A Discourse Grounded on Proverbs, Part 2 · Section 44
Sect. XLIV.
O Bleſſed Fruit of the thrice-Bleſſed Spirit (for this was the Bleſsing of Abraham come on the Gentiles through Jeſus Chriſt,Bleſſed fruit Galat: 3:14even that We might receive the promiſe of the Spirit through Faith. The Fruit that undid us was Forbidden Fruit, Gen: 3:17Fruit againſt Law, but againſt ſuch there is no Law: chap. 2:17Man Eating of that Fruit was to die the Death, Rom. 8:2but this Spirit of Life makes us free from the Law of Death, and 6, 22▪ſo that now We have our Fruit unto Holineſs, and the end Everlaſting Life.
Sweet Fruit, may I well ſay,Sweet Fruit 2 Cor. 3:17,if Life be ſweet or Liberty (for where the Spirit of the Lord is there is Liberty) or if Peace be ſweet, or Love lovely, or Joy joyous: Or if theſe be not enough, here is Temperance, Meekneſs, Faith, Goodneſs, &c. We may ſay here (as 'tis ſaid in the Canticles) at our good are all manner of pleaſant fruits Here,Cantic. 7, 13 I am ſure, I may ſay, and not beguile my Reader, are fruits pleaſant to the Eye, Gen. 3:6and good for Food (for the Kingdom of God is not meat and drink, Rom… 14:17but Righteouſneſs, 1 Cor. 2:11and Peace, and Peace, and Ioy in the Holy-Ghoſt) and truly to be deſired to make one Wiſe, for the things of God knoweth no man but the Spirit of God, now we have received not the Spirit of this World, Verſe 12:13but the Spirit which is of God, that we may know the things that are freely given to VsUs of God, which things alſo we ſpeak not in the words which mans wiſdom teacheth, but which the Holy-Ghoſt teacheeth, comparing ſpiritual things with ſpiritual; and therefore He is called the ſpirit of Wiſdom and Revelation, Ep. 1, 17, 18that We might know the Hope of his Calling, and the Riches of the Glory of his Inheritance in the Saints:
The Fruit forementioned was of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, Geneſ. 2 …Epheſ: 5.…but the Fruit of the Spirit is in all GOODNES, Righteouſneſs, In all goodneſs & truthand TRVTH. Here is ALL Good and No Guile. So then if Goodneſs it ſelf be Good, if Righteouſneſs be Deſirable (for We through the Spirit wait for the hope of Righteouſn…ſs by Faith,)Galat. … … if Truth be amiable, for He is alſo called the Spirit of Truth, John 15:6 and 16.13and ſaid to guide into All Truth.) In a word, if according to the Riches of the Glory of God, E…heſ. 3 6We are ſtrengthened with might in the inner man by the Spirit, 2 Cor: 3… …changed into the ſame Image from Glory to glory by the ſame Spirit; If there be any Conſolation in Christ▪ Philip. 2:…or comfort of Love joyned with the fellowſhip of the Spirit; If God be a good Gueſt, (for Ye are the Temple of God if the Spirit of God dwell in you,)1 Cor: 3, 16 Or if Heaven be worth having, or that it be good for us that dwell in this Tabernacle, to be cloathed upon, 2 Cor. …5:4that Mortality might be ſwallowed up of Life, the Earnest where f is the Spirit, Surely well m…y the Fruit of the Spirit be ſaid to be in All Goodneſs.Verſe 5 As Money anſwers All things, Eccl. 1…, 19 Spirit anſwers all good thingsin temporal Reſpe…ts, ſo where one Evangeliſt ſaith, how much more ſhall your Father give good Things, &c. The other reads, How much more ſhall he give the ho y Spirit to them that ask Him, Mar. 7▪ 11 Luke 11, 13ſo that the Holy Spirit anſwers All good Things.
Drunkards qu nch this Spirit Iſaiah 28.1And here I cannot but lamen… the Drunkeneſs of our Ephraim who by abuſing good things, ſi… away the Best Thing, quenchin… the Spirit with ſtrong Drink which as it takes away mans heart ſo it keeps away Gods Spirit,2 The, 5, 19 H ſea 4, 11a Scripture ſaith,Ephe: 5▪ 18 be not drunk wit… Wine, wherein inexceſs, but be filled with the Spirit, for th…t clean Spirit can not dwell in an H…art (eſpecially) overcharged with ſurfeiting, drunkeneſs, and odious exceſs.Luke 21.38