The Bowels of Tender Mercy Sealed in the Everlasting Covenant, Religious treatise · Part 2 · Chapter 12 · Section 7 – Section
SECT. VII.
5. Uſe. DOth God promiſe to give his Spirit unto his people? Then let us all be Let all look after the gift of the ſpirit.perſwaded to look after this great gift of God, not to content our ſelves under the want of it, but by all means to obtain it: For the managing of this Ʋſe I will preſent unto you 1. Some Motives to excite us. 2ly Some Means to enjoy.
1. The Motives to look after the Spirit of God. e. g.
Firſt, The Spirit and Chriſt come alwayes together: If any man hath Chriſt, The Spirit and Chriſt come alwayes together.he hath the Spirit; if any man hath the Spirit, he hath Chriſt; if any man hath not the Spirit, he hath not Chriſt; Chriſt and the Spirit ever go together: Should not this provoke us to ſtrive with God for his Spirit; what ſinner on earth would not have Chriſt? what will become of us without Chriſt? how happy is every ſoul in the enjoyment of him? how miſerable in the want of him? how longing are the hearts of ſome for Chriſt, and for the knowledge that Chriſt is their Chriſt? But if the Spirit of God be yours, then the Sonne of God is yours: Here is a double portion at once, a double gift at once, the Spirit of God and Jeſus Chriſt at once: If you mind not the Spirit for the Spirits ſake, yet mind the Spirit for Chriſts ſake; your deſires after him, muſt come from the ſpirit, and your union with him muſt come from the ſpirit, and your knowledge of the perſon … propriety or intereſt in him muſt come from the Spirit: A man may think he hath Chriſt, but if he hath not the Spirit, Chriſt is none of his, Rom. 8. 9. A man may fear that he hath not Chriſt, duplicate page duplicate page but if the Spirit be given unto him, then aſſuredly Chriſt is given unto him; Hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us, 1 Joh. 3. 4.
Secondly, Forgiveneſs of ſins and the Spirit alway are given together: Though The Spirit and pardon of ſin go together.forgiveneſs of ſin be one thing, and the Spirit in us another thing, yet they are both given together: A man hath not his ſins pardoned, and yet he remains unſatisfied without the Spirit; and a man is not ſanctified by the Spirit, and yet his ſins remain unpardoned, but both are given together at the ſame time: 1 Joh. 5. 6. This is he that came by water and blood, even Jeſus Chriſt, not by water only, but by water and blood, and it is the Spirit that beareth witneſs. 1 Cor. …. 11. Such were ſome of you, but ye are waſhed, but ye are ſanctified, but ye are juſtified in the Name of the Lord Jeſus, and by the Spirit of of our God.
It is true, that the blood of Chriſt is the only meritorious cauſe of the forgiveneſs of ſins; God forgives our ſins for Chriſts ſake; but then it is as true, that aſſurance of forgiveneſs and reconciliation of the Spirit are given together: Hath God ſanctified thy heart by his Spirit? aſſuredly he hath forgiven thy ſins. Hath God indeed ſhewed thee mercy in forgiving thy ſins, he hath then aſſuredly given unto thee the Spirit of grace to change thy ſinful heart!
Now would you have your ſins forgiven? do you look on forgiveneſs as a deſirable mercy? as a mercy of life, and of peace, and of hope; O then get the Spirit of God; God never forgives a man his ſins, but he gives his Spirit: Forgiveneſs of ſins is the great deed of mercy written in the blood of Chriſt, and the giving of the Spirit is the ſeal of that deed.
Thirdly, The Spirit and excellency alwayes go together: Can we finde ſuch a one as this is? a man in whom the Spirit of God is; ſaid Pharaoh concerning Joſeph, Gen. 41. 38.
Before we receive the Spirit of God, there is no excellency in us, we are but The ſpirit and excellency go together.low and vile, nothing of worth in our hearts; they are wicked, corrupt, and dead in treſpaſſes and ſins, and ſhort of the glory of God; nothing of worth in our thoughts, All the imaginations of the thoughts of our hearts are only evil continually: Nothing of worth in our affections, they are ſet upon evil, and ſet upon the world; no love of God, nor fear of God, nor deſire of God, nor delight in God, nothing of worth in our converſations, they are unprofitable, vile, vain, looſe, and diſhonouring of God: But when the Spirit of God come into us, then comes an excellency into us, and a true excellency into us: The Spirit of God is ſtiled an excellent Spirit, Dan. 6. 3. And they that enjoy the ſpirit; are men of an excellent Spirit, Prov. 17. 27. and to be more excellent than other men, there is no way to attain unto it, but by getting the Spirit, and this I ſhall ſhew in particular; all that have the Spirit, they immediately enjoy
1. An excellent Nature: They are made partakers of the Divine Nature, Such enjoy an excellent nature. An excellent Relation.2 Pet. 1. 4. They are changed into the glorious image of Chriſt, 2 Cor. 3. 18.
2. An excellent Relation: They are born again of the Spirit, Joh. 3. 3. And are made the ſons of God, they receive the adoption of ſons, Gal. 4 5. And by the Spirit given unto them, cry Abba Father, ver. 6.
3. Excellent Ornaments: Ezek. 16. 7. An excellent wiſdom which excelleth folly, Excellent Ornaments.as far as light excelleth darkneſs, Eccleſs. 2. 13. An excellent knowledge, even the excellency of the knowledge of Chriſt Jeſus our Lord, Phil. 3. 8. An excellent faith, which is precious, and more precious than gold. An excellent love, even the love of Jeſus Chriſt in ſincerity. An excellent joy, which is unſpeakable and glorious. An excellent hope; which makes not aſhamed, which is as an anchor of the ſoul both ſure and ſtedfaſt, Heb. 6. 19
4. Excellent Priviledges; To come with boldneſs to the throne of grace; to have Excellent Priviledges.the golden Scepter ſtill held out unto them, to lay claim to all the purchaſes of Chriſt, and to challenge their right in him, to make uſe of, and apply any promiſe of God, reſpecting any condition of their ſouls or bodies, to appeal from themſelves to Chriſt, and from the ſentence and ſeverity of the Law, unto the mercy and ſalvation of God in the Goſpel: In a word, they that have the Spirit, they are thereby made an eternal excellency, Iſa. 60. 15.
5. Excellent converſation: Holineſs, Uprightneſs, Righteouſneſs, and unblameableneſs Excellent converſation. The ſpirit and alſufficiency come together.of life, a life in Chriſt according to godlineſs.
Fourthly, The Spirit and Alſufficiency comes together: Whatſoever your condition may be, whatſoever your ex…ences may be, whatſoever your troubles and ſorrows may be, whatſoever your wants may be, whatſoever your works and ſervices may be, if you had but the Spirit, you had enough for all; his preſence and efficacy can ſupply you with all.
1. Are you weak? he can ſtrengthen you.
2. Are you ignorant? he can teach you.
3. Are you doubtful? he can counſel and guide you.
4. Are you fallen? he can raiſe you.
5. Are you tempted? he can ſuccour you, and make you to perſiſt, and conquer.
6. Are you brought low in wants? he can make you to live by Faith.
7. Are you filled with ſorrow? he can fill you with comfort.
8. Are you in darkneſs, and can ſee no light? he can open your eyes to ſee the ſalvation of God.
9. Are fears upon you? he can ſatifie and quiet you.
10. Is dulneſs on you? he can quicken and enlarge you.
11. Are you doubtful of Gods love and mercy? he can ſhed abroad the love of God in your hearts, and make mercy turn unto you.
12. Are you to …, to ſuffer, to live …nd dye? he can enable you for every good work; and in your ſufferings be a ſpirit of glory unto you; while you live he can make you to live unto the Lord; and when you come to dye, he can make you to dye unto the Lord: O who would not, who ſhould not wreſtle with God for this Spirit! without whom no Chriſt, no life no, peace no joy, no faith, no help, no hope; and with whom comes Chriſt, and Mercy, and Excellency, and He…p, and all Spiritual taſts, Earneſts, Sealings, Rejoycings, and Glory!
2ly The Means to get the Spirit.Means to get the ſpirit. Lay down prejudices againſt the ſpirit.
Firſt, If you would get the Spirit of God, you muſt then lay down all prejudices againſt the Spirit: As men have prejudices againſt Chriſt, which hinder them from the receiving of Chriſt; ſo men have prejudices againſt the Spirit of Chriſt, which do hinder a…d withdraw them from deſiring of the …pirit.
There are four Prejudices eſpecially, and Exceptions in this caſe, viz.
1. The humbling work of the Spirit.Prejudices againſt the ſpirit.
2. The mortif…ing work of the Spirit.
3. The ſanctifying work of the Spirit.
4. The de…iſions that befall men for the Spirits ſake.
Object. We would be content to have the Spirit, but that he will ſhew us our ſins, and trouble and humble us for our ſins?
Sol. I anſwer.
Firſt, Of a truth he will do ſo, for he is a Spirit of Conviction, and a ſpirit of The firſt prejudice taken away.bondage to fear.
Secondly, Nevertheleſs this ſhould not take off our hearts from deſiring the preſence of the ſpirit: For
1. The troubles from the Spirit are good troubles: Of neceſſity we muſt be Troubles from the ſpirit are good troubles.troubled for our ſins, either in this life or in hell; the troubles for ſins in hell are unſufferable and remedileſs, but the troubles of this life for our ſins (eſpecially) when they come from the Spirit they are good, they are penitential troubles, and tend only to ſtir in us a loathing of our ſins, and a ſeparation from our ſins which have been ſo diſp…eaſing and injurious to God, and have been, and are the cauſe of all our troubles: The troubles which the Spirit cauſeth in us for ſinne, is a meanes to deliver us from ſinne, and the eternal troubles for ſinne.
2. The troubles which the Spirit cauſeth in us for ſinne, do end in much joy They end in joy and peace.and peace: The joy and peace of the Spirit are very precious, and they cannot be delivered out unto us, unleſs we be firſt troubled for our ſin: The Spirit comforts mourners, and them that are caſt down: Now the Spirit troubles us for ſin, 1. To make ſinne bitter to us. 2ly To make Chriſt ſweet to us. As he troubles us for our ſins, ſo he leads and draws the trouble… ſoul to Chriſt, that in him he may find deliverance from thoſe ſinnes, and his peace made with God, &c.
Trouble is not all the work of the Spirit; it is an inceptive work, and a preparative work; he troubles you for ſin that you may not be damned for ſinne, and that you may make out for Chriſt to ſave you from your ſinnes.
Object. We ſhould be willing to have the Spirit, but that then we muſt bid farewell to all our ſins; the Spirit is a mortifying Spirit, he will not ſuffer us to love our ſins, nor to take pleaſure in them as heretofore; we are affraid of the ſword of the Spirit.
Sol. I anſwer.
Firſt, It is granted that the ſpirit will do this as you do ſpeak, it will caſt ſin The ſecond prejudice removed. He dethrones ſin. The death of ſin is our life.out of the throne, it will take off love and ſervice from ſin, and it will be more and more … mortifying of it.
Secondly, But then, where is the hurt, the danger, the prejudice which you have againſt this? (Gal. 5. 24. They that are Chriſts, have crucified the fleſh with the affections and luſts.) Rom. 8. 13. If ye live after the fleſh ye ſhall dye, but if ye through the Spirit do mortifie the deeds of the body ye ſhall live. Here is death and life; If you keep your ſins alive ye ſhall dye; if you through the ſpirit mortifie your ſins, you ſhall live: The life of ſin is your death, and the death of ſin is your life: Saul ſpared Agag, but it was his ruine; and Ahab ſpared Benhadad, but it was his ruine, &c.
Object. O but the Spirit will make us holy, and we muſt then live holily, and not ſo l…oſly and freely as heretofore!
Sol. Firſt, Will the ſpirit of God make you holy? and ſhould you not be The third prejudice removed.ſo? 1 Pet. 1. 16. Be holy, for I am holy; and ſhould you not walk ſo! As he who hath called you is holy, ſo be ye holy in all manner of converſation, 1 Pet. 1. 15.
Secondly, Conſider only three places of Scripture for this.
1. Iſa. 4. 3. He that remaineth in Jeruſalem, ſhall be called holy, even every We ſhould be holy.one that is written amongſt the living in Jeruſalem.
2. Heb. 12. 14. Follow holineſs, without which no man ſhall ſee the Lord.
3. Matth. 5. 8. Bleſſed are the pure in heart, for they ſhall ſee God.
Object. But I ſhall be a deriſion, and a mock if I ſhould pretend to the Spirit, &c.
Sol. 1. Who will mock you? thoſe that are led by the Divel; wicked, graceleſs, The fourth prejudice removed.ungodly men.
2. All that will live godly in Chriſt Jeſus, muſt ſuffer perſecution.
3. If ye be reproached for the Name of Chriſt, happy are ye, for the Spirit of glory and of Chriſt reſteth upon you, 1 Pet. 4. 14.
Secondly, if you would come to partake of the Spirit, you muſt not then reſiſt We muſt not reſiſt the ſpirit.the Spirit: Ye ſtiffnecked and uncircumciſed in heart and ears, ye do alwayes reſ…ſt the Holy Ghoſt, Acts 7. 51.
Men reſiſt the Spirit two wayes.
1. When they will not hearken unto, nor regard the counſel and commands of the Spirit delivered in the Word, but ſet themſelves againſt them, and oppoſe, and How the ſpiri… is reſiſted.deſpiſe them.
2. When they will not receive the offers and motions of the Spirit, but harden their hearts againſt them, and quench them, and will not give way or enterance unto them. Now take heed of this, when the Spirit of God is knocking at your hearts, and ſtirs your hearts to accept of him, and of his graces, (which he is willing and ready to work in you) by no means neglect them, or ſlight them, but lay hold of them preſently, as one of the greateſt mercies that God is intending toward you; bleſs him, and cheriſh them, and beſeech him to go on with his work on your ſouls; do▪ not reject any work of the Spirit, neither grieve him by neglecting his good motions: Prov. 1. 23. Turn you at my reproof, behold, I will poure out my Spirit unto you, I will make known my works unto you, my Spirit ſhall not alwayes ſtrive with man.
Thirdly, If you would come to partake of the ſpirit, then you muſt pray the We muſt pray for the ſpirit.Lord to give you his ſpirit, you muſt thirſt after him, and ſeek for him: Iſa. 44. 3. I will poure water upon him that is thirſty, and floods upon the dry ground; I will poure my Spirit upon thy ſeed, and my bleſſing upon thy off-ſpring. Luke 11. 13. Your heavenly Father will give the ſpirit to them that ask him. What a promiſe is this to encourage any man ſenſible of the want of the ſpirit, to pray unto God! Jeſus Chriſt aſſures him that if he will ask for the Holy Spirit, he ſhall have him.
Object. But who can pray unleſs he hath the Spirit firſt?
Sol. I grant that the ſpirit muſt make you ſenſible of the want of the ſpirit, and he muſt ſtir up your hearts to pray for him; there is ſome degree of the ſpirits preſence in ſtirring us up to pray for theſe; but then if you would fully enjoy the ſpirit, you muſt poure out you hearts, &c.
Fourthly, You muſt attend the Preaching of the Goſpel; the Goſpel is called Attend upon the Miniſtry o… the Word.the Miniſtry of the Spirit 2 Cor. 3. 6. And you read that whiles Peter was Preaching the Word un…o Cornelius and the reſt, the Holy Ghoſt came upon them, Act. 10 44. Whiles Peter yet ſpake theſe words, the Holy Ghoſt fell on all them which heard the Word: So Gal. 3. 2. Received ye the Spirit by the works of the Law, or by the hearing of faith! They received the ſpirit upon the hearing of the Goſpel which is the word of faith: You read that a…l the works of the ſpirit, and all the graces of the ſpirit, and all the joyes and comforts of the ſpirit are let into us by the Word; by that the ſpirit is pleaſed to convey himſelf.
Firſt, His works: He enlightens our minds by the Word, he convinceth us of He enlightens our minds by the Word.ſin by the Word; I had not known ſin, except, &c. Rom. 7. He humbles our hearts by the Word; When they heard theſe things they were pricked in their hearts, &c. Acts 2 37.
Secondly, His graces: Faith is by hearing, Rom. 10 17. ſo is Love, Patience, Repentance, &c.
Thirdly, His comforts: Thy Word hath quickened me, and thy Word hath comforted me.
By the Word men are Regenerated, brought into Chriſt, are made new creatures, &c.
Queſt. What is this walking, and keeping, and doing, concerning which you ſpeak A twofold walking, &c.to us, which you ſay concerns Gods people in Covenant?
Sol. There is a twofold walking, keeping, doing &c.
Firſt, One is Legal, which is the ſt…ict and exact, and punctual full obedience unto, or obſervation of the Commandements of God in every part, point, and Apex, and Jota as to all ſorts of duties in all the meaſures of it, without the leaſt breach or defect, in the whole courſe of a mans life; a continuance of all the things that are written to do them, as the Apoſtle ſpeaks, Gal. 3. Thus none can walk, none can keep, none can do them; For
1. Grace is imperfect in every man (We know but in part, &c.) and if grace be imperfect, obedience cannot be exactly full.
2. No man but hath ſin in him, and doth ſin; In many things we offend all; and every ſin is tranſgreſſion of the Law; and where there is any tranſgreſſion, there is not a perfect keeping.
3. The beſt are juſtified in and by Chriſt; wherein 1. His Righteouſneſs is imputed. 2ly For his ſake their ſins are pardoned; which needed not, if any man could perfectly fulfill and keep the Law.
Secondly, The other is Evangelical, whereunto four things do concur;What is evangelical doing, &c.
1. A ſetting up of the Law and Will of God, as the Rule to inſtruct and guide us in the whole courſe of the actions of our life: Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my paths, Pſal. 119. 105. marking what it commands to be done, and to be obſerved by us.
2. An endeavour to conform all our Actions unto the Rule, making conſcience of all that is commanded us of God, an ordering of our converſations and ſteps according to the Word: Pſal. 119. In precepts not to be careleſs and negligent, though of the leaſt duty. In Prohibitions, not to be venterous, though on the leaſt ſin: Simile. But as the Iſraelites followed the Cloud of fire, moved when it moved, ſtayed when it ſatyed; ſo ſhould we put on to anſwer every command of God, and refrain upon every prohibition of God.
3. A walking and obeying in the Evangelical manner, or a performance of all duties in that Goſpel manner as is required we ſhould perform them.
1. Cordially: Affections ſhould come into our duties; not only do the will How we ſhould perform Goſpel duties.of God, but delight therein: I delight to do thy will O my God, Pſal. 40.
2. Impartially without exception: There muſt be a reſpect unto all Gods commands, and a hatred of every evil way.
3. Reſolutely: I and my houſe will ſerve the Lord, ſaid Joſhua. I have ſworn and will perform it, that I will keep thy righteous judgements, ſaid David.
4. Conſtantly: The ſtatutes of God muſt be our path in which we walk; we muſt not begin, and then grow weary and break off, but hold on our courſe againſt all the temptations of the world, and of Satan, and of our own fleſh, though ſtrugling, and backward.
5. Sincerely with uprightneſs of heart: I have walked before thee in truth and with a perfect heart, ſaid Hezekiah. This may be diſcovered thus.
1. If a man loſe not the tenor of his deſire and purpoſe, though in many things he fails, yet he holds his purpoſe to walk in Gods ſtatutes, and if at any time Signs of ſincerity.we ſlip, or ſtep aſide, we muſt ſpeedily return to the path of life, the old and good way.
2. If real endeavours accompany and ſecond his deſires; I would obey, and I ſtrive to obey.
3. If he attends the means to ſtrengthen both deſires and endeavours.
4. A right ſcope in all our duties: Not to merit ſalvation, not to ſeek juſtification, not to make amends to God for our former evil wayes, not to ſet up our ſelves as to our own praiſe; But
1. For Gods glory; whatſoever we do, it muſt be done out of love to God, and for the glory of God.
2. For our own ſalvation: work out your own ſalvation, as a means, not as a cauſe.
3. For the good and benefit of others.
Ezek. 36. 27.
And cauſe you to walk in my ſtatutes, and you ſhall keep my judgements and do them.
IN theſe words you have two parts conſiderable.
1. A work or duty laid out for all the people in Covenant with God. [They are to walk in his ſtatutes, and to keep his judgements, and to do them.]
2. A help promiſed unto them, to enable them for that work and ſervice (I will put my Spirit within you, and cauſe you (or according to the Original, Quo faciam) by whom I will cauſe, or make you to walk in my ſtatutes, &c.)
The work or duty which belongs to the people of God, is ſet forth in divers Metaphorical expreſſions, as walking in Gods ſtatutes; which notes the path of their ſteps, and the Rule of their converſation and work, likewiſe the progreſſive courſe of their obedience, and keeping of his judgements; By the judgements of God are meant his commands; and by the keeping of them, two things are implyed: 1. To make them dear unto us, to lay them up as our treaſure, as a precious part of the will of God: And then 2ly To conform our ſelves unto them, to ſubmit unto them as to our Rule, to live up unto them; Servare, & obſervare, &c.
And doing of them; This expeſſion I conceive to be the explication of the two former, and it notes real and practical obedience unto Gods ſtatutes and judgements.
From all this, there are two Propoſitions, unto which I deſire briefly to ſpeak unto. viz.
1. That an obediential obſervation of Gods ſtatutes and judgements (or Laws, or Commandements) is required of people in Covenant with God.
2. That the people of God are to make progreſs, to proceed on, to perſevere all their dayes, all their journey, in an obediential walking in Gods ſtatutes.