The Bowels of Tender Mercy Sealed in the Everlasting Covenant, Religious treatise · Part 2 · Chapter 12 · Section 3
SECT. III.
THus have you the diſcoveries of the preſence of the Spirit of God by the qualities of the Spirit: Now follows the laſt way to know whether we have the Spirit of God, and that is
3ly By the properties of ſuch perſons to whom indeed the The ſpirit is known by the properties.Spirit is given. e. g.
They that have the Spirit given unto them, are ſpiritually-minded: Rom. 8. 5. They that are after the fleſh do mind the things of the fleſh; but they that are after the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. Here the Apoſtle gives a different character Such as are Spiritually minded.of two different ſorts of perſons: Here are ſome who are after the fleſh, (i. e.) who are carnal, unregenerate, in their natural condition; the character of theſe perſons is, that they do mind the things of the fleſh, ſinful, ſenſual, vain things: And there are ſome who are after the Spirit (i. e.) who are born of the Spirit, who are Regenerate, converted, ſanctified by the Spirit; and the character of them is, That they do mind the things of the Spirit: The things of the Spirit (i. e.) the things which the Spirit of God commands, ſuggeſts, the things which are agreeable to a ſpiritual nature, holy, and heavenly objects, holy and heavenly wayes, and works, the things which belong to the kngdom of God, and the Righteouſneſs thereof; the things which do conduce to the glory of God, and the ſalvation of their ſouls: They do mind theſe things, they do Cogitare, think much of them; they do Curare, lay out their greateſt care for them; they do Sapere, reliſh theſe things above all other, they are moſt ſweet and delightful unto them: Pſal. 4. 6. But Lord lift thou up the light, &c. Pſal. 119. 103. How ſweet are thy words unto my taſte! yea ſweeter than honey to my mouth! Cant. 2. 3. I ſat down under his ſhadow with great delight, and his fruit was ſweet unto my taſte. O what a diſcovery doth this one tryal make: They that are after the Spirit, do mind the things of the Spirit: Many men ſeldom or never think of the things of the Spirit; God is not in their thoughts, they ſay unto God, Depart from us, for we deſire not the knowledge of thy wayes, Job 21. 14. They mind not God, nor Chriſt, nor Word, nor Soul, nor Heaven, nor Repentance, nor Faith, &c. If they do think of them, it is but careleſly, and coldly, not with any care to get them, not with any affections to deſire them, or to delight in them; they are not ſuitable objects, &c. The things of God, the things of Chriſt, the thin…s of ſalvation, the things of the way to heaven they ſavor them not, they reliſh them not at all; but their ſinful luſts they do mind, on theſe do their thoughts run, and in theſe do they take pleaſure; and they do mind earthly things, Phil. 3. 19. on theſe are their affections ſet; who will ſhew us any good? any earthly bargain, any earthly gain, and earthly diſcourſe, theſe they ſavor and reliſh, &c.
Yea I doubt that many amongſt us who preſume their eſtates to be good, have juſt cauſe to fear and ſuſpect themſelves, becauſe ſpiritual Ordinances and ſpiritual Communions, and ſpiritual Conferences, and ſpiritual Exerciſes and Imployments, and ſpiritual Meditations, and Cares, are no way favoury and reliſhing, and delighting, but rather burthenſome, irkſome, and diſpleaſing!
O where is a David to be found amongſt us! who can ſay with him, Pſal. 119. 97. O how I love thy Law! it is my meditation all the day. And ver. 111. Thy teſtimonies are the rejoycing of my heart. Where is a Paul to be found! 1 Cor. 2. 2. I determined not to know any thing among you, ſave Jeſus Chriſt and him crucified.
Secondly, They that have the Spirit given unto them, they are preſently in They oppoſe their corruptions.oppoſition or conflict with ſinful corruptions abiding or dwelling in them: Simile. As you can no ſooner put fire and water together, but immediately they are a conflicting with one another: So as ſoon as any man receives the Spirit of God, which is holy and good, there doth immediately enſue, a commotion, a war, a combat in the ſoul with it and ſinful corruptions; Gal. 5. 17. the fleſh againſt the Spirit, and the Spirit againſt the fleſh; and theſe are contrary the one to the other, &c.
Before we do partake of the Spirit, all is at reſt and peace within us; the fleſh (i. e.) ſinne doth reign and command, and we do willingly yield obedience and ſervice unto its luſts, in the approbation and delight, and execution of them: But when the Spirit of God comes into our hearts, and renews them, now begins the conflict and war, there being in us two natures contrary to each other, and inclinations, and affections, contrary to each other, and motions and ſervices likewiſe contrary to each other. For the work of Renovation We are renewed but in part.from the Spirit, although it paſſes through the whole ſoul and every faculty of it, yet it is an imperfect work; the whole ſoul is renewed, but not wholly; not a faculty but it hath renewing grace in it, yet ſo that there is not a faculty but it hath ſin alſo abiding in it: And hence doth ariſe the Spiritual conflict from the preſence and cohabitation of two ſuch utterly different, and irreconcilable adverſaries as grace and ſin, the Spirit and the fleſh.
Paul found this within himſelf, Rom. 7. and ſo doth every regenerate perſon in the world: The Spirit kindles ſuch a war in a man, renewed ſelf againſt his ſinful ſelf, as will never be quenched nor ended untill his courſe be finiſhed, and his life ended.
Thirdly, They that have the Spirit given unto them (for that very reaſon) Such ſhall meet with great oppoſition.ſhall meet with moſt deadly oppoſition from men deſtitute of the Spirit, though we be civil, and courteous, and friendly, and helpful, if we be born of the Spirit, &c. Gal. 4. 29. as then he that was born after the fleſh, perſecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even ſo it is now. Here is Iſhmael born after the fleſh (i. e.) an ungodly and wicked wretch; and here is Iſaac born after the Spirit (i. e.) according to the promiſe of the Spirit, and according to the powerful and gracious renewing of the Spirit, and preſently he is perſecuted by Iſhmael.
That muſt needs be good which Nero perſecutes; ſo he muſt needs be good, he muſt needs have the Spirit of God, againſt whom all the ſcoffings, and mockings, and reproaches, and perſecutions of the wicked are raiſed.
Fourthly, They that have the Spirit, do walk in the Spirit, and after the Spirit; you read thoſe expreſſions, Gal. 5. 25. and Rom. 8. 4. We walk not af…er Such walk in the Spirit.the fleſh, but after the Spirit: Now as to walk after the fleſh, is to ſet an… order the courſe of our life after our corrupt reaſon, and wills, and affections, following them as our guides; ſo to walk after the Spirit is to diſpoſe and order our converſation according to the rules and motions of the Spirit, ſo to lead our lives, and move on in our courſes, as the the Spirit of God doth teach us in the Word, and ſtirs us up inwardly to follow.
Thus doth every one who hath the Spirit of God; he walks after the Spirit, his converſation is in heaven, Phil. 3. 20. His courſe of life is the courſe of new obedience, that newneſs of life which the Word ſets forth: He walks not as the men of this world walk, nor according to his own luſts in the times of his ignorance, but before God in Holineſs and Righteouſneſs; for by the Spirit he is ſanctified to obedience, 1 Pet. 1. 2.
1. He prayes with David, Pſal. 119. 133. Order my ſteps in thy Word. Epheſ. 5. 10. Proving what is acceptabe to the Lord.
2. For the paths: Pſal. 119. 101. I have refrained my feet from every evil way. Ver. 8. I will walk in thy ſtatutes. Iſa. 26. 7. The way of the juſt is uprightneſſe.
3. For the end, ſo as to advaace the Kingdom, and advance the Goſpel: a living unto the Lord.
Fifthly, They that have the Spirit, are ſpiritual worſhippers: The true worſhippers ſhall worſhip the Father in Spirit and truth; for the Father ſeeketh Such are ſpiritual worſhipers.ſuch to worſhip him; God is a Spirit, and they that worſhip him, must worſhip him in Spirit and in truth, John 4. 23. 24. So Paul in Rom. 1. 9. God is my witneſs whom I ſerve with my ſpirit in the Goſpel of his Son. Phil 3. 3. We are the circumciſion which worſhip God in the Spirit.
Beloved, take theſe two things for certain truths. viz.
1. Carnal men are but carnal worſhippers; a form of worſhip ſatisfies them, bodily ſervice, outward performance: Iſa. 29. 13. This people draw near me with Carnal men are carnal worſhipers.their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart farre from me, &c. Jer. 12. 2. Thou art near in their mouth, and farre from their reins.
2. But ſpiritual men (or men of the ſpirit) are ſpiritual worſhippers, they do worſhip God in ſpirit.
Object. But you will ſay, What is it to worſhip God in ſpirit?
Sol. I anſwer, to worſhip God in ſpirit, is
Firſt, To have our inward man taken up, imployed, and acting in all thoſe Religious duties which we do owe, and which we do preſent unto him. As when What it is to worſhip God in Spirit.we draw near to him in prayer, for power to repent, to believe, to obey, &c. not only our mouthes do pray, but our very hearts alſo do pray, and our prayers are the lifting up of our hearts: Ʋnto thee, O Lord, do I lift up my ſoul, Pſal. 25. 1. (Let us lift up our hearts with our hands unto God in the heavens, Lam. 3. 41.) And the very deſires of our ſouls, Iſa. 26. 8. The deſire of our ſoul is to thy name. And when you come to him in confeſſion of ſins, not only your lips do acknowledge them, and condemn you for them, but your very hearts are aſhamed of them, and bewail them, and judge them: And ſo when you come to hear the Word, a bodily preſence doth not ſatisfie you, but your hearts do come with your bodies, and your hearts do hear, and your hearts are ready to receive the Word with gladneſs and fear.
Secondly, To have an edge upon our hearts in the ſervices of God, a kind of heavenly vigor and ſtrenuouſneſſe, ſo that our ſouls do come in to it with all the actual ſtrength which they have for the preſent.
Indeed a Chriſtan hath ſometimes a ſtronger and quicker keeneſs of ſpirit than he hath at other times, but ſtill he puts forth (as leaſt in his deſires and endeavours) what power he hath in his communion with God: As he ſeeks God with his mouth, ſo he ſeeks him with his whole heart: Pſal. 119. 10. With my whole heart have I ſought thee; he doth not ſerve the Lord with a cold, formal, indifferent ſpirit, but as the Apoſtle ſpeaks, Rom. 12. 11. He is fervent in ſpirit, ſerving the Lord: He prayes and hears fervently, and repents fervently, and believes fervently: 'Tis true that he falls very ſhort; yet what he doth to the Lord, he doth the ſame in good earneſt, it is his work, and his buſineſs; and if he finds it otherwiſe with himſe…f, if he finds a dulneſs and deadneſs upon his ſpirit, this troubles him, and he ſtrives to ſhake it off, by ſtirring up himſelf (as the phraſe is, Iſa. 64. 7. and that of 2 Tim. 1. 6.) and by awaking of his heart and graces (I my ſelf will awake, ſaith David, Pſal. 108. 2.) and beſeeching of the Lord to quicken and to enlarge his heart: I will run the way of thy Commandements, when thou ſhalt enlarge my heart, Pſal. 119. 32.
Sixthly, They who have the Spirit of God, are moſt pleaſed and delighted in Such delight in ſpiritual miniſtrations.ſpiritual and vigorous miniſtrations, which deal moſt with their ſpirits, and do in a ſpiritual power moſt reach their hearts and ſpiritual condition. Beloved, this you ſhall find in experience, that a profane heart cannot endure but alwayes hates and deſpiſeth a ſpiritual and ſearching Miniſtry. A formal heart hath moſt ſatisfaction in a formal Miniſtry. A gracious heart is alwayes beſt pleaſed with a ſpiritual and powerful Miniſtry, with that Miniſtry which doth come in power, and in the demonſtration of the Spirit, and makes it ſelf manifeſt unto the conſciences of men, which is quick in operation and piercing even to the dividing aſunder of the ſoul and ſpirit, and of the joynts and marrow, and is a diſcerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart, Heb. 4. 12. and which is mighty through God to the pulling down of ſtrong holds, 2 Cor. 10. 1. Caſting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itſelf againſt the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Chriſt, ver. 5. This ſpiritual Miniſtry is that with which a ſpiritual heart doth and can moſt cloſe. O a Miniſtry which doth moſt dive into the heart, and diſcovers the depth of ſin, and the hidden things of the heart, and the ſecret guiles and hypocriſies of our ſpirits! And that Miniſtry which ſhames our ſins moſt, and rents them out of our boſomes, and makes our ſouls to loath them! And that Miniſtry which like a ſpiritual Adamant draws a heart to Chriſt, breaking down all the powers of unbelief! And that Miniſtry which diſcovers and daſhes in pieces all our ſelf-deceits, and all our ſelf-confideace! And that Miniſtry which preſſeth and leadeth one to the power of godlineſs, and to the practical expreſſing of the virtues of Jeſus Chriſt, and of him that calleth us! And that Miniſtry which raiſeth a drooping ſoul with ſpiritual truth, and rules, though never ſo ſtrict and contrary to fleſh and blood! This is a Spiritual Miniſtry, and this is a Miniſtry of the Spirit, and this is the Miniſtry which every one (who indeed hath the Spirit of God) doth highly prize, doth cordially cloſe with, and deſires from his ſoul to live under: Pſal. 139. 23. Search me O God, and know my heart, try me, and know my thoughts. Ver. 24. And ſee if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlaſting.Such are ſingularly tender as to the ſpirit.
Seventhly, They who have the Spirit, have this property alſo that they are ſingularly tender as to that ſpirit; which appears in four things.
1. In no caſe will they part with the Spirit: Pſal. 6. 11. Take not thy holy Spirit from me!
2. They are afraid by anything to grieve the Spirit: Epheſ. 4. 30. Grieve not the holy Spirit of God by whom, &c.
3. If they have grieved him ſo as to withdraw himſelf, they are not at reſt untill the Spirit returns again in his gracious operations and manifeſtations: Pſal. 51, 10. Renew a right Spirit within me. And Ver. 12. Ʋphold me with thy free Spirit.
4. They ſtrive more and more after purity of Spirit, that ſo that good Spirit may take more and more delight to dwell in his temple.
Thus have I at length finiſhed the Tryals and Characters by which we may know whether the Lord hath given his own Spirit unto us.