The Bowels of Tender Mercy Sealed in the Everlasting Covenant, Religious treatise · Part 2 · Chapter 12 · Section 3
SECT. III.
2. Uſe I Now proceed unto a ſecond Uſe, which ſhall be of Comfort unto all and every one unto whom the Spirit of God is given, who do find him in their hearts in any of thoſe works and ſaving effects before-mentioned; Not without cauſe doth the Apoſtle Paul take pleaſure in this, I have the Spirit of Chriſt, and we have received the Spirit of God, and the Holy Ghoſt is given unto us: Yea Chriſt himſelf look't upon the ſending and giving of the Spirit to be the Comforter unto his Diſciples, as equivalent unto his own preſence with them, and as a ſufficient cordial againſt all the troubles of their heart, and againſt all the temptations of the world.
Queſt. But will ſome ſay, What benefit and happineſs is there by having the Spirit of God given unto us?
Sol. I will anſwer you 1. In the general. 2ly In particular unto this Queſtion.
1. In the General.
The preſence of the Spirit of God within you, it is an infallible evidence of The benefits which come by having the ſpirit. Such are aſſured of their election.your happineſs in the whole eſtate of it from firſt to laſt, from eternity to eternity, from the time paſt to the time preſent, and the time to come.
Firſt, For the time paſt: Beloved, our happineſs begins long before we do begin; it begins in the eternal love of God, and in the election of God, before the foundation of the world, Epheſ. 1. 4. The Records of election are Records of Eternity; that is the date of writing our names in heaven, and in the book of life: And queſtionleſs this is a great part of our bleſſedneſs (it is the firſt ſtone thereof which is ſaid) that we are (out of a free and an immutable love and purpoſe) ſet down and infallibly choſen and ordained for bleſſedneſs; of which gracious act the preſence of the Spirit is a ſure evidence unto us: 2 Theſ. 2. 13. God hath from the beginning choſen you to ſalvation through ſanctification of the Spirit. Epheſ. 1. 4. He hath choſen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we ſhould be holy.
Secondly, For the time preſent; it is (you know) a common doubt and debate among ſerious and ſolid Chriſtians, whether their preſent ſpiritual condition Such have the ſpirits preſence to aſſure them that God is their Father.be right and ſound? whether or no they have a real relation to God as their Father? and whether Chriſt be in them of a truth? and verily that eſtate is really good, and ſound, and ſure in which there is ſuch a relation and ſuch a profeſſion. Now when the Spirit of God is given, his preſence and work are undoubted evidences of him: Rom. 8. 15. We have received the Spirit of adoption whereby we cry Abba Father. Ver. 16. The Spirit it ſelf beareth witneſs with our spirit that we are the children of God. 1 Joh. 3. 24. Hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.
Thirdly, For the time to come; there is reſerved for all the people of God in heaven, an incorruptible and undefiled inheritance that fadeth not away, 1 Pet. 1. 4. Aſſured of their ſalvation▪A Crown of life, Rev. 2. 10. An exceedingly exceeding, and eternal weight of glory, 2 Cor. 4. 17. And of this alſo is the preſence of the Spirit a ſure evidence unto us: Epheſ. 1. 13, 14. The holy Spirit is the earneſt of our inheritance; q. d. The Lord will hereafter give you full poſſeſſion, he hath promiſed you no leſs than an heavenly kingdom, and a glorious inheritance; for you are his Children and Heirs; and to ſatisfie and aſſure you of this, he hath given you a pledge or earneſt, and that earneſt is his own Spirit; in that you have for the preſent the Spirit of God, this is your earneſt that you ſhall hereafter fully enjoy the kingdom of God.
And now I beſeech you tell me, whether the enjoying of the Spirit of God be not very happy and comfortable?
If you look back, by this you know that your names are written in heaven: If you look on your preſent condition, by this you know that God is your Father, and you are his children; Chriſt is yours, and you are Chriſts: If you look forward, by this alſo you know that heavenly glory is yours, and ſhortly you ſhall perfectl… an… eternally poſſeſſe it; and all this you may look on as moſt ſure, becauſe God hath given his Spirit unto you.
2ly In Particular:
But let us deſcend unto particulars, which if we do rightly underſtand and conſider of, we muſt confeſs that to have the Spirit given unto us, it is an unſpeakable bleſſing and mercy.
You read in Scripture of ſeveral Attributes (if I may ſo call them) given unto the Spirit, and all of them in relation unto thoſe to whom he is given; And every one of them reſpecting their good and benefit all the dayes of their life; He is called
1. A holy and ſanctifying Spirit.What the ſpirit is called in Scripture.
2. A revealing and manifeſting Spirit.
3. A ſtrengthening and helping Spirit.
4. A reſtoring and recovering Spirit.
5. A comforting and quickning Spirit.
6. A dwelling and an abiding Spirit.
1 Fifthly, The Spirit of God which is given unto you is a holy and ſanctifying He is a holy and ſanctifying ſpirit.Spirit: He is the holy Spirit of God; Epheſ. 4. 30. And the Spirit ſanctifies, 1 Cor. 6. 11.
Now there are three comforts from this, that the Spirit of God (within you) is a ſanctifying Spirit.
1. He ſanctifies you in truth, he renews your very hearts; it is not a formal or Sanctifies in truth.deceivable work, but a real and effectual work, which is indeen the new Creation, 2 Cor. 5. 17, 18. the image of God, the life and glory of Chriſt which ſhall certainly end in happineſs▪ Partakers of the Divine Nature, 2 Pet. 1. 4.
2. He will go on with his ſanctifying work, he will begin and make an end: Cauſeth growth in grace.1 Theſ. 5. 23. He will change you from glory to glory, 2 Cor. 3. 18. Though it begins in weakneſs, he will carry it on in power: This ſanctifying work of the Spirit ſhall move on in the ſoul as the ſun doth in the firmament, from ſtrength to ſtrength; the Spirit within will more and more mortifie, and weaken, and deſtroy the body of ſin, and he will be renewing your inward man day by day, 2 Cor. 4.
3. He will ſtill maintain and preſerve this ſanctifying work againſt all the rebellions Defends it againſt all its enemies.of our corruptions, and againſt all the aſſaults of Satan, and will never leave untill he hath crowned it with glory.
Secondly, The Spirit of God which is given unto you, is a revealing and manifeſting Spirit: He is expreſly called the Spirit of revelation, in Epheſ. 1. 17. and He is a revealing ſpirit.verily herein doth lie moſt admirable comfort and joy; yea all our actual ſoul joy in this life: If all the thoughts and works of grace were hid from us, we ſhould have but ſad dayes all our life long, we ſhould be in perpetual fears and doubts, and complaints: But the diſcovery of them (which is by the light of the Spirit) makes day with us, makes joy and rejoycing abound within us.
Now there are four things which the Spirit of God (given unto the people of God) can and doth reveal unto them.
Firſt, The preſence of Chriſt within us: Though Chriſt be in us (for he dwells The ſpirit reveals Chriſts preſence within us.in our hearts by faith, Epheſ. 3. 17) yet we cannot ſee or diſcover his preſence but by the Spirit: Hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us, … Joh. 3. 24. To know that Chriſt is mine, and in me, and that I am Chriſts, and in him, cannot be without the Spirit, and this manifeſtation is from the Spirit; and is not this joy and comfort indeed to know that Chriſt is in us? Know ye not that Chriſt is in you, except you be reprobates? 2 Cor. 13. 5.
Secondly, The love of God towards us: 'Tis true that God doth love his people with a moſt gracious love, and with a great love, and with a moſt kind love; Gods love towa…ds us.his love is called loving-kindneſs, Hoſe. 2. 19. with a love that ſurpaſſeth all love: And it is alſo true, that the apprehenſion and experience of his love is moſt ſweet and tranſcendent, Thy loving-kindneſs is better than life, Pſal. 63. 3. And if we could know his love unto us, this would pacifie us; and how ſhould we come to taſt how gracious the Lord is? by the holy Ghoſt; Rom. 5. 5. The love of God is ſhed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghoſt: Simile. The love of God is like a fountain that is ſealed, it is like a veſſel of precious liquor, like that box of oyntment, none can open it unto us, none can poure it into our hearts, none can make us ſee and taſt it; he can, and oftentimes doth make us to know that the Father loves us.
Thirdly, The wonderful glory prepared for us; Mark what the Apoſtle ſaith, The glory prepared for us.1 Cor. 2. 9. Eye hath not ſeen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man the things which God hath prepared for them that love. Ver. 10 But God hath revealed them to us by his Spirit, for the Spirt ſearcheth all things, yea the deep things of God; the quality and quantity of future happineſs prepared from eternity, and muſt anſwer the blood of Chriſt, &c.
Fourthly, All the precious works of the Spirit, himſelf with his finger hath The precious works of the ſpirit.wrought in us: Though there be an aptitude in them to manifeſt and diſcover themſelves, yet we cannot ſee them without the Spirit: How often are we in darkneſs? how often in doubts and enquiries, but have I faith? but have I repentance? but have I godly ſorrow? but have I the new heart? the tender heart? the humble heart? In truth! Simile. Beloved, as there is no ſeeing of the heavenly bodies but by an heavenly light; ſo there is no diſcovering of the graces of the Spirit, but by the light of the Spirit: 1 Cor. 2. 12. We have received the Spirit which is of God, that we might know the things which are freely given us of God.
O what happineſs is all this! to enjoy the Spirit of God, by whom we come to know Jeſus Chriſt, and as preſent in my ſoul! to know the love of God, and taſt the ſweetneſs of it in my heart! to know the future heavenly happineſs that is prepared from eternity, and prepared for my ſoul! and to know all that God hath freely given me in order unto my own eternal happineſs!
Thirdly, The Spirit of God which is given unto us, is a ſtrengthening and helping He is a ſt…enthening ſpirit.Spirit: Epheſ. 3. 16. That he would grant you according to the riches of his glory, to be ſtrengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man. Rom. 8. 26. Likewiſe alſo the Spirit helpeth our infirmities, &c. Is it not a benefit when one is weak and faint, to find a friend to relieve, to ſupport, aſſiſt, uphold, and help him? we are weak, we are fainting, we are oppreſſed, diſtreſſed, burdened, ready to ſink, to fail, many times; we know not what to do, and cannot do any good that we would; and now the Spirit of God comes and ſtrengthens our feeble hands, and ſupports our fainting ſpirits, and puts out his power upon our hearts, and carries us on in our wayes and works: You do find it thus in ſeveral caſes. viz.
1. Frequently when we are to pray, we are at a loſs and cannot go on with Gods ſpirit helps us in prayer.the heavenly work; our ignorance, our unbelief, Satans temptations, and diſtractions, all theſe hold us down, and bind us up, and we cannot help and free our ſelves: But then the Spirit of God comes in with his ſtrength and with his help, and ſtirs up our hearts, and enlargeth our hearts, and new deſires flow, and groans abound, and aff…ctions work, and faith works with confidence to the throne of grace, to find grace and mercy to help in time of need.
2. Alwayes in our ſpiritual warfare with our own corruptions, with Satans temptations; In our ſpiritual warfare.in theſe conflicts we feel our own weakneſs, and their power and violence, ſo that we many times cry out, O wretched men that we are, who ſhall deliver us! Rom. 7. 24. Or as Jehoſhaphat in another caſe, We have no might againſt this great company that commeth against us; neither know we what to do, 2 Chron. 20. 12. And verily we may ſay concerning our own corruptions, what he ſpake of his enemies; If it had not been the Lord who was on our ſide; if it had not been the Lord who was on our ſide when men roſe up againſt us, then they had ſwallowed us up quick, Pſal. 124. 1,2,3. ſo if the Spirit of the Lord had not been with us, and if the Spirit of the Lord had not ſtrengthened and helped us, ſin had been too hard for us▪ But in thoſe conflicts the Spirit of God hath made us ſtrong, ſtill to pray, ſtill to believe, ſtill to wait, ſtill to reſiſt, and at length to conquer.
4ly, The ſpirit of God which is given unto us, is a reconciling and a reſtoring ſpirit; He is a reſtoring ſpirit.he reſtoreth my ſoul, ſaith David, Pſal. 23. 3. Even the people of God ſometimes are circumvented by Satans temptations, and are overpowered by ſin that dwelleth in them (what I hate that do I, ſaith Paul, Rom. 7. 15.) They do many times fall very grievouſly, and ſadly, and are not able by their own ſtrength to riſe again, but there they lye with their weakneſs, and loſſes, and complaints, and tears: Now in this condition, the Spirit of God puts forth his hand, and recovers, and raiſes them up again; he doth not leave them when they are fallen, but by the power of his aſſiſting grace
1. He awakens them out of their ſleep, by a quick conviction upon their conſciences, He awakens out of ſpiritual ſleep.to ſee the great evil which they have done: I have ſinned, ſaith David, as ſoon as Nathan ſaid, Thou art the man, 1 Sam. 12.
2. He melts their hearts into ſingular grief for that evil which they have done: Melts their hearts into griefDavid watred his couch with tears, Pſal. 6. 6. And Peter goes out and weeps bitterly, Luk. 22. 62. he makes them to mourn, and to be aſhamed, and to loath themſelves.
3. He ſtirs up their hearts to confeſs and acknowledge their ſinnings, and to judge themſelves before the Lord for their unfaithful dealings, and unworthy walking, Stir them up to confeſs their ſins.and likewiſe earneſt wreſtlings, and ſtrivings with the Lord by prayer for pardoning mercy, and reſtoring grace, and a more ſtedfaſt ſpirit: Pſal. 51. 9. Blot out all mine iniquities. Ver. 10. Renew a right ſpirit witbin me. Ver. 12. Ʋphold me by thy free ſpirit.
4. He enables them by faith to lay hold on Chriſt to be their peace, and to Enables by Faith to lay hold on Chriſtmake Reconciliation; and thus doth the Spirit of God recover and reſtore their fallen ſouls, and aſſures them that their ſin is pardoned.
Fifthly, the Spirit of God which is given unto you, is a comforting Spirit: Chriſt He is a comforting ſpirit.himſelf calls him the Comforter, Joh. 14. 16. and you find him actually comforting the people of God: Acts 9. 31. They walked in the comforts of the Holy Gh…ſt. He is called the Comforter by way of Eminency and Excellency; there is no ſuch Comforter as the Siprit of God, Pſal. 77. 2. For
1. He can comfort your very ſouls with proper comfors and conſolations: Thy Comforts the ſoul.comforts delight my ſoul, Pſal. 94. 19.
2. He can comfort you againſt all your diſcomforts; 2 Cor. 1. 4. Who comforteth Comforts againſt all diſcomforts.us in all our tribulations.
1. From Conſcience.
2. From the Divel and the world.
3. From Providence, when it ſeems to be croſs to us.
3. He can comfort you under all abſences; when there is neither Father, nor In all abſence and wants.Mother, nor Husband, nor Wife, nor Child, nor Friend, nor Land, nor Houſe, yet he can comfort you; he alone can ſhew you the ſalvation of the Lord, ſpeak peace and joy, and aſſure you of mercy, and cauſe you to rejoyce in believing; Pſal. 27. 10. When my Father and my Mother for ſake me, then the Lord will take me up.
4. He can comfort you, and none can hinder him, nor men, nor Divels, nor fears, nor doubts; for he can create you peace, and create you joy, and create He cannot be hindred in comforting us▪you comfort; he himſelf alone is a ſufficient cauſe of comfort.
Object. How ſo? how doth the Spirit comfort?
Sol. 1. By opening all the ſprings of comfort unto you, the fountain of mercy How the Spirit comforts. By opening the ſprings of comfort. By actuating our Faith.Zech. 13. 1. the Fountain of grace, the Fountain of the blood of Chriſt, and of juſtification: 1 Joh. 2. 1, 2. Rom. 5. 11. We joy in God through our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, by whom we have received the attonement.
2. By actuating your faith, to behold all theſe fountains of joy, and to dig water out of the wells of ſalvation, and making you to ſuck the breſts of conſolation.
3. By applying them to your very ſouls, clearing and witneſſing your right unto By opplying them to our ſouls.them, your propriety in them, that Chriſt dyed for your ſins, that God is reconciled to your ſouls, that you are juſtified and accepted unto life, and that you are the children of God, Rom. 8.
4. By enabling conſcience to teſtifie; 2 Cor. 1. 12. Our rejoycing is this, By enabling Conſcience to teſtifie.the teſtimony of our Conſcience, that in ſimplicity and godly ſincerity we have had our converſation.
Sixthly, The Spirit which is given unto you, is dwelling and an abiding ſpirit He is a dwelling ſpirit.in all the people of God: Rom. 8. 11. By his Spirit that dwelleth in you. Joh. 14. 16. I will pray the Father and he ſhall give you another Comforter that he may abide with you for ever: He will be mortifying your ſins, perfecting your graces, conquering your temptations, ſubduing your corruptions, helping your weakneſſes, comforting your conſciences, leading you on in your journey, untill you come to the end of your faith, even the ſalvation of your ſouls.
As Jeſus Chriſt accompliſhed all the works for which the Father ſent him; he gave not over untill he had finiſhed all of them: ſo doth the Spirit of God, who is ſent and given unto us; he proceeds and goes on with all the works for which he is given unto us, and that is to communicate and apply unto us all which Chriſt hath purchaſed for us, even grace and glory, even life, and eternal life.
Thus have you heard 1. The Diſcoveries of the preſence of the Spirit: 2ly The Benefits and bleſſedneſs in the enjoyment of that Spirit.