The Bowels of Tender Mercy Sealed in the Everlasting Covenant, Religious treatise · Part 2 · Chapter 12 · Section 1
SECT. I.
Queſt. 1. IN what ſenſe the Spirit is given, or put within the people of God? Sol. There is a fore fold opinion concerning this.In what ſenſe the Spirit is ſaid to be put within us. Not to make us one perſon with himſelf.
Firſt, Some have held, that the Spirit is ſo given unto the people of God, as to make them one perſon with himſelf, and to communicate unto them his very perſonal propriety; ſo that they in their own perſons, are that perſon in the Trinity which is called the Holy Ghoſt.
This was the deſperate opinion of Montanus the Heretick, and I fear ſome wild perſons amongſt us, are of the ſame wicked opinion.
But this cannot poſſibly be; becauſe
1. No Creature is capable to be God, which yet he ſhould be, if he could be the perſon of the Holy Ghoſt, for the perſon of the Holy Ghoſt is God: 1 Joh. 5. 7. There are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghoſt, and theſe three are one.
2. If any man were the perſon of the Spirit, and the very Holy Ghoſt; then 1. He is eternal, for the Spirit is the eternal Spirit: Heb. 9. 14. Who through the eternal Spirit offered himſelf, &c. And 2ly He is Omnipreſent in every place, for the Spirit is ſo: Pſal. 139. 7. Whether ſhall I go from thy Spirit. And 3ly. He is Omnipotent, for the Spirit is ſo: Who raiſed Jeſus Chriſt from the dead, Rom. 1. 4. And quickens, and changeth the hearts of ſinners: Joh. 6. 36. 2 Cor. 3. 18. And 4ly He is Omniſcient, for ſo is the Spirit: Who ſearcheth all things, yea the deep things of God, 1 Cor. 2. 10. And laſtly, then he might be adored and worſhipped with Divine Worſhip; be prayed unto, be truſted on, &c.
Secondly, Some do hold, that although the Spirit be not ſo given as to make us one perſon with himſelf, yet he is given perſonally unto the people of God, (i. e.) Some ſay he is perſonally given.he is perſonally in them; not only his gifts and graces are in them, but alſo his very perſon is in them; and they do alledge ſeveral places of Scripture to make good this their Opinion: Joh. 14. 16. I will pray the Father, and he ſhall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever. Ver. 17. Even the Spirit of truth. Ver. 26. But the Comforter which is the Holy Ghoſt, whom the Father will ſend in my name, he ſhall teach you all things. Joh. 15. 26. But when the Comforter is come, whom I will ſend unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth which proceedeth from the Father, &c. Whence it is thus argued; That Comforter which proceedeth from the Father and the Son, is the perſon of the Holy Ghoſt; but that Comforter dwelleth and abideth in us: Ergo, the perſon of the Holy Ghoſt doth dwell in us: 2 Tim. 1. 14. That good thing which was committed unto thee keep, by the Holy Ghoſt which dwelleth in us: Hence it is alſo argued; the Holy Ghoſt that keepeth the good gift (or gifts) in, us dwelleth in us; but the Holy Ghoſt which keepeth theſe gifts, is not the gifts, but the perſon of the Holy Ghoſt diſtinguiſhed from them. Ergo, it is the perſon of the Holy Ghoſt, and not his gifts only that dwelleth in us: Rom. 8. 11. If the Spirit of him that raiſed up Jeſus from the dead dwelleth in you, he that raiſed up Chriſt from the dead, ſhall alſo quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you. Hence alſo 'tis thus argued; the Spirit that dwells in us, is the Spirit that raiſed Chriſt from the dead, and ſhall likewiſe quicken our mortal bodies: But it is not the gifts and graces of the Spirit, but the perſon of the Spirit himſelf that raiſed up Chriſt from the dead, and that ſhall quicken our mortal bodies. Ergo, the perſon of the Spirit himſelf dwelleth in us.
Thirdly, Some do hold that the putting of the Spirit within the heart of the Some ſay it denotes only the gifts and graces of the ſpirit given to us.people of God, denotes only the donation of the gifts and the graces of the Spirit: And ſo is the Spirit often taken in Scripture by a Metonymie of the Cauſe for the Effect: Luke 1. 15. He ſhall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his Mothers womb. Act. 6. 3. Look you out among you ſeven men of honeſt report, full of the Holy Ghoſt, and of wiſdom. Ver. 5. And they choſe Stephen a man full of faith, and of the Holy Ghoſt. 1 Theſ 5. 19. Quench not the Spirit. (i. e.) the gifts or graces of the Spirit, for the Spirit in himſelf (either Eſſentially or Perſonally conſidered) is not capable of being quenched; there is no abating, or remiſſion, or vacation poſſibly incident unto him.
Fourthly, Some do hold that the giving of the Spirit unto the people of God, is only the letting in of his vigour and aſſiſtance for the works which they are to do; Some for the letting in of the vigour and aſſiſtance of the ſpirit.and not any Inherent preſence of the Spirit in the people of God, either as to his perſon, or as to his graces: But as a Bowle moves from that power and ſtrength which the hand lends unto it; ſo do the people of God act and move from the vigorous influence which the Spirit of God puts into them, and not from any inherent principle of grace which they deny to be in them.
But this Opinion is not ſound; for the people of God do poſſeſs the Spirit, not only in way of aſſurance to do good; but alſo in way of inward influence to make them good: Therefore they are ſaid to be born of the Spirit, Joh, 5. 6. And to be waſhed and renewed, Tit. 3. 5. And ſanctified by the Spirit, 1 Cor. 6. 11. which notes an inward change made by the Spirit, and not a bare aſſiſtance only.
And beſides here in the Text, the Lord ſaith, that he will put his Spirit within us, which certainly is ſomething more than external aſſiſtance.
Again, They who do hold the donation of the Spirit as to aſſiſtance only; hold likewiſe free-will to ſupernatural good; that there is in the will of man ſuch a power unto the ſame, that it needs not any renovation by the Spirit; but only the aſſiſtance of the Spirit to that purpoſe, &c. which is a dangerous Error. Well then, the meaning of this expreſſion (I will put my Spirit within you) is principally to be underſtood of the perſon of the Spirit.It is principally meant of the perſon of the ſpirit.
And there are three Reaſons which incline me thus to think.
1. One is, becauſe the graces of the Spirit were promiſed before in the 26. ver. A new heart will I give you, and a new Spirit will I put within you: which unqueſtionably takes in the renewing graces of the Spirit; and if in this 27. verſ. by putting his Spirit within us, ſhould be meant only the graces of the Spirit, then one and the ſame thing only ſhould be promiſed: But this is no way probable or congruous to affirm, q. d. I will give you the graces of my Spirit, and I will give you the graces of my Spirit, &c.
2. Another is, becauſe the Spirit here in this verſe promiſed, is that Spirit which doth cauſe us to walk in the Statutes of God, and to keep them; which cauſe of ſuch walking cannot well be attributed to any but the Spirit himſelf.
3. Unto which I may add a third, viz, The uſual way of tryal and evidencing whether we have the Spirit here promiſed, namely by the graces of the Spirit; which were very improper, if by the Spirit in the place were meant the graces of the Spirit, q. d. you may know that you have the graces of the Spirit, if you do find in you the graces of the Spirit.How it may be demonſtrated.
Queſt. 2. How may this be demonſtrated, that all the people of God in Covenant have the Spirit of God within them?
Sol. Beſides theſe Scriptures already, produced, which do bear witneſs unto this truth, it may be further demonſtrated thus;
Firſt, All that are Christs, have the Spirit of Chriſt (for ſaith the Apoſtle, Rom. 8 9. If any man have not the Spirit of Chriſt, he is none of his. And 1 Cor. 6. 17. He that is joyned to the Lord is one ſpirit.) But all who are in Covenant are Chriſts; becauſe all that are in Covenant are believers, and all believers are Chriſts; Ergo, all that are in Covevant have the Spirit.
Secondly, All that are in Covenant are the Sons of God; God is their Father, and they are his ſons and daughters, 2 Cor. 6. 18. Now ſaith the ſame Apoſtle in Gal. 4. 6 Becauſe ye are Sons, God hath ſent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying Abba Father.
Nay, Thirdly, all the people of God have a fellowſhip and communion with every perſon of the Trinity; and ſo high is that fellowſhip, that every perſon of the Trinity doth (as it were) take up his manſion, and make his abode, and dwelling in them: They have a fellowſhip with every perſon of the Trinity; 1 Joh. 1. 3. Our fellowſhip is with the Father, and with his Son Jeſus Chriſt. Phil. 2. 1. If there be any fellowſhip of the Spirit, &c. Every perſon of the Trinity dwells and abides in them: Joh. 14. 23. If a man love me, he will keep my words, and my Father will love him, and we will come and make our abode with him. Ver. 16. The Father ſhall give you another Comforter that he may abide with you for ever. The Father dwells in us: 2 Cor. 6. 16. I will dwell in them. The Son dwells in us: Epheſ. 3. 17. Chriſt dwells in your hearts by Faith. The Spirit dwells in us: Rom. 8. 11.
Fourthly, That all the people of God have the Spirit of God, may plainly appear by the works …f the Spirit, which are to be found in every one of them.
1. They are ſanctified by the Spirit: Ye are ſanctified by the Spirit of our God, 1 Cor. 6. 11.
2. They are led by the Spirit: As many as are led by the Spirit of God, are the ſons of God, Rom. 8. 14.
3. They are upheld and ſtrengthened by the Spirit: Pſal. 51. 12. Ʋphold me with thy free Spirit. Epheſ. 3. 16. To be ſtrengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man.
4. They are partakers of the firſt fruits of the Spirit: Rom. 8. 23. Our ſelves have the firſt fruits of the Spirit.
5. They are helped by the Spirit: Rom. 8. 26, The Spirit alſo helpeth our infirmities, and the Spirit itſelf maketh interceſſion for us, with groans which cannot be uttered.
6. They are taught by the Spirit: Joh. 14. 26. The Holy Ghoſt whom the Father will ſend in my Name, he ſhall teach you all things.
7. They are comforted by the Spirit: Acts 9. 31. They walked in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghoſt.
8. They are ſealed by the Spirit: Epheſ. 1. 13. In whom after that ye believed, ye were ſealed with that holy Spirit of promiſe.
Queſt. 3. Why doth the Lord put his Spirit within every one of his Reaſons of it.people?
Sol. There may be aſſigned ſix Reaſons for it; viz. 1. Neceſſity. 2ly Congruity. 3ly Conformity. 4ly Excellency. 5ly The love of God. 6ly The purchaſe of Chriſt.
Firſt, Neceſſity; The preſence and enjoyment of the Spirit is neceſſary for The neceſſity of it.them in many reſpects.
1. For applying of Chriſt unto them, and for the applying of them unto Chriſt; For applying Chriſt.that there is a conjunction or union between Chriſt the Head, and his Myſtical body the Church, is an unqueſtionable truth. And how Chriſt who locally in heaven, ſhould be joyned or united to his Church here on earth; this cannot be done but by the Spirit who doth knit or joyn Chriſt to us, and us to Chriſt, as really as the head is joyned to the body, and as the body is joyned to the head: But take the inſtance in any particular believer, that Chriſt is his, and he is Chriſts, it is certain; but how comes Chriſt to be his? what is that on Chriſts part which makes this union? it is the Spirit, and none but the Spirit; and what is it on our part which makes this union? it is faith, and it is cauſed by the Spirit: So that the Spirit is neceſſary to this union on either part; on Chriſts part to apply or unite him to us; and on our part in cauſing faith which applyes and unites us to Chriſt: And unto this reciprocal union, the Spirit is ſuch a neceſſary agent, that without him there cannot poſſibly be any union at all: No man can be united to Chriſt, but by the Spirit; neither can Chriſt (I ſpeak it with reverence) unite himſelf to us, but by his Spirit.
2. For conveying of ſpiritual life into them, or a new being into their ſouls. For conveying of ſpiritual life.Naturally all men are dead in treſpaſſes and ſins, and every faculty in them is totally defiled, and polluted, and corrupted, and is deprived of the glory of God; nor can any man help himſelf in this caſe, nor can any creature do it: None can raiſe him from his death, but that Spirit who raiſed▪ Jeſus Chriſt from the dead: Therefore is the Spirit called the Spirit of life, and the Spirit of grace, foraſmuch as he is the authour of both unto our ſouls; it is the Spirit who quickens them by infuſing the life of Chriſt into them; and who renews them by changing of them into the image of Chriſt.
3. For all the actings of grace: Take me any Chriſtian though endowed with For all the actings of graceall the principles of grace, and great meaſures thereof; now put him upon any particular acting, put him upon believing, put him upon repenting, upon mourning, upon any acts of obedience; why, loo… …s no member of the body can move or ſtrive▪ but from an influence from the head; no more can we act any grace we have, but by an influence from the Spirit of Chriſt our Head; Joh. 15. 5. And we find it in experience, that it is with our ſouls, Simile. as with a ſhip, which ſtirs not if the wind ſtirs not, and it ſtirs more or leſs as the wind is greater or leſſer; ſo if the Spirit of God ſtirs not in us, our graces ſtir not, &c.
For all our receptions.4. For all our Receptions: Would you know any truth of God? you cannot know it, unleſs the Spirit of God give you his light to know it; 1 Cor. 2. 10, 11. would you be acquainted with the love of God? you can never perceive it, unleſs the Spirit ſhed abroad that love in your hearts; Rom. 5. 5. would you be clear and ſatisfied in your relation of ſonſhip unto God as your Father? all the men in the world cannot perſwade and ſatisfie as to that, unleſſe, and untill the Sperit beareth witneſs with your Spirits that you are the children of God, Rom. 8. 16.
Secondly, Congruity: It is meet and fit that the people of God ſhould have the Spirit of God; ForCongruity.
1. They are his children: and is it not meet that the children of God ſhould have the Spirit of God? ſhould they not bear his image? if they were led by the ſame ſpirit by which the children of this world are led, had they not another Spirit, they could not be his children.
2. They are his ſervants, and therefore they have much to do for him, and they have much to ſuffer for him: Is it not meet that the Lord ſhould help his ſervants? The ſervices of the people of God which they are to do for him, and to ſuffer for him, are above all their own ſtrength; and therefore God will give them his Spirit to enable them for all their ſervices, whether active or paſſive, the Spirit can ſupply them for every work.
3. They are his Heirs, and intended for eternal glory, and is it not fit that they ſhould have the Spirit of grace, who muſt have the Spirit of glory? Heirs of God, Rom. 8. 17. Before a perſon comes to heaven, it is fit that he ſhould be fitted for heaven, be made meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the Saints in light, Col. 1. 12. And who can fit and prepare us for that heavenly glory, but the Spirit, &c.
Thirdly, Conformity: There is a twofold conformity required in the people Conformity.of God.
1. To God their Father; they muſt be like their heavenly Father; be holy as he is holy; be merciful, as he is merciful; love what he loves, hate what he hates, honour what he honours, &c. this cannot be unleſs they have the Spirit given unto them.
2. To Chriſt their Head; they muſt partake with him of the ſame Nature, of the ſame Life, which cannot be, unleſſe they partake with him of the ſame Spirit.
Fourthly, Excellency; the people of God are the moſt excellent people in all Excellency.the world, they are the precious of the ſons of men, a choſen generation, a royal Prieſthood, the beauty of the earth; there is that in them which exceeds and ſurmounts all the glories of the world; but what is that which doth exalt them, and raiſe them with ſuch a differential excellency? it is the preſence of the Spirit, and the graces of the Spirit: As Pharaoh ſaid concerning Joſeph, Gen. 41. 38. Can we find ſuch a one as this is, in whom the Spirit is? &c. Before they had the Spirit of God given unto them, they were but as other men, vile in their natures, and at the moſt but of love and ordinary gifts: It is the Spirit which changeth into the image of glory, From glory to glory, 2 Cor. 3. 18.
Fithly, The love of God unto them, which is exceeding great, and rich in the The love of God.communication of himſelf unto them; he counts nothing too dear for them, neither himſelf, nor his Chriſt, nor his Spirit: God is their God, and Chriſt is their Chriſt, and the Spirit of God is alſo their portion.
Sixthly, Chriſt hath purchaſed for them, all that is happineſs, and all that makes for happineſs, and therefore he hath purchaſed the Spirit of God for Chriſts purchaſe.them, &c.
Thus you ſee that God gives his own Spirit unto his people, and the Reaſons why he doth ſo; now follows the laſt Queſtion.
Queſt. 4. In what meaſure God gives the Spirit unto his people? whether all the people of God have the Spirit given unto them in the ſame In what meaſure he gives the Spirit.meaſure?
Sol. For the reſolution of this Queſtion, I will lay down theſe Concluſions.
Firſt, There are different gifts of the Spirit, ſome are extraordinary, as were There are different gifts of the Spirit.thoſe of ſpeaking with Tongues, and thoſe of Miracles, in Raiſing the dead, and Healing the ſick, and of which ſome did partake in the Apoſtles times, but now are ceaſed: And ſome are ordinary, which are gifts that the Spirit ſtill beſtowes, and theſe are either gifts of Edificatation, or of Sanctification, of which the people of God do partake; they have all of them ſuch gifts of the Spirit which do make them good, and which do enable them to do good.And different meaſures.
Secondly, There are different meaſures of the gifts of the Spirit in the ſame kind; ſome are more, and ſome are leſs holy: And in Faith, ſome ar… ſtrong in faith, and ſome are weak in faith: And in Knowledge, ſome are higher and fuller, and ſome are ſhorter and flatter: As all the people of God have not abſolutely the ſame gifts of edification; ſo all of them have not the ſame gifts for ſanctification in the ſame meaſure or degree.
Thirdly, Every one of the people of God hath a portion of the Spirit; as all the Every one hath a portion of the Spirit.ſervants had at leaſt a talent; the firſt had five, the ſecond had ten, and the other had one; Matth. 25. 15. ſo all the people of God partake of the Spirit of God; though they differ in their proportion (for the Spirit divides to every man ſeverally as he will, 1 Cor. 12. 11.) yet every one hath a portion; though Benjamins meſs was five times ſo much as his brethrens, yet every one of his brethren had a meſs ſent unto him by Joſeph, Gen. 43. 34. One Chriſtian may have abundant knowledge of Chriſt, yet every Chriſtian hath a knowledge of Chriſt: and one Chriſtian may be ſtrong in faith, yet every Chriſtian hath faith; ſome are young men, and ſome are aged in Chriſt, ſome are babes in Chriſt, yet every one of them is born of the ſpirit.Every one hath but a ſmall portion at the firſt.
Fourthly, Every one of the people of God hath but a ſmall portion of the Spirit at firſt; therefore the grace given us by the Spirit (as to the firſt plantation of it) is compared unto a grain of muſtardſeed which is ſowen in the fields, and is the leaſt of all ſeeds; Matth. 13. 31, 32. unto a bruiſed reed, which is very weak; and to ſmoaking flax which is newly kindled, Matth. 12. 20 and it is called the day of ſmall things, in Zech. 4. 10. I believe, ſaid the Father of the child, Lord, help my unbelief, Mar. 9. 24. What I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I, Rom. 17. 15. And to will is preſent with me, but how to perform that which is good, I find not, ver. 18. The people of God in reſpect of the firſt workings of the Spirit, are called new born babes, 1 Pet. 2. 2. and children, and little children, Gal. 4. 19. and lambs, and plants.
Fifthly, Not any one of the people of God hath the Spirit in perfection; in None have it in perfection.this life he hath not the Spirit in the abſolute fulneſs of the Spirit: 1 Cor. 13. 9. We know in part, and we propheſie in part; now we ſee as through a glaſſe darkly, but then face to face; Now I know in part, but then ſhall I know even as alſo I am known. Phil. 3. 12. Not as though I had already attained, or were already perfect; but I follow after, that I may apprehend that for which alſo I am apprehended of Chriſt Jeſus. Though the ſpirit be perfect, we do partake of him imperfectly in this life, we have but the firſt fruits of the Spirit, Rom. 8. 23. As the children of Iſrael had the bunch of Grapes, and ſome of the Figs, and Pomgranates before they entred into the land of Canaan, Numb. 13. 23.
Object. But do we not read that ſome were filled with the Holy Ghoſt, and were full of the Holy Ghoſt? as Stephen, Acts 6. and Barnabas, Acts 11.
Sol. There is a threefold fulneſs of the Holy Ghoſt.
1. Abſolute and Intenſive, as to all degrees; this we cannot reach unto in this life; none but Chriſt was thus filled with the Holy Ghoſt.
2. Comparative (i. e.) more than ſome, or many others; this is granted.
3. Reſpective, as to ſuch or ſuch a particular work and ſervice, unto which the Spirit may let out himſelf in an eminent and vigorous manner; thus were they filled with, or were full of the Spirit, &c.Every one of Gods people hath ſo much of the ſpirit as is neceſſary to ſalvation.
Sixthly, Though none of the People of God in this life have the Spirit in perfection, yet every one of them hath ſo much of the Spirit as will bring him to ſalvation: For he hath ſo much of the ſpirit as will bring him to Chriſt; and he who hath as much as will bring him to Chriſt, certainly he hath as much as will bring him to heaven: Again, he hath as much of the ſpirit as doth ſanctifie and renew, and regenerate him; and therefore he hath as much as will bring him to ſalvation: Matth. 5. 8. The pure in heart ſhall ſee God. 1 Pet. 1. 3. We are begotten again to a lively hope. Ver. 4. To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fades not away, reſerved in heaven for us.