The Parable of the Ten Virgins, Part 1 · Chapter 20 · Section 4
SECT. IV.
IV. Fulness of the Spirit it self, in the room of Satan.
I Shall not speak here either concerning that fulness of the Spirit in extraordinary gifts, spoken of frequently in the Acts; nor yet of that Fulness of the Spirit which some Christians that the Lord sets apart to do and suffer more for him, shall receive more than others. For Iohn 14. 17. the Disciples had the Spirit, and yet Christ promiseth to send them the Spirit. And Stephen was a man full of Faith and the Holy Ghost, Acts 6. 8. And Barnabas Acts 11. 14. was a good man full of Faith and the Holy Ghost. But I shall speak of that Spirit which is in every Believer, without which we are not Christs; Rom. 8. 9. And this is that Spirit which is opposite to the evil Spirit, the Prince of darkness, which possesseth with craft and power all the souls of the sons of men, who doth not only encamp about men, 1 Pet. 5. 7, 8. Nor only work within them, Eph. 1. 2, 3. but he inhabiteth and dwelleth in men. He doth not only take men captive, 2 Tim. 2. 26. but he dwells in and possesseth the souls of his Captives, Luke 11. 21. And though he doth depart for a time, yet, v. 26. They return and dwell there. Now in the room of this, come… Gods Spirit, who v. 22. is said to be stronger than Satan, which cannot be meant but of Christs Spirit: That as 'tis with a man whose heart is turned from the Lord, he is not left only to be carried by the power of his sin, but by the power of Satan also. So when the whole soul is turned unto him, the Lord leaves not the soul to be carried along by the power of his own Grace or Faith, but the Spirit it self fills and acts that soul. And as the soul was carried by the mighty power of Satan before, 'tis now carried by the Almighty power of the Spirit it self, Hence 1 Pet. 1. 5. Kept by the mighty power of God through Faith. And hence Acts 26. 18. Turned from the power of Satan, not to duties, but to God himself, i. e. the Spirit of God, and so to close with him.
What is this Spirit which the Saints have?Quest.
I shall express my self in these three Conclusions.Answ.
1. That if Adam had stood,Conclu. 1. he and all his posterity should have had that powe… and presence, and constant assi…tance of the Spirit of God, as that they should never have fallen, nor have been able to fall in respect of the assistance of the Spirit: He should have been green all the year long, his Blossom should not have been blasted, his fruit should never have withered. And the ground is the Rule of Justice; for if he falling, all his posterity are forsaken of God, and under the reign of sin, and death and Satan, Rom. 5. 18, 21. Then he standing, all his posterity should have had the everlasting presence of God, and should have bin under the reign of the Spirit of Grace & life. Thus also the Covenant ran, do and live.
2. That the Lord Jesus the second Adam standing and rising in the room ofConclu. 2. all his people, hence he doth convey and prop…gate to all his posterity the immutable and constant assistance and presence of his Spirit, whereby being once begotten of him, & called to him, they never afterward depart from him. And though weak in themselves, yet assisted by this Spirit, do not, cannot depart wickedly again. The Lord Jesus having stood, they cannot fall, because by vertue of his standing they have this presence of the Holy Ghost, Iohn 14. 19. Because I live; you shall live also. John 6. 57. As the living Father sent me, and I live by him, &c. Christ standing next to the Father, lives by him; we standing next to Christ, live as infallibly by him. And I say the ground is Christs standing. For though there be many reasons why the Saints can never fall from Christ, as the Spirit of Grace, Covenant of Grace, Intercession of Christ, yet the main ground is Christs standing without the least fall from the fulfilling of the first Covenant, which we having the first moment of believing kept in Christ, hence the Spirit is given, and the Covenant of Grace, of strength. And hence Rom. 5. 21. & v. 17, 18. And hence the Spirit is said to dwell in Believers, Rom. 8. 11. And we are the Temples of the Spirit, whether he dwell in them in his person personally, the well is here deep, but he dwells in the… so as he never ceaseth assisting of them, so that they cannot depart from the Lord again; hence Isa. 59. 21. My Spirit shall not depart from thy Seed. Iohn 14. 'Tis called the Spirit that abides for ever. It knits the soul to the Lord, and keeps it so for ever: Never suffers that love-knot to be untied again. When the soul is weak, the Spirit helps him, when careless of it self, the Spirit keeps him, though the soul offers to run from the Lord, yet this Spirit follows him; though he grieves the Spirit, yet this Spirit still keeps his own house, will not depart from him; and so not suffer the soul to depart from the Lord. And this is the reason why the Saints never fall from the Lord, though they have weak Grace, poor beginnings, many sins, and Adam stood no…, though with the perfect Image of God upon him, because he had not this Spirit yet given; though he had the Spirit of God, yet not this Spirit, which some call the Spirit of Adoption given to him, because he had not fulfilled the first Covenant, which we in Christ have, which is not only the ground of our never falling, but of assurance we shall never fall. For what breaks a mans peace after Faith? Apparition of sin in the Conscience: What makes that terrible? The Law. Now when I see in Christ, I have kept all things in the Law, not only the cry and accusations of the Law and …in are stilled, but also there ariseth a holy boldness and confidence and joy, even before the face of an angry God, Eph. 3. 12. And as soul and body are ever knit, so here, &c.
3. This Spirit thus assisting,Concl. 3. no unregenerate man ever hath. I speak not now of keeping the soul from falling from Grace, but from Christ.
1. Because the Spirit of Satan fills them, he is the strong man that keeps the Palace, under whose Kingdom and power they are; and therefore this Spirit which destroyes the Kingdom of Satan is not in them.
2. Because this was a Pre…ogative that Adam had not, though he had great Gifts and Glory otherwise: So this is not the Gift which is given unto them.
3. Because this ariseth, and therefore is given because Christ stood, and therefore those he never stood for, rose for, suffered for, never have it.
4. Therefore we shall see in experience, take the best Professors living, though they may come, as they and others judged, to the Lord, and follow the Lord, yet they will in time depart, somtime outwardly, Iohn 6. 64. There be some of you that believe not. See them, v. 66. And why did th…y depart? It was not given them of the Fa…her. The Spirit never was given effectually to draw them, nor yet to keep them.
I… not outwardly, at le…t inwardly; and hence Hypocrites though they have marvellous affections unto Christ, and so have spoke of him and commended him, and seemed to be carried above all creatures and duties toward him, yet himself and his mercy, and his blood, becomes a common thing to them, and his knowledge and promise; common: and hence they slight and loath him, and mourn not for it, and so are so far from being kept close unto Christ, as that they are nearer the unpardonable … then him. But all they have is like Io…ahs gourd, which suddenly riseth, but there is a Worm at the root, that pulls it down again: And so their love dies to Ministers that Christ sent; and to his Truth and Ordinances.
But if the Spirit doth thus,Quest. Who then shall be saved? for who is there that departs not?
When I say the Spirit doth so assist the faithful,Answ. as that they never depart: The meaning is not, as though the soul should now never fall into any more sin or unbelief, for what do the Saints more complain of then their backslidings, Isa. 63. 17. Heb. 12. 1. Saints hearts are no sooner raised up, but their weights grow heavy and press them down; no sooner do they walk in the way, but they begin to fall off: But when I say so, I say three things. 1. Their whole heart never departs. 2. They do not depart for ever. 3. Though they do depart from the Lord, yet the Spirit doth not depart from them; as it is in common reason, the same thing may go either in a straight or crooked line to the same point. As a River may run in a straight or crooked line to the Sea. So the Saints, their springs (their hearts) being set a running after the Lord, though they do not follow him in a straight line, so as never to depart to the right hand or left; yet they are so kept by the Spirit that they are continually making after him, cleaving to him; though with many crooked windings of their hearts, this way and that way from the Lord. And therefore as it is in a wheel, it stands bent for such an end, yet …uns at one side, but is turned by the skill of him that guides it into the way again, and so let it run the m…n is with it: So 'tis here. And because somthing is like this in Hypoc…ites, I shall endeavour to cut the thread.
I. Their whole hearts never do nor can depart from the Lord, all th…ir sins and departings are against their new nature, which the Lord hath given them. Its against the grain, which as it agravates their sin▪ so it shews the difference between their sins and the sins of other men; they may be drawn aside, but its against their wills, or if so, yet against the bent of their hearts, which is set toward the Lord, and Sion-ward▪ they may be carried captive against their wills, as Paul complained he was, and made his moan to heaven of it; or if with their wills, yet it is against the active bent of their wills, which inclines them another way, 1 Iohn 3. 9. They cannot sin, because the seed remains in them; so that they cannot sin with their whole hearts, nor depart from Christ with their whole hearts: As it is with a Woman, though her Husband hath her whole heart, yet there is much we…kness and sin mixt with this love; So that whatever unkindness she shew…, it is not with her whole heart, but against it, and hence she is no… cast off: So much more here. Or as it is with the unregenerate man possessed by Satan, though he may forsake many sinful courses, take up many duties, despise the World, yet it is not with his whole heart: And hence he is pulled back like a Bird by the leg, Satan having an end of his heart, and he that is unholy and un…le… will be so still. So … contra: As 'tis with a stone, cast it up its against the … of it, because the nature of it is to rest in the Center, and hence it comes down again. It is not by internal bent, but by external vis or force: So sin and Sa…n being cast out, though they work in the soul, yet they are external Agents, (it is not I, but sin) and hence it is against the bent. The whole soul therefore never departs from the Lord Jesus, but the Spirit keeps it there. As 'tis in the body of a …, he grows sick and inclines toward a dissolution or consumption, and operations are hindred, and little delight in any thing, yet the soul and body are not yet parted wholly hereupon, for even then they are kept close▪ So though the heart may depart and incline towards consumption and death, and little can the soul do but lie still and grieve, yet the union between the Spirit and the …oul once made, is never broken. For as the whole soul departed and made dis-union, so the whole soul returning makes the union. And hence if ever after the whole soul should depart, the union should be broken; and hence look on a Christian when he is himself, he cannot stir, nor depart; partly by a spirit of fear, Ier. 32. 40. Like a man in a Ship, he cannot cast himself into Sea, it makes him tremble to think, what if I should fall in, and hence keeps close in the Ship, what-ever …orms come, what-ever calms come, for he sees death before him. Oh the loss of Christ and his fellowship hereafter, nay here, is dreadful to him: Partly by a Spirit of love, it constrains us, that when the heart sometime ca…es not for Christ, yet the Spirit of love springs up: Shall I now leave him that pitied me, That brought me a Pardon, when my neck was on the block, &c.
II. When he doth depart by reason of some evil in his heart, yet 'tis not ever, but he must return …ooner or later to him again, it was best with him then. For look as 'tis with Satan, How doth he carry the heart from God? You shall see it in Iudas, John 13. He stands at the door and knocks by a sinful thought liked of, vers. 2. Then he enters the house by causing the will to resolve of it. He doth not carry men like those Herds of …wine against their wills, but prevails with the Will to resolve thus, vers. 27. Hereupon Satan having a Commission carries him out, and he must needs go whom the Devil drives; so 'tis here, the Spirit in recalling the soul will have him come back. 1. P…s in secret sweet living thoughts again, and makes the soul consider and remember from whom 'tis fallen, or who the Lord is. 2. Then causeth the will to resolve of a return, and then he must go whom the Spirit draws, Psal. 63. 6. David remembers the Lord on his bed, though now driven from all Ordinances▪ Hence vers. 7.Under thy shadow I will rejoyce▪ Hence vers. 8. My soul followeth hard after thee, or, cleaves to thee. But David was weak and feeble, how came he to do this? Thy hand vers. 8. upholdeth me. Look as it was with Sampson, when his locks were cut, he was like other men, and was made to grinde, but they grew again, and then he was like himself again: So when the affections and hearts to Christ are cut, they are like other men for a time; but they are continually coming and growing again, and then they are like themselves again. And I say they must return, for when the Spirit carries a man indeed, there is a necessity put upon him, Acts 4. 20. We cannot but spe…k the things we have heard; and 2 Cor. 13. 8. We can do nothing against, but for the truth. For here we shall see the broad difference between a convicted Hypocrite that knows all is amiss with him and the Saints: He …ees his falls from the Lord, and is afraid in his Conscience of Misery if he doth not return, and desires and endeavours for to do it; but what if it be hard? and it seem impossible to be better? Now he falls down and thinks this is an infirmity which God will pardon, and so Satan conquers him; I say again, not temptation, but Satan conquers him: For then a man is conquered, when faith is conquered, 1 Iohn 5. 4. then Faith is conquered, when returning to Christ with the whole heart is conquered; the whole heart returns not until a mans will resolves by being … with a necessity of a return and staying there. Now therefore the Spirit of God puts the soul upon a necessity of returning to the Lord, that when the heart …aith, It cannot be that ever your heart should be better, or the Lord help; it must be saith the soul again, and it is so, I am not able to bear this evil, for mercy must help, and Spirit must draw, and hence the soul must come, Psal. 42. 7, 8. The soul thinks mercy can and is willing, but will it? Why the Lord commands it, when one waye calls in for another, mercy must step in, and hence my prayer is to thee. Now this necessity of return to the Lord appears chiefly in breaking down all oppo…tions against its return; which are four.
1. Sometime snares of the world and other things beside. The Lord easeth them, the Lord sends no crosses, gives them their hearts desire, under which Vines they rest, yet if the Lord takes not all from them, he puts such a cloyedness in them, that the soul cannot but return to the Lord again, it cannot live on such course bread, things that satisfie not, it had better once, Eccles. 2. 3, 4, 11.
2. Fears and discouragements of spirit, for when deli…vered from snares, then fears come, and discouragements, either by reason of outward losses or the Lords anger: So that the soul fears it never had, never shall have any mercy, that hath thus abused it; and it hath thought God himself to say so, and his behaviour in not hearing and helping in so long a time, to witness so: Yet it will return, though the Lord never save it; it will not sin: Ionah yet looks again to the Temple, when he could not come to it, yet he would look to it. The soul will turn up its eyes and mourn; Oh that I have so abused the Lord and mercy! that Love it self should be angry and frown! Psal. 77. The Psalmist refused to be comforted, v. 2. Nay, v. 3. Though he remembred God, and all his love past, yet troubled, this brought greater trouble, yet v. 10. I'le remember the years of the right hand of the most High. Saul did not thus.
3. Thoughts of impossibility and unlikelihood to get peace or pardon, or victory over sin now. For somtime the Saints think, the Lord loves me, and yet lets these evils lie here, but I can get no help now, especially if after many prayers. I know help against all sins they cannot get, and hence are humbled, but against them sins that help can be got, wherein the Lord hath done it for others, and which make the Lord estrange himself it must be had (for this temptation to a Saint is an Hypocrites overthrow) Psal. 18. 21, 22, 23. If earth cannot help, cannot Heaven? What, not the Spirit, Word, Bloud, Mercy, of a render-hearted Redeemer? What though not now? yet I will not give him over.
4. When Gods Providence seems to …ross his Promise, yet they will cleave to him or return to him. For many times Saints have their estates in the Bonds of Gods Promises, and hence they wait for accomplishment of them; but the Lord carries it quite cross to his promise to their seeming. He promiseth to make alive, to comfort, to sanctifie, to be with me; and he kills, sads, lets out sin, never such a heart, and forsakes me. Oh now Faith shakes! yet they will not away, Heb. 11. 15, 16. The Lord calls them to forsake their Countrey; Abraham is a stranger there, and that among Cut-throat …, and dwells in Tabernacles, and four hundred years after, his posterity being afflicted should … in; yet he would not return, though they might, God had said here, I'le blesse thee, so here. The murmuring Israelites fell short of this.
III. Whenever the soul doth depart, yet the Spirit of God is ever in it and with it, Psal. 73. 2. The Psalmist almost fell. Why did he not? Thou art ever with me, thy hand v. 23. hath upheld me. So that as the Spirit keeps the soul to Christ, so it keeps Christ in the soul at all times. And hence Saints in the closure of all their dealings with God, and he with them, they have seen his love, working good in all; that now the Soul can say, lo the Lord was here, and I kn…w it not , Isa. 25. 9, 10. That the soul admires somtimes, and hence after all sees the Lord more clearly and fully and sweetly, till at last it sees him in Glory. … you see the Spirit that follows Saints is with them, which the world wants. Oh admire at the Lord, if this Spirit be given, that Heaven is come down into … That no …, no sins can part, but its ever putting thee in thy way again. Hence when
…. They are ready to quite fall off, and give themselves for gone, ready to be made away by temptation, or to make away themselves, the Lord is with them then, Psal. 94. 18. At the time of parting, love appears.
2. Hence when they are somtime so far gone, as that they mind not their return, or believe not, as in the wilde…ess, but are well enough without the Lord, the Lord before they think or desire, prevents them, Psal. 23. 6. Mercy and Truth followes me.
3. Hence when they think the Lord is provoked that he cannot save, then he is in the midst of his people, Ier. 14. 11. Why art thou as a man astonied that cannot save?
4. Hence at the end of life, all the waies of God have been peace, and all ou… waies, though sorrowful, though evil, turned for good; as in Ionas his depar… ing; and by miseries we are yet humbled; somthing the Lord is doing now for Eternity, Micah 7. 8. Though I sit in darknesse, the Lord will be a light unto me.
5. Hence when the heart and strength fail, and Faith is failing, and the heart feels nothing but pain, yet the Lord then keeps, and this is comfort, Psal. 63. 26.
Consider therefore your estare, that
1. Do depart with your whole heart from the Lord. Hath not the Lord bowed thy heart toward himself, by mercies, by blows? But when sorrows have been past, and mercies grown common, and truth common, thou hast started back like a broken bow which was bent backward, when stretched forward. And now when God calls to any duty, especially when thy will and ends are crossed, that is a burden, and thou art drawn to that as a Fish to the dry land. It is like a Feaver-fit to thee, and never mournest for this. But when any matter of gain and world is presented, all thoughts, time, strength is too little there, that you smell of the field; or if there be any life or joy, yet the lean kine eat up the fat kine. Nay, mournest not under that cursed bent which carries thee from the Lord. Know it, thou art forsaken of the Lord.
2. That in times past had many affections, but now sorrow is gone, and seeking of the Lord gone; and being f…llen, seest it not, but thinkest 'tis with thee as with other Christians, hast only the old work past, and some new pangs now and then Why is it thus? Ier. 8. 4, 5. Will you fall and not arise? Wilt let the Lord turn from you, and not return? Doth the Stork know when winter is near, and not you your season? Oh look to it! What are you fallen with a perpetual backsliding? Why will you not return, but go away with a perpetual backsliding? Know Satan hath hold of this soul.
3. You people of God, wonder you at this Grace: Let your experience prove it. Is it not so, that a Habitation of Devils should be a House of the Spirit of God, not to sojourn, but dwell there, and though abused, vexed, yet it will not depart.