignorance; we know not what to pray for, either for the matter, or for the manner; and there is in us ſometimes an infirmity of deadneſſe and dulneſſe; we cannot pray with that fervency as we ſhould, or as we would. But now the Spirit helps theſe infirmities by way of inſtruction; Teaching us what (eſpecially) to pray for; and by way of cauſation, in making interceſſion for us (that is) in quickening and enabling us to pray with groanings (that is) with ſuch full and ſtrong affections of heart, as cannot be uttered or expreſſed by words; Our ſtreightened, and narrow, and barren hearts, are many times by the influence and aſſiſtance of Gods Spirit, enlarged and opened, and filled with a Spirit of ſupplication; with ſuch an ardency, with ſuch an earneſtneſſe, with ſuch a copiouſneſſe, that after we have long inſiſted with God, yet we have not opened half our minds and deſires unto God; it excites all our graces, and ſets them a work: ſuch an help is the Spirit unto us in praying unto God.
2. The Spirit helps them in the weakneſſe of their graces; He waters the plants, In the weakneſs of their graces.and blows upon the buds, and draws on his works of grace towards perfection: He doth (as it were) Nurſe them up, and breed, and brood them up. He helps your …imme knowledge, by adding light unto light, and opening more and more the eyes of your underſtanding to know the things of God in Chriſt. He helps the weak and ſtaggering faith, by adding faith unto faith, in anſwering your doubts, and evidencing your grounds and intereſts in Jeſus Chriſt. He is the wind which blows upon your garden, and makes the Spices there of to flow out, Cant. 4. 16.
3. The Spirit helps them in the actings of every grace. You know In the actings of every grace.the diſtinction of gratia praeveniens & gratia ſubſequens: gratia operans & gratia cooperans.
It is the Spirit which works grace in us; and it is the Spirit which makes grace (wrought in us) to work. You are not able (of your ſelves) to uſe the graces given unto you (when you pleaſe) without the influence and aſſiſtance of the Spirit of God. 1 Cor. 15. 10. By the grace of God I am that I am: and his grace beſtowed upon me was not in vain. I laboured, yet not I, but the grace of God in me. Can you truſt when you will? and mourn when you will? and fear when you will? and command your thoughs and paſſions when you will? and patiently bear the hand of God when you will? The light (if it were cut off from the influence and preſence of the Sunne) would not be light, nor give light at all: The arme if it were cut off from the body, it could not ſtirre at all. Though the arme be grafted into the body, yet it ſtirres by influence from the head.
No grace that we have could move or act at all, were it not acted and moved by the Spirit of Chriſt; and therefore when you are to believe, he helps you to believe; and when you are to repent, he helps you to repent; and when you are to bleſſe, he helps you to bleſſe; and when you are to ſuffer, &c.
His hand is upon your hand, his ſtrength is upon your ſtrength, his grace is upon his own grace; As all your graces have their being from his power of life, ſo they have their working from his power of influence too. He it is who worketh in you to will and to do.
4. The Spirit helps them in the conflicts of grace; when inward temptations ariſe In the conflicts or grace.out of your own hearts, and when outward temptations … in from Satan, alas, your own ſtrength is inſufficient to conquer for you; … maintain the fight for you, unleſſe the Spirit of God put forth his actual help; unleſſe he take your part, what one temptation of luſt, of doubt, of feare, is not too hard for you? and what one temptation from Satan is not too ſtrong for you? Every little touch throws down, or hazards the weak child; ſo this, &c. But this is your comfort, that in all your ſpiritual conflicts you are ſure of the Spirits preſence to own his own graces, and to defend and ſecure them. His gracious preſence ſhall be ſufficient for you, 2 Cor. 12. 9. and his power makes it ſelf manifeſt in your weakneſſe; he will be near to help you, ſtrengthen you, to make you to reſiſt, and to conquer, and to be more than conquerours through Chriſt that loved you. We are ſtrong in the Lord, and in the power of his might, Eph. 6. 10.
5. The Spirit helps them in the darkneſſes upon their ſpirits; my meaning is, In the darkneſs of our ſpirits.in all the with-drawments of Gods favour and light of countenance, and in all the ſad apprehenſions of their own ſpiritual condition; when they think God is become their enemy, and that themſelves are forgotten of God, and caſt off by God, and have no intereſt, nor hope in Chriſt. Now in theſe times the Spirit of God works and helps, ſupplies, ſupports, ſtirs up faith againſt hope to believe in hope, and againſt our own feelings, yet to pray, and truſt, and wait, and look for God.
6. He helps them in the captivities of their ſouls: As when ſinne or Satan In the captivity of our ſouls.(in this or that particular) have been too ſubtile, and too ſtrong for them, and have prevailed over them, ſo that they are fallen and not able to riſe; even then in this condition doth the Spirit of God by his wonderful graces, help them up again; he makes them to ſee their ſinnes, and bewail them, and raiſe them by renewing and ſtrengthening faith on the Lord Jeſus Chriſt.
Thus he dealt with David, with Peter, &c. As the finding of us in our loſt eſtate, ſo the raiſing of us from our fallen eſtate, is done by the help of the Spirit.
5. The Spirit is yours in reſpect of his joyes …r comforts; You read of the He is ours in reſpect of his joyes and comforts.joy of the holy Ghoſt, Rom. 14. 17. And of the comforts of the holy Ghoſt, Acts 9, 31. And that Chriſt himſelf calls him the Comforter, John 16. 7. The Spirit is given unto you, not only to unite you to Chriſt, not only to conform you unto Chriſt, not only to lead you in the wayes of Chriſt, not only to help you in the ſervices of Chriſt, but alſo to comfort your hearts in Chriſt.
The Spirit is a comforter in three reſpects.He is a Comforter, As he opens to us all the ſprings of comfort. As he actuates our faith in thē As he applies them to our ſouls.
1. He opens unto you all the true springs of comfort; It is he who opens unto you the fountain of mercy, and the fountain of the love and grace of God, and the fountain of the blood of Chriſt.
2. He actuates your faith to look on all theſe fountains of joy, and wells of comfort, as ſet open for the good and help of your ſouls.
3. He applies all of them unto your ſouls: he makes it evident that God loves your ſouls, and that Chriſt died for your ſouls, and that you are juſtified by faith in him, and are reconciled and pardoned, and accepted unto life; and hereupon he fills you with all joy in believing, even with joy unſpeakable and glorious. You cannot imagine what a comfort it is to have the Spirit of God to be our comfort; for
1. His comforts are choice comforts; There is no more compariſon 'twixt the His comforts are choice comforts.comforts of the world, and the comforts of the Spirit, than between the light of the Candle, and the light of the Sunne; they are the very comforts of God; they are the very drops out of the Wells of Salvation; they are drawn out from the proper and only grounds of joy. They are comforts which (of all other) do moſt punctually anſwer the diſtreſſes of your ſouls.
2. He can comfort you under all your diſcomfirts; Who comforteth us in all our He cancomfort under all diſcomforts.tribulations, 2 Cor. 1. 4. Yea, under the deepeſt and ſaddeſt diſconſolations; In the multitude of my thoughts within me, thy comforts delight my ſoul, Pſal. 94. 19. Though I walk through the valley of the ſhadow of death, &c. thy rod and thy staffe they comfort me, Pſal. 23. 4. He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds, Pſal. 147. 3.
3. He can comfort you when there is none elſe to comfort you; when you have He can comfort when there is none elſe to comfort.neither father nor mother, ſiſter nor brother, companion nor friend; when you are in priſon, in exile, in the loſſe of all, yet he alone (when you are alone) can comfort your ſouls, he can ſhew you the ſalvation of the Lord, ſpeak peace, aſſure you of mercy, and cauſe you to rejoyce.
4. H… can comfort you, and none ſhall hind…r him; neither men, nor divels, He can com…ort and none …hall hinder …im.nor your own fears and doubts; He can create your peace and joyes, and make comf…rts for you, and make you to drink of them; And as none can take away your joyes, ſo none ſhall be able to hinder them.
6. The Spirit is yours in reſpect of his offices; There are three ſpecial offices belo…ging He is ours in reſpect of his offices. Three offices of the Spirit. To make all the Ordinances of Chriſt effectual to us.unto the Spirit.
1. One is to make all the Ordinances of Chriſt powerful and effectual unto you; Take the doctrines of the Goſpel, they are not effectual without the Spirit; and take the ſe…ls of the Goſpel, they are not effectual unto you without the Spirit; There are excellent precepts in the Goſpel, and excellent offers in the Goſpel, and excellent promiſes in the Goſpel; the Goſpel commands us to repe…t, to mourn, to deny our ſelves, to renounce all for Chriſt, to come and believe on Chriſt; but it is the Spirit which makes all theſe commands effectual: and the Goſpel offers Jeſus Chriſt to poor ſinners, and thi…ſty ſinners, and preſents ſingular arguments to perſwade and allure and draw the hearts of ſinners; but it is the Spirit which makes all thoſe offers, and all thoſe arguments effectual; and the Goſpel promiſeth all heavenly good of love, of grace, of peace, of joy, &c. but it is the Spirit which makes all theſe effectual. And therefore the New Teſtam…nt is called the m…n…ſtration, n…t of the Letter, but of the Spirit who giveth l…fe, 2 Cor. 3. 6. And the Goſpel hath excellent ſeals of mercy and forgiveneſſe, but it is the Spirit, &c. It is the peculiar office of the Spirit to make all the Goſpel effectual, and effectual to the elect of God, to the people of God; There is not one part or branch of the Goſpel, but the Spirit is (virtute officii) to make it effectual to you. He is to give you ſufficiency of ſtrength for all Evangelical obedience; and he is to open and apply unto you, all the good in Chr…ſt, and all the comforts in the attributes of God, and promiſes of God; and he is to make out unto you, all the mercy and bleſſings, and happineſſe ſealed in Baptiſme, and the Lords Supper; And as Chriſt never failed in any Office which he undertook, ſo the Spirit will not fail, but perform and accompliſh all and every thing that belongs to his Office; and therefore you ſhall have all the good intended to you in any Goſpel-Ordinance whatſoever.
2. Another is, To witneſſe unto us our preſent ſtanding in grace, and relation To witneſs our preſent ſtanding in grace.unto God: you read this plainly in Rom. 8. 16. The Spirit it ſelf beareth witneſſe with our spirit, that we are the children of God. 1 John 5. 8. Th…re are three …hat bear witneſſe in earth, the Spirit, and the Water, and the Blo…d.
A Witneſſe is one who gives in a Teſtimony againſt a man, or for a man; and he is of uſe in all doubtful and litigious caſes, in all ſuits and trials; Satan puts it many times in debate by his accuſations, Thou art not right, thou art not the child of God, thou preſumeſt, thou deeceiveſt thy ſelf; In this or ſuch like caſes, there are two Witneſſes for the Chriſtian. 1. One is his own Spirit. 2. The other is Gods Sp…r…t; Saith conſcience (this is the ſpirit of man) I know that his heart is …ight, and that he belongs to God. And ſaith the Spirit of God (who ſearcheth the heart, a…d knows me, and all which himſelf hath wrought in the heart) and I know that he is born again, for I regenerated him; and I know that he is a child of God, for he hath received the Spirit of Adoption, whereby he cryeth Abba-Father.
A…d verily a greater Teſtimony, and ſurer witneſſe cannot be had then the Teſtimony and Witneſſe of the Spirit of God who knows all …hings, and is truth.
3. A third Office of the Spirit is to ſeal us in respect of our future happineſſe; To ſeal us in reſpect of our future happineſs.and this alſo the Scriptures expreſly deliver, Eph. 1. 13. In whom after ye believed, ye were ſealed with that holy Spirit of promiſe. Verſe 14. Which is the earneſt of our inheritance, untill the redemption of the purchaſed poſſeſſion. Eph. 4. 30. Grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are ſealed unto the day of redemption; The ſealing of the Spirit is that aſſuring confirmation unto the hearts of believers, that the heavenly inheritance purchaſed by the blood of Chriſt is theirs; and that they (when this day of full Redemption comes) ſhall aſſuredly poſſeſs and enjoy it.
Beloved, what can be ſaid more to expreſſe the happineſſe and comfort of the people of God, in having God to be their God? the Father is theirs, the Sonne of God is theirs, and the Spirit of God is theirs; theirs in his graces, theirs in his comforts, theirs in Offices witneſſing their preſent condition in grace, and aſſuring them of their future inheritance in glory; what more happineſſe can be enjoyed on earth than this!
7. Laſtly. The Spirit is yours in reſpect of his preſence. Joh. 14. 17. The Spirit He is ours in reſpect of his preſence.of truth dwelleth with you. Rom. 8. 11. By his Spirit that dwelleth in you. 2 Tim. 1. 14. By the holy Ghoſt which dwelleth in us. It is obſervable concerning the preſence of the Trinity, that every one of the perſons is ſaid to dwell in believers; God the Father doth dwell in them, 2 Cor. 6. 16. The Sonne doth dwell in them; Chriſt dwells in our hearts by faith, Eph. 2. 17. The holy Ghoſt likewiſe dwells in us.
O happy ſoul, who art made ſuch a Temple wherein God the Father, and God the Sonne, and God the holy Ghoſt dwells! what canſt thou want? what doſt thou enjoy? how great is thy excellency? how perfect is thy beauty? how full is thy glory?
Dwelling, notes a ſpecial preſence, and it notes a conſtant and permanent preſence; and truly, ſuch is the dwelling of the Spirit of God in the children of God; it is a gracious reſidence, and it is an abiding reſidence; he never leaves you. John 14. 16. I will pray the Father, and he ſhall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever.
Can you reach this comfort of the perpetual preſence of the Spirit in you and with you? Let me tell youThe bodily preſence of Chriſt, is not comfortable without the preſence of the Spirit. The abſence of Chriſt is made up by the preſence of the Spirit. The preſence of the Spirit makes all to be preſent with us You are ſafe and ſure with whom the Spirit is.
1. The preſence of Chriſt (I mean his bodily preſence only) was not comfortable without the preſence of the Spirit. It is the Spirit that quickeneth, the fleſh profiteth nothing, ſo Chriſt, Joh. 6. 63.
2. The abſence of Chriſt now in heaven, is made up unto us by the preſence of his Spirit now within us here on earth. The Spirit only ſupplies his abſence, and makes our condition as good, and as happy as if Chriſt himſelf were preſent with us.
3. The preſence of the Spirit makes all to be preſent with us; all are preſent by the preſence of the Spirit; God comes to be preſent, and Chriſt comes to be preſent, and joy and ſalvation come to be preſent by the preſence of the Spirit.
4. And are you not ſafe and ſure with whom the Spirit of God is, and will be alway…s preſent? He is preſent with your ſouls, with your faith, with your graces, and he can give you preſent ſtrength, and preſent help, and preſent victory, and preſent comforts.