The Bowels of Tender Mercy Sealed in the Everlasting Covenant, Religious treatise · Part 2 · Chapter 12 · Section 6
Ezek. 36. 27.
And I will put my Spirit within you, &c.
SECT. VI.
4. THe fourth Caution which concerns them that have the Spirit given unto Injure not the Spirit. How the Spirit may be injured. By bearing falſe witneſs againſt the ſpirit.them, is this, Take heed you do not injure or wrong the Spirit. Injure the Spirit? will ſome ſay; how can any man injure the Spirit of God? A man may injure the Spirit of God four wayes.
Firſt, By bearing falſe witneſs againſt the Spirit: Wicked men do injure the ſpirit by railing and by reviling his gifts and graces; and good men do injure the ſpirit by denying and diſowning of them upon every temptation, and every weakneſs, and upon every failing: O they have no faith, and no love, and no ſincerity of heart, and the Spirit of God never wrought any Renewing work, or ſaving work in their hearts! and they cannot attain unto thoſe joyes and comforts which the people of God do meet with! But beloved! why do we charge the Spirit of God thus fooliſhly? Is it a ſmall thing for you to weary men, but will you weary my God alſo? ſaid the Prophet, Iſa. 7. 13. So ſay I, Is it a ſmall thing that you injure another, but will you alſo injure the Spirit of God? Simile▪ If a friend ſhould help you out of priſon, and heal all your diſeaſes and ſores, and furniſh you with clothes, and money, and houſe, and lands, do you not wrong him in ſaying (upon every diſcontent) What hath he done? he hath never done any thing for me. Why, it is the Spirit of God who hath quickned you from the dead, who hath delivered you out of the power of darkneſs, who hath renewed and healed your ſoul, who hath begun every ſaving grace in your hearts, who hath been your life and ſtrength; and after all this, is it meet for you to ſay, What hath he done? and he hath wrought nothing for us! nothing? why! how came you to be ſo ſenſible of your ſins? how came your hearts to be broken and mournful? whence came thoſe deſires after Chriſt and grace? whence came thoſe fervent prayers, and importunate cries? whence came thoſe reſolutions to walk with God, and careful endeavours to honour and glorifie him? O Chriſtian…! be humbled for thy raſhneſſe, and for thy unthankfulneſs, and for this injuriouſneſs done unto the good Spirit of God; diſown him no more, and deny not any work of his any more; though it be but little, yet do not diſown it; though it be ſometimes hidden from thee, yet do not diſown it; though it doth many times work but weakly, do not diſown it; though it be put ſometimes to a ſtand, though thou doſt not in every particular anſwer the motions and rules of the Spirit, yet do not diſown the work of the Spirit; condemn every ſinful work which is thine own, but do not deny or diſhonour any work that is his.
Secondly, By not crediting the teſtimony of the Spirit: Beloved, ſometimes By not crediting the ſpirit.we do bear witneſs or give teſtimony for the Spirit, as when we humbly and thankfully confeſs his workmanſhip in our hearts, ſaying, This is the Lords doing, this he hath done for my ſoul, &c. Sometimes the Spirit bears witneſs, or gives in teſtimony unto our hearts; he bears witneſs, ſaith the Apoſtle, Rom. 8. 16. that we are the children of God; and concerning this he gives in his teſtimony, partly by his works of Faith and Regeneration which are to be found in all and only the children of God: And partly by extraordinary aſſurance, letting in ſuch a lig…t, and evidence, and perſwaſion which abundantly clears up our Relation, that without doubt God is our Father, and we are his children: If now after both theſe teſtimonies in aſſurance of the Spirit, in after times of darkneſs, and deſertion, and temptation, we call the teſtimony of the Spirit into queſtion, and charge it for a falſe deluſion, do we not exceedingly injure the Spirit of God, in ſome ſort to make bim a lyer, and a falſe witneſſe?
Object. But we do not do ſo; and we dare not do ſo, his teſtimony is true; only How to know the teſtimony of the Spirit.we fear that the teſtimony which we have found, was not his teſtimony, but a deluſion either of Satan, or of our own hearts.
Sol. O but what if indeed that teſtimony was not the deluſion of your hearts, but the very teſtimony of the Spirit, which you have challenged and rejected as a deluſion, are you not then very guilty of great injuriouſneſs unto the Spirit? And that it was the very teſtimony of the Spirit of God, may thus appear.
1. It was a teſtimony after deep humblings of the heart for ſin.
2. It was a teſtimony after importunate cries and wreſtlings for mercy and aſſurance.
3. It was a teſtimony after your believing, and cloſing which Chriſt offered and accepted.
4. It was a teſtimony after the matching of the promiſes with your ſouls condition.
5. It was a teſtimony that filled your heart with joy unſpeakable and glorious, and with a love moſt dear and ſuperlative, and with moſt humble and ſerious care and diligence how to walk more exactly and chearfully to the praiſe and honour of this moſt gracious God. If it was thus, it was no deluſion, it was indeed the teſtimony of the Spirit; and you have dealt unkindly and unworthily thus to requite him, and thus to diſgrace his precious teſtimony.
Thirdly, By diſregarding and ſlighting the Ordinances of Chriſt: Some people do think, that becauſe they have the Spirit, therefore there is no need of Ordinances, By ſlighting Chriſts Ordinances.at leaſt for them; perhaps they hold that the Ordinances may be uſeful for others who as yet have not received the Spirit, but yet they are needleſs for them who have received the Spirit: And three places of Scripture they alledge for this, Jer. 31. 34. They ſhall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, ſaying, Know the Lord; for they ſhall all know me from the leaſt to the greateſt of them, ſaith the Lord. 1 Joh. 2. 27. The anointing which ye have received of him, abideth in you; and ye need not that any man teach you, but as the ſame anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lye, and even as it hath taught you, ye ſhall abide in him. 2 Pet. 1. 19. We have alſo a moſt ſure Word of propheſie, whereunto ye do well that ye take heed as unto a light that ſhineth in a dark place untill the day dawne, and the day-ſtarre ariſe in your hearts.
With your favour, I will ſpeak ſomething in 1. Oppoſition to this Opinion; it is the Opinion of the Libertines of old, and of ſome now amongſt our ſelves, The Libertines anſwered.who deſire and endeavour to ſubvert the Miniſtry and the Ordinances of preaching. 2ly. In reſolving the true meaning of thoſe places of Scripture.
Firſt, I affirm that Gods giving of his Spirit unto his people, was never intended by him to put a period unto any Evangelical Ordinance, or to render them uſeleſs unto any of his people: this may be demonſtrated thus,
Firſt, From the ſcope of the Scriptures: All Scripture, ſaith the Apoſtle, 2 Tim. 3. 16. is given by inſpiration of God, and is profitable for Doctrine, for Reproof, for Correction, for I…ſtruction in Righteouſneſs, that the man of God may be perfect, throughly furniſhed unto all good works, ver. 17.
If the Word of God be given for theſe ends, For Doctrine to teach us the matter of faith; for Reproof to convince errors; for Correction to condemn ſin; for Inſtruction to ſhew us our duties, and to make us perfect: To beget us: Jam. 1. 18. Of his own will begat he us with the Word of truth: To build us up: Acts 20. 33. I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are ſanctified: then certainly the preſence of the Spirit; and the Miniſtry of the Word are not inconſiſtent, nor are they to be dijoyned.
Secondly, If the Lord Jeſus himſelf hath inſtituted ſome men particularly for his ſervice, and the benefit of his Church, and hath committed the diſpenſation of Evangelical Ordinances unto them; then no man under pretence that he hath the Spirit, may ſlight and neglect the Ordinances; but Chriſt hath inſtituted ſome perſons in the Church for Miniſterial ſervice, &c. Epheſ. 4. 11. He gave ſome Apoſtles, and ſome Prophets, and ſome Evangeliſts, and ſome Paſtors and teachers. Ver. 12. For the perfecting of the Saints, for the work of the Miniſtry, for the edifying of the body of Chriſt, &c. Ver. 13. till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Sonne of God unto a perfect man, unto the meaſure of the ſtature of the fulneſſe of Chriſt. What need of theſe if the preſence of the Spirit without theſe be ſufficient? 1 Cor. 12. 28. God hath ſet ſome in the Church, firſt, Apoſtles; ſecundarily, Prophets; thirdly, Teachers. Ver. 29. Are all Apoſtles? are all Prophets? are all Teachers? To theſe and not to all, hath he committed the diſpenſation of the Evangelical Ordinances: 1 Cor. 4. 1. Let a man ſo account of us as the Miniſters of Chriſt, and Stewards of the myſteries of God. Matth. 28. 19. Go ye and teach all nations, baptizing them in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghoſt. 2 Cor. 5. 19. God was in Chriſt reconciling the world unto himſelf, &c. and hath committed unto us the word of Reconciliation.
What, are all theſe Ordinances inſtruted, and fixed, and that by the will of Chriſt, and yet uſeleſs for men that have the Spirit of Chriſt?
Thirdly, What mean thoſe ſeveral paſſages in the Scriptures? Jam. 1. 19. Be ſwift to hear. 1 Per. 2 2. As new born babes deſire the ſincere milk of the Word, that you may grow thereby. 1 Theſ. 5. 19. Quench not the Spirit. Ver. 20. Deſpiſe not Prepheſying. Luke 10. 16. He that deſpiſeth you, despiſeth me, &c. Iſa. 59. 21. This is my Covenant with them ſaith the Lord, my Spirit that is upon them, and my Spirit which I have put within thy mouth, ſhall not depart out of thy mouth, nor out of the mouth of thy ſeed, nor out of the mouth of thy ſeeds ſeed, ſaith the Lord hence forth for ever.
Fourthly, If the Spirit be given unto us to make the Ordinances effectual unto us, then his preſence ſhould not take us off from Ordinances, but the Spirit is given to make the Ordinances effectual, they are ſo farre life unto us, as the Spirit gives life unto them: 2 Cor. 3. 16. The Spirit giveth life.
Secondly, Having ſpoken theſe things, I ſhall now look upon thoſe forementioned Scriptures, and ſee whether they conclude the needleſneſs of Ordinances after the reception of the Spirit.
Object. Jer. 31. 34. They ſhall teach no more every man his neighbor, and every man his brother, ſaying, know the Lord; for they ſhall all know me, &c. Hence the Anabaptiſts do conclude that there is no need of Teachers nor Anabaptiſts anſwered.Learning.
Sol. Firſt, I would fain know Whether theſe people have among them a Church of Chriſt, yea or no? if they have, then I would know Whether they have any The Scriptures opened.Teachers of the Word, and Labourers in the Word and Doctrine, any teaching publickly in their Churches?
Secondly, But to the place of the Prophet, who ſets out the difference between the Old Teſtament and the New. 1. In reſpect of efficacy, this he layes down in ver. 33. This is the Covenant that I will make with the houſe of Iſrael, after theſe dayes ſaith the Lord, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts, &c. 2ly, In reſpect of Clarity, that in the times of the new Covenant there ſhould be a more clear and plentiful effuſion of knowledge than in the old Covenant; for when Chriſt came, then did the Sun of Righteouſneſs ariſe, the light of which was ſevenſold to what the light was before his coming: they before his coming had but a dark knowledge, thoſe after his coming had a more clear and full knowledge.
Object. True, and they had ſo much knowledge, that they needed not to be taught, they ſhall no more teach.
Sol. That expreſſion is not to be taken litterally and abſolutely, as if thoſe that live under the Goſpel ſhould need no teaching at all; for we read an expreſs promiſe (relating unto Goſpel-times) to the contrary: Iſa. 2. 3. Many people ſhall go and ſay, Come and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the houſe of the God of Jacob, and he will teach us of his wayes, and we will walk in his paths; for out of Zion ſhall go out the Law, and the Word of the Lord from Jeruſalem. But the words are to be taken Reſtrictively and Comparatively; therefore if you obſerve them, it is not ſaid only they ſhall no more teach every one his neighbour; but they ſhall no more teach every man his neighbour, ſaying, know the Lord: So that God doth promiſe under the Goſpel ſuch a meaſure of knowledge, as that his people now ſhall not be Alphabetarii any more; need to be taught the firſt Principles of the Doctrine of Faith any more; theſe they ſhould all of them clearly know, and much more clearly than many or moſt living under the old Covenant or Teſtament.
Object. 1 Joh. 2. 27. You need not that any man teach you, but as the ſame anointing teacheth you of all things, &c.
Sol. The Apoſtle having in the former words delivered many excellent and comfortable truths, he concludes with a perſwaſion of their knowledge of, and aſſent unto them, q. d. you are the people of God, you have received his Spirit, you know theſe things to be true; I write them unto you not as to the ignorant but knowing Chriſtian; you know them aſſuredly, the Spirit given unto you hath enabled you to know, and to acknowledge them, ſo that no man needs to teach you them, &c.
Object. 2. Pet. 1. 19. Ʋnto which you do well to take heed as unto a light that ſhineth in darkneſſe untill the day dawn, and the day ſtar…e ariſe in your hearts.
Sol. Untill the day dawn (i. e.) Pleniori & apertiori cognitione quàm ſub legis umbris fuerit.
1. He commends the Jews for regarding the Prophetical writings.
2. He prefers the Apoſtolical Writings which had more light in them.
3. Ʋntil is gradual and not excluſive.
Fourthly, laſtly, the Spirit is injured when any do Father upon him their odd Opinions, and wild fancies, and deluſions, and ſometimes their abominable blaſphemies which are not to be named amongſt Chriſtians, but with deteſtation: The Spirit of God is the Spirit of truth, and the Spirit of holineſs; and to entitle him unto any errors or wickedneſs, it is no leſs then to blaſpheme and reproach him.
Fifthly, The fifth Caution which I would commend to you that have the Envy not the gifts of the Spirit in othersSpirit, is this; Do not envy the gifts and graces of the Spirit in any man, nor ſpeak evil of them: Numb. 11. 29. And Moſes ſaid unto Joſhua, Envieſt thou for my ſake? Would God that all the Lords people were Prophets, and that the Lord would put his Spirit upon them. The Spirit of God gives different gifts unto men to profit withall: 1 Cor. 12. 7. To one is given by the Spirit the word of wiſdom, to another the word of knowledge by the ſame Spirit, Ver. 8. To another Faith by the ſame Spirit, Ver. 9. And there are different meaſures of his gifts; ſome do excell in one gift, and ſome in another; and this holds true in publick perſons, and in private perſons; & all of us ſhould rejoyce in all theſe manifeſtations of the Spirit: It ſhould not grieve us that any one is good, nor that he can do good in his private way, or in his publick way; nor ſhould it grieve and trouble us if any man hath more grace, or that he can do more good, bring more glory to Chriſt than we do or can. The end of every Chriſtian is Gods glory; now every one ſhould mind that, and contribute towards that; one man may contribute more, and every man ſhould contribute his utmoſt towards it; is it not enough if Chriſt be magnified, and thy ſoul ſaved?
Sixthly, You ſhould not be diſcouraged for any work which God puts upon Be not diſcouraged at hard tasks.you, though never ſo great and difficult; for you have the Spirit of wiſdom, and power, and ſufficiency to aſſiſt you; Zach. 4. 6. Not by might, not by power, but by my Spirit, ſaith the Lord of Hosts.
2ly Now follows the Poſitive or affirmative duties for them that have received the Spirit of God.The poſitive duties of ſuch as have the ſpirit. They ſhould ſhew …orth the vertues of the ſpirit. As love.
Firſt, You ſhould expreſs the virtue of the Spirit which abideth in you; you ſhould walk like men of another ſpirit; eſpecially you ſhould hold out thoſe nine fruits or virtues of the ſpirit mentioned in Gal. 5. 22, 23. The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-ſuffering, gentleneſſe, goodneſſe, faith, meekneſſe, temperance; theſe you ſhould ſtrive to act in your conveſations.
1. Love (i. e.) a loving behaviour, eſpecially towards the Godly, nay, and towards all men; you ſhould walk in love, without hatred, and emulation, and envying, and raſh ſuſpition, and cenſoriouſneſs.
2. Joy (i. e.) ſuch a behaviour as ſets out a contentedneſs, and well-pleaſedneſs Joy.with our worldly portion; and a chearfulneſs and comfortableneſs in our ſpiritual relation unto, and portion in God and Chriſt.
3. Peace (i. e.) ſuch a behaviour as exempts us from medling, and wrangling, and quarrelling, and contentiouſneſs, and turbulency, and tum…ltuouſneſs, and Peace.variancies, and that frames us to a quiet, peaceable, and unprovoking inoffenſive carriage.
4. Long-ſuffering (i. e.) we ſhould bear much of the weakneſſes and infirmities Long-ſufferingof thoſe with whom we do converſe, and paſs by ſlight injuries, and forgive many a wrong done unto us, as God▪ for Chriſts ſake hath forgiven us.
5. Gentleneſs (i. e.) we ſhould behave our ſelves towards others in ſpeaking, Gentleneſs.or looking, or dealing, without p…ide, auſterity, inſolency, ſcornfulneſs, rigidneſs, in a ſoft, humble, affable, candid manner.
6. Goodneſs (i. e.) we ſhould not be hard-hearted, and backward to do good Goodneſs.to the ſouls or bodies of others, but ſhould be ready to diſtribute, full of the fruits of mercy, and be helpful, and profitable, and merciful to them that need, eſpecially to the diſtreſſed members of the body of Chriſt.
7. Faith (i. e. fidelity, we ſhould be juſt in our words, promiſes, and in all our Faith.dealing with men, by no means lye, or deceive, or over-reach, or deal with guile, deceitfully, or falſly, but ſquarely, plainly, and honeſtly, and righteouſly.
8. Meekneſs (i. e.) we ſhould ſuppreſs all raſh, furious, immoderate, unlawful anger, and frowardneſs, and perturbation, and paſſionateneſs, and ſtrive to Meekneſs.manifeſt that we are in ſome meaſure able to deny our ſelves, and to bear croſſes, and afflictions, provocations, injuries, patiently and contentedly.
9. Temperance (i. e.) we ſhould not exceſſively lay out our cares and labours Temperance.for any wordly thing, whether honour, or riches, or pleaſures; but be ſoher in the deſire and uſe of all the earthly bleſſings which God hath given unto us.
Secondly, you ſhould be wonderful thankful unto the Lord for giving of his We muſt be thankful for the ſpirit.Spirit unto you: Paul takes ſpecial notice of this mercy, and often ſpeaks of it: We have received the Spirit of God, and he hath given unto us his holy Spirit, and his Spirit dwelleth in us, &c.
There are four things for which God is eternally to be bleſſed: viz. 1. For his free grace and love. 2ly For his Chriſt. 3ly For his Goſpel. And 4ly for his Spirit.
Queſt. And why for his Spirit?
Sol. Becauſe, what you are in relation to God, you are by the Spirit.
Firſt, Are you in Chriſt? this is by the Spirit; are you new creatures, born Reaſons of it.again? this is by the Spirit: are you delivered from Satan and your ſinfull corruptions? this is by the Spirit.
2. What you can do, this comes from the Spirit: Can you mourn for ſin? can you poure out your hearts in Prayer? can you at any time truſt in the Name of the Lord? can you look towards his holy place in times of deſertion? can you deny your ſelves? can you do the will of God? can you ſuffer the will of God? all your ſpiritual ſtrength is from the Spirit.
Thirdly, Have you any diſcoveries of the Love of God? have you any clearneſs of the love of Chriſt? and of your propriety in him? have you any ſatisfying evidences of your preſent relation to God? have you any ſealings and aſſurances of future bleſſedneſs? have you ever taſted of joy unſpeakable and glorious? of a peace that paſſeth all underſtanding? of recoveries out of ſin? of ſweet refreſhings under troubles of conſcience? then bleſs the Lord who hath given his own Spirit unto you?
Thirdly, you ſhould improve the Spirit that is given unto you, and make Improve the ſpirit.uſe of him.
1. For works which he can do, but hath not yet begun within you.
2. For works which he hath begun, but hath not as yet perfected and finiſhed within you.
Firſt, For works which he can do, but (perhaps) hath not yet begun within you. He hath begun the work of humiliation, and of vocation, and of union, and of regeneration; but then (perhaps) there are other works wanting; you have found him an healing Spirit, but did you ever find him a ſealing Spirit? you have felt the power of his grace, but did you ever taſt the ſweetneſs of his joyes? you have found him a regenerating Spirit, but did you ever find him a witneſting Spirit? Now improve your intereſt in the Spirit for theſe ſoul-renewing works which you long for, but never yet found; why, be…eech the Lord to give you the Spirit of Joy as well as the Spirit of Faith; the Spirit of Peace, as well as the Spirit of Holineſs; the ſealing and witneſſing Spirit, as well as the renewing and changing Spirit▪ The Spirit of gladneſs as well as of mourning; Say unto my ſoul, I am thy ſalvation: Be of good comfort, go in peace, thy ſins are forgiven thee. Thy heart is ready to ſink and break for want of comfort, why! Go to the Lord, Lord comfort my ſoul; thou haſt promiſed joy and comfort to thy people, and biddeſt thy Miniſters to comfort them; O comfort me with thine own Spirit! it is his work, it is his Office to be the Comforter, &c.
Secondly, For the works which he hath begun, but hath not as yet perfected and finiſhed within you; as all the works of grace, of knowledge, of faith, of love, &c. be not content with a little of theſe, but (as the Apoſtle exhorts in Epheſ. 5. 18.) Be filled with the Spirit; labour to encreaſe and abound in all fruits of the Spirit: Pſal. 92. 13. Thoſe that be planted in the houſe of the Lord, ſhall flouriſh in the houſe of our God. Ver. 14. They ſhall ſtill bring forth fruit in old age, they ſhall be fat and flouriſhing.
Here I will briefly anſwer two Queſtions.
1. Queſt. One is, Why they that have the Spirit of grace, ſhould ſtrive to increaſe Why ſuch as have grace ſhould labour to grow in it.and to abound in grace?
Sol There are five Reaſons for it.
Firſt, This will teſtifie the truth that is in them: That they have the graces of the Spirit: indeed there are three things (amongſt many others) which do teſtifie grace in truth. 1. One is Power. 2. The ſecond is Growth. 3. The third is Perſeverance.
Dead things, and Artificial things have no growth, q. becauſe they have no life: Every branch in me that beareth fruit, the Father purgeth that it may bring forth more fruit, ſaith Chriſt, Joh. 15. 2.
Secondly, Yea and this teſtifies that the Spirit is in you of a truth; for the Spirit changeth us from glory to glory, 2 Cor. 3. 18. When the Spirit changeth us at the firſt from ſinfulneſs to holineſs, this is a glorious change (for as the natural eſtate is vile and inglorious, ſo the renewed and ſanctified eſtate is an excellent and glorious eſtate) and when the Spirit begins a glorious change, he proceeds and makes it ſtill more glorious; the ſpirit changeth us from glory to glory: Grace makes us glorious, and more grace makes us more glorious; the more grace, the more glory; and where the Spirit of God is, there he carries on his work from glory to glory.
Thirdly, The more that ye do grow in the graces of the ſpirit, the greater and fuller is your conformity unto Chriſt! Grace is in Chriſt as in a Fountain, and perfection, as in a pattern: Now the more you have in anſwerableneſs to the pattern, the fuller is your conformity; a little grace in us reſembles that grace which is in Chriſt; Simile. But as thoſe who lived under the Old Teſtament, had ſome glimpſes of Chriſt, but they that lived under the New Teſtament had a more clear knowledge of him, face to face: So they that have but a little of grace, there is ſome reſemblance and manifeſtation in them of the image of Chriſt; but they who are high in grace, they are nearer to Chriſt in the reſemblance of his excellent perfection of holineſs, and to ſpeak plainly, there is much more of Chriſt in them.
Fourthly, The more you obtain in the proportion of grace, the greater Revenue of honour will you be able to bring in to God: I told you that the weakeſt grace can enable you to bring God ſome honour; why then much grace can help you farther in that ſervice, it can ſet up his Name on high: A little Faith can honour God, but a ſtrong Faith (ſuch as Abrahams or Moſes's) will bring more honour to his goodneſs and faithfulneſs; a little love will make you to do ſomething for Chriſt, but much love will make you do much more: The more grace that you attain, the more gloriouſly will you ſhine in your converſation, and in all the fruits of Righteouſneſs, with more fulneſs, evenneſs, and ſtedfaſtneſs, and all this glorifies your Father which is in heaven.
Fifthly, You your ſelves would gain more, if your graces were increaſed more. e. g. You would certainly find more peace in conſcience, and more freedom from ſlaviſh fears, and doubts, and more confidence in your acceſſes to God, and more ſweetneſs in the Ordinances of Chriſt, and more enlargement of heart in all your communions with God, and more wiſdom and ſtrength againſt the temptations of Satan.
2. How may one know that he hath much of the Spirit of God in him? that How to know that we have much of Gods ſpirit in us. If more humble.grace is increaſed and raiſed, that he is more ſpiritual?
Sol. You may know it thus.
Firſt, If you be more humble: The more pride, alwayes either no grace, or very little; but the more humility, ſtill the more grace; mark the Records in Scripture, and you ſhall find the moſt excellent in grace have been the moſt eminent in humility, e. g. Abraham, Jacob, Moſes, David, Paul, &c. For much grace, 1. Diſcovers moſt wants. 2ly Moſt failings. 3ly Moſt ſelf-inſufficiency. 4ly Moſt ſelf-unworthineſs. 5ly That all our receptions are from meer grace and mercy.
Secondly, If you be more exact in your walking, giving no juſt occaſion either If more exact in our walking.of offence to the weak, or of grief to the ſtrong Chriſtians, or of reproach to them that are without. A man that can order his converſation, ſo as good men are edified by him, and wicked men have their mouthes ſtopped, or cannot ſpeak ill of him without lying, he hath a great meaſure of grace.
Thirdly, If a man be able to drink of the cup which Christ did drink, and to If able to ſuffer afflictions.be baptized with the baptiſme wherewith Chriſt was baptized (Mat. 20. 22, 23.) this man hath got on far in the work of grace: The more able that you are to ſuffer reproaches, and loſſes, yea death itſelf for Chriſt, the greater is your faith, and the ſtronger is your love; when you can rejoyce in tribulations, bear the reproaches for Chriſt, taking the Croſs as your Crown, and triumph that ye are counted worthy to ſuffer for his Name.
Fourthly, If you be able to govern your tongues with wiſdome, and meekneſs, If we can wiſely govern our tongues.and grace, and truth, this is a ſign that you are ſtrong in grace: Jam. 3, 2. If any offend not in word; the ſame is a perfect man.
Fifthly, The leſs careful we are for outward things, and the more able we are to truſt God, and to look on his Promiſes, with as much chearfulneſs as others do If able to truſt God without carking cares.only in their performances: If we can bleſs and praiſe God when he takes away, as well as when he gives: Pſal. 56. 10. In God will I praiſe his word, in the Lord will I praiſe his word.
Sixthly, The more complyance with, and contentedneſs in all the changes which do befall us in our journey to heaven in theſe dayes of our pilgrimage, certainly If contented in all changes.this declares a preſence of much grace: The Lord ſaith of Job that there was not a man like him in all the earth, he was eminently good and upright; and he it was who bleſſed God in his great changes: Job 1. 21. The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away, bleſſed be the Name of the Lord. Chap. 2. 10. Shall we receive good at the hand of God, and ſhall we not receive evil? See Paul that ſtrong Chriſtian, Phil. 4 11. I have learned in whatſoever eſtate I am, therewith to be content. Ver. 12. I know how to be abuſed, and I know how to abound; everywhere, and in all things I am inſtructed, both to be full, and to be hungry; both to abound, and to ſuffer need.
Fourthly, A fourth duty which concerns you who have received the Spirit, is Our hearts muſt be carried out to ſpiritual things.this; your hearts ſhould be more earneſtly and fixedly, and entirely carried unto, and laid out for ſpiritual things; ſpiritual objects, and treaſures ſhould be of more value with you, and they ſhould draw out your thoughts and affections to the utmoſt: other things ſhould be of ſmall account with you: If the Spirit be in you, then the things of the ſpirit ſhould be in you: as wickedneſs is in the wicked man, and the world is in the worldly man, ſo ſhould ſpiritual things be in a man of the Spirit: In him, i. e. his heart, ſtill in the mindings of his heart, and in the projects of his heart, and in the cares of his heart, and in the deſires and longings of his heart, and in the delights and ſatisfactions of his heart; he ſhould be wholly given up to them, and his ſoul ſhould be reſolved into them: Pſal. 73. 25. Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I deſire beſides thee. The ſpiritual man ſhould be ſo addicted to ſpiritual things, that he ſhould ſpiritualize all things; he ſhould ſpiritualize the world, and all his dealings in the world, and he ſhould ſpiritualize all the comforts of the world (look on them as from his God, and raiſe his heart more to God, have much more delight and ſweetneſs in him) he ſhould ſpiritualize all the afflictions and troubles of the world, learn Righteouſneſs, and more holineſs by them, and more to live by faith: Nay, he ſhould ſpiritualize all his fails, grow more fearful, ſelfdenying, mournful, watchful; fruitful; well, he ſhould ſpiritualize his conference and converſe with all men; edifying the good, and admoniſhing the wicked, comforting the weak, ſupporting the feeble: But to the main thing, his heart ſhould lay out it ſelf for ſpiritual things: O more of the favour of God, and more of Jeſus Chriſt, and more of the fruits of the Spirit, &c.
1. The great Promiſes are of th…ſe.
2. And the Promiſes of them are only unto you.
3. They are the beſt portion, and your beſt portion, and your only portion.
4. Theſe are eternity, or for eternity.
5. The Spirit is given unto you to carry out your hearts for theſe.
6. Theſe are moſt ſuitable to a ſpiritual nature.
Now in the deſires of ſpiritual things, remember to
1. Deſire grace infinitely more than gifts.
2. Deſire ſtrength and power more than joys and comfort.
3. Deſire the means as well as the end.
4. Deſire all for the honour and glory of God.