The Practical Christian, Tract · Chapter 4
CHAP. IV. The Third Head, the Spirit of God, called the Holy Ghoſt.
IN, and about him, to meditate on theſe things; First, What he is. Secondly What his Offices. Thirdly, What ſigns you have of the Spirit's Inhabitation. 4. Motives to get him. 5. Means to procure him; and 6. The means to preſerve and increaſe communion with him.
Firſt, What the Spirit of God, or the Holy Ghoſt is, viz. the Third Perſon in the ſacred Trinity, proceeding from the Father and the Son. And here to take notice of three things; Firſt, That he is a diſtinct Perſon from the Father and the Son, and the Third Perſon in Sacred Trinity, 1 Epiſt. John 5.7. Secondly, That he is true and very God, as well as the Father and the Son, as is evident; 1. By teſtimony of the Scripture, Acts 5.3, 4. Why hath Satan filled thy heart to lie unto the Holy Ghoſt? thou haſt not lied unto man, but God: 2. By Reaſon, 1. Becauſe He is the Author, and Inditer of the Scripture, Acts 28.25. 2 Pet. 1.21. 2. Becauſe the Scripture aſcribes thoſe Attributes to him, that are proper to God, as Eternity, Heb. 9.14. Omniſciency, 1 Cor. 2.10. Omnipreſency, Pſal. 139.17. Omnipotency, 2 Tim. 2.7. Iſaiah 11.2. Thirdly, Becauſe thoſe works are applied to him, which are proper to God, as Creation, Gen. 1.2. and Conſervation, Job 33.4. Pſal. 33.6. Regeneration, and Sanctification, John 3.6. 1 Cor. 12.6. Fourthly, Becauſe the divine worſhip is given to him, as Mat. 28.19. Go Baptize them in the Name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghoſt. Therefore true and very God.
Thirdly, That he proceeds from the Father and the Son, is evident, John 15.26. and hence he is call'd the Spirit of God, Rom. 8.11. and the Spirit of the Son, Rom. 8.9. and ſo much the word foreign ſignifies, becauſe he is ſpired, or breathed from them, as you may ſee further, John 16.14, 15.
Secondly, To meditate on the Offices of the Spirit, and theſe either reſpect Chriſt, his Word, or his Church; Firſt, For thoſe reſpecting Chriſt, they are theſe; Firſt, The Spirit formed Chriſt's humane nature in the Womb of the Virgin Mary, Luke 1.35, 36. Secondly, The Holy Ghoſt anointed Jeſus Chriſt, as he was Man with gifts, and graces, and that without meaſure, and having thus conſecrated him, and furniſhed him with gifts, for the great office and work of a Mediator, he with God the Father ſent him into the World, for the accompliſhing that work, Iſai. 61.1. and 11.2. Acts 10.38. John 3.34. John 1.32. Thirdly, The Holy Ghoſt deſcending from Heaven, and reſting upon him viſibly in the ſhape of a Dove. did publickly ſhew him, and Seal him in his Baptiſm, Mat. 3.16. Fourthly, The Holy Ghoſt witneſſeth that Jeſus Chriſt, who was crucified, was the Son of God, the true Meſſiah, Act. 5.31.32. He witneſſeth alſo to the Doctrin of Chriſt's Reſurrection, in which he was declared mightily to be the Son of God, Rom. 1.4.
Secondly, For the Offices of the Spirit, in, and about the Word of God, take notice, firſt, 'twas He inſpir'd holy Men of God with the mind, and will of God, infallibly dictated it unto them, and guided them in the penning, or writing of it, 2 Pet. 1.20. Acts 1.16. Mark 12 36. Heb. 9.8.
Fourthly, He quickens the Word, ſo as to make it effectual to quicken dead Souls: without Him 'tis but a dead and a killing Letter, John 6.63. He makes it quick and lively in operation, to the dividing between the Soul and the Spirit, the Joynts and the Marrow, the ſearching-out, and diſcovering the ſecrets of the heart, Heb. 4.12. 1 Cor. 2.4. 2 Cor. 10.4, 5. It is he that ſpeaketh by it to the Churches, Revel. 2.7. Revel. 3.22. Rev 14 13.
Thirdly, His Offices, in reſpect of the Church and People of God, theſe are either common to all, or peculiar to the Elect; Firſt, For thoſe common to all, they are ſuch as theſe; Firſt, To give life, and preſerve life in all, Job 33.4. Pſ. 139.14, 15. Secondly, To beſtow gifts, and abilities on men, for their particular callings, and functions, both ſacred and civil, as 1 Sam. 11.6. Judges 11.29. 1 Cor. 12.9, 10. Mat. 7.22. Thirdly, Reſtraining-grace, whereby they are kept from many evils, which they would otherwiſe run into, as Abimelech, Gen. 20.6. Fourthly, To act and over-act all the gifts, and parts, and power of men to his own glory, and the good of his Church and People, Zach. 4.6.
Secondly, For thoſe that are peculiar to the Elect, they are ſuch as theſe: Firſt, To unite them unto Chriſt their head, and the myſtical Body of Chriſt the Church, 1 Cor. 12.13. 1 Cor. 6.17. Secondly, To inhabit or dwell in them, as his Houſe, and …emple, Rom 8.11. 1 Pet. 4.17. Thirdly, To illuminate them with the ſaving, ſanc…i…ing, experimental knowledge of God in Chriſt, John 16.13. Fourthly, To convince them of ſin, righteouſneſs, and judgment, John 16.8. Firſt, Of Sin, particularly the ſins of unbelief, and diſobedience to the Goſpel, that This is … which lays them open to the wrath of God, in Life and Death, and after Death, John 3. laſt. Mark 16.16. Secondly, Of righteouſneſs, how that there is none in them to make them ſtand acceptable in the ſight of God, the Garment of their own righteouſneſs, and good works is a Garment too ſhort to cover their nakedneſs: their own righteouſneſs is but as a filthy Rag, but the righteouſneſs of Chriſt that is a perfect righteouſneſs, ſuch as God accepts for poor ſinners, and makes them ſtand ſo righteous in God's ſight, as if they had never ſinned; this appears, in that Chriſt is gone to the Father, which he could not have done, if he had not fulfilled all righteouſneſs. Thirdly, Of Judgment, how that he has judged and condemned the Serpent and his Seed, the Devil, and the wicked World, ſo as they ſhall never prevail againſt his Elect, Mat. 16.18. The Gates of Hell ſhall not prevail againſt it; and that there is true and ſound judgment to be found only in the Chriſtian Religion, and not in any Idolatrous and falſe Religion; and that Chriſt hath the government of his Church upon his own Shoulders, and all that ſubject and ſubmit unto his Government, ſhall by it, judg and condemn, at laſt, the wicked World, 1 Cor. 6.1. Fifthly, To humble them under, and mortifie in them the deeds of the Fleſh, Rom. 8.13. Sixthly, To quicken them with ſpiritual Life, Rom. 8.11. Regenerate and ſanctifie them, John 3.5. and Evidence it to them, 1 Cor. 6.11. Seventhly, To help them in, and under all their infirmities in duty, Rom. 8.26. John 14.26. Eighthly, To direct, and guide them in all their ways, Rom. 8.14. Pſal. 143.10. Ninthly, To ſupport, and comfort them in all their ſorrows, and ſufferings, Rom. 5.5. John 4.26. Tenthly, To witneſs to their Spirits, that they are the Children of God, Rom. 8.16. Eleventhly, To Seal them up to the Day of Redemption, Eph. 4.30. Eph. 1.13. Twelfthly, To be the earneſt and firſt fruits of their Eternal Salvation, Eph. 1.14. Rom. 8.23. Laſtly, To confirm, ſtrengthen, and eſtabliſh them in every good word and work to the end, Eph. 1.13. Eph. 4.12, 13. Again,
Thirdly, To take notice of, and meditate on the Evidences you have of the receiving, and indwelling of the Spirit of God in you, becauſe, If any have not the Spirit, he is none of Chriſt's, Rom. 8.9. 1 Ep. John 4.13. Hereby we know he dwells in us, and we in him, by the Spirit which he hath given us, 1 John 3.24. Q. But how may we know that we have receiv'd the Spirit, and that he dwells in us? A. Thus, 1. By the way, and means, in and by which he is given, and receiv'd; and that is the Miniſtry of the Word, Acts 10.44. Whilſt Peter ſpake, the Holy Ghoſt fell on thoſe that heard him; and hence the Miniſtry of the Goſpel is call'd the Miniſtry of the Spirit, 2 Cor. 3.6. and Men are ſaid to receive the Spirit, by the hearing of Faith, Gal. 3.2. Secondly, You may know you have the Spirit by this, if you can finde the foregoing acts, and operations of the Spirit, upon the hearts of the Elect: If he be an enlightening, enlivening, mortifying, ſanctifying, quickning, ſtrengthning, and eſtabliſhing Spirit in you, as you know you have life, by your breathing, moving, walking; ſo you may know you have the Spirit of God, if he breathe and move in you, and enable you to walk in the ways of God's Commandments; more eſpecially by this, if you find him to be a ſpirit of ſanctification in you, to ſanctifie you throughout in your whole man, and in your whole Converſation; for He is a Spirit of Holineſs, Rom. 1.4. and ſanctifieth all his, 1 Cor. 6.11. ſo, as with David, to hate every falſe way, and have reſpect to every command of God, Pſ. 119.6.12.8. Thirdly, You may know it by this, if you be careful not to quench the Spirit, 1 Theſ. 5.19. or grieve the Spirit, Eph. 4.30. but heedfully to hearken to his Voice, Iſai. 30.21. and follow his guidance, Rom. 8.14. Gal. 5.25. Fourthly, By this, if you go wholly out of your ſelves in every duty, and enter upon it, as, in the name of Chriſt, ſo, by the ſtrength of his Spirit, as you are exhorted, Eph. 6.10. and David did, Pſal. 71.16. Fourthly, If you find that you have not yet received the Spirit, then to meditate on the many, and weighty motives there are, to quicken you to labour after the Spirit. I will but name a few, drawn from the Neceſſity, and the Utility of it.
1. There is an abſolute Neceſſity of having the Spirit of God, and that in theſe two reſpects. 1. Becauſe, without the Spirit of Chriſt, you can receive no grace from Chriſt, for it is the Spirit that is the ſole Author, and Worker of grace in any, therefore called the Spirit of Grace, Zach. 12.10. And the Spirit of Sanctification, Rom. 1.4. and the ſpirit of knowledge, and the fear of the Lord, Iſai. 11.2. 2. Becauſe, without the Spirit, you cannot perform any duty; ſo as to pleaſe the Lord, and to profit by it. As for inſtance, (1.) Not hear the Word, for without the Spirit, the Word is but a dead and killing Letter, 2 Cor. 3.6. It was he that opened the heart of Lydia, to attend unto what was ſpoken, ſo as to live by it, Acts 16. (2.) Not to pray effectually without the Spirit, Rom. 8.26.
2. Many and great will be the benefits that will come to you, by having the Spirit: 1. He will be a Spirit of Inhabitation to dwell in you, honour you ſo far, as to make you his Houſe and Temple, 1 Cor. 3.16. 2. He will be a Spirit of Illumination, to enlighten you with the knowledge of God's mind and will, to teach you all things, John 16.12. and bring all things to your remembrance, John 14.26. 3. A Spirit of Sanctification, Rom. 1.4. To ſanctifie you throughout, in Spirit, Soul, and Body, 1 Theſ. 5.23. To inrich you with all ſanctifying graces, Gal. 5.22. (4. A Spirit of Conſolation, to cheer up your Spirits in and under affliction, Rom. 14.17. John 14.16. (5. A Spirit of Interceſſion, teaching to pray, Rom. 8.26. (6. A Spirit of Direction, to guide you in all your ways, and lead you into all truth, Rom. 8.14. and 16.5. In a word, a Spirit of Adoption and Salvation, Rom 8.16. Epheſ. 1.13. and therefore in all theſe reſpects, to labour after the Spirit of Chriſt. But you will ſay, What muſt we do to procure this Spirit?
5. You muſt take notice of, and meditate on the means of procuring the Spirit, which are, amongſt others, theſe, 1. You are to give the Spirit the glory, that is due to him; Well then, Q. What muſt we do to procure the Spirit? A. 1. You are to give the Spirit the glory, that is due to him by acknowledging him to be true and very God, every way equal with the Father and the Son; to believe in him, and reſt on him, for illumination, ſanctification, and ſalvation, as well as the Father, and the Son: for, the ignorance and unbelief of this, our Saviour ſhews to be the cauſe, why the World receives him not, John 14.17. Secondly, You are to know and acknowledge that by nature you want the Spirit of God, and thereupon to hunger and thirſt after him: for the promiſe is, he will pour out his Spirit upon ſuch, Iſaiah 44.3. John 7 37, 38. Thirdly, You are to attend, and wait upon God in the Miniſtry of the Word, wherein the Spirit is given, Acts 10.44. Gal. 3.2. Fourthly, You are to love the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, and expreſs your love by keeping his Commandments, for Chriſt hath promiſed to give his Spirit unto ſuch, John 14.15, 16, 17. Fifthly, You are to be earneſt, and conſtant in Prayer for the Spirit, to be given in, to enlighten, and enable you to every duty God calls you to: the gift of the Spirit is, a great gift, and the greateſt next to Chriſt, his Son; too great indeed for us to ask, but not for God to give, for he delights to give, and do great things for his, and not only commands us to ask him, but makes many promiſes to incourage us, Ezek. 36.25, 26. Joel 2.28, 29. Zac. 12.10; moſt clearly, Luke 11.13. Fifthly, If you would have the Spirit, to obey the Spirit in his motions, and excitements within, and without, Iſa 30.20, 21. and take heed you do not reſiſt, grieve or quench the Spirit, Iſai. 63.10. Eph. 4.13. 1 Theſ. 5.19.
Sixthly, Having obtain'd the Spirit to take notice of, and meditate on the means you are to uſe for the preſerving, and increaſing communion with him; as, Firſt, To take heed of, and ſhun ſuch ſins, as cauſe him to depart; for inſtance, 1. Take heed of quenching the Spirit, 1 Theſ. 5.19. now the Spirit is quenched, as Fire is, either by with-drawing Fuel, or caſting-on of Water, and filth; ſo is the Spirit, when Men either neglect the means, and ſeaſons of grace, or elſe hearken unto, and cheriſh the motions of ſin, and Satan, and the World: hence that Exhortation, Iſai. 30. To hearken unto the Voice behind us, and not turn to the right hand, or to the left. Secondly, Take heed of grieving the Holy Spirit of God, Eph. 4.30. Now the Holy Spirit is grieved, as by all ſin, ſo eſpecially by open and ſcandalous ſins, ſuch as lying, diſſembling, idleneſs, rotten communication, unbridled paſſion, anger, wrath, revenge, as you may ſee clearly, Eph. 4 25. to the end. Thirdly, Take heed of reſiſting the Holy Ghoſt, which is a higher degree of ſinning, when Men and Women, not only refuſe to hearken unto the Voice of the Spirit in the Miniſtry of the Word, but even fall fowl on the Doctrines, and truths, that are taught out of the Word, and quarrel with the Miniſters for their plain, and faithful dealing with them, as the Iſraelites did with Jeremy 43.1.2. and the Jews with Stephen, Acts 5.71. Fourthly, Take heed of tempting the Holy Ghoſt, as Ananias, and Sapphira did, Acts 5.1. to the 10. Q. When do Men tempt the Holy Ghoſt, to take vengeance on them? A. You may ſee in that place, when they will profeſs, and pretend that which is not in them, as faith, and love, and obedience, (which are the moſt eminent fruits of the Spirit) and yet are wholly void of them; when Men will profeſs, and pretend they ſeek the glory of God, the publick good, the weal, and comfort of others, as well as themſelves, and yet do nothing leſs, but ſeek only their own private, Worldly, and fleſhly intereſt, care not what become of others, let them ſink or ſwim, all's one to them; and worſe than ſo, to promote their own private intereſt, will be ſtill plotting and practiſing miſchief againſt others; ſtill inſtilling prejudices, into the heads, and hearts, and tongues of others, and yet profeſs, and pretend the quite contrary. This lying and diſſembling of Profeſſors is that which tempts the Holy Ghoſt to take vengeance on them ſooner, or later, for their audacious robbing Him of thoſe glorious Attributes, of his Omnipreſency, Omniſciency, Omnipotency, and to exemplarily puniſh ſuch as dare to ſin, not only againſt the light of the Word, but the Dictates of the Holy Spirit in their Conſciences. Fifthly, Take heed of defiling his Temple, for if any Man defile the Temple of God, him will God deſtroy, 1 Cor. 3.17. Q. Who are they that do ſo? He tells you there, they are profeſſing believers: Whereby do they defile his Temple? They defile it by corrupt Doctrin, and manners, by dividing-Principles, and practiſes, cauſing Rents, and Schiſms, Parties, and Factions, as you may find they did, Verſ. 4 5. They alſo that defile their Bodies by Fornication, and Uncleanneſs, 1 Cor. 6.13, 18, 19.
Secondly, If you would hold, and maintain communion with the Spirit, as to ſhun the forenamed Evils, ſo to obſerve, and make conſcience of theſe following duties: Firſt, To hearken unto and obey the calls of the Spirit, to faith, and love, and obedience. Iſai. 30.21. Secondly, To nouriſh, and cheriſh the inward motions of the Spirit, checking for evil, and exciting to good, 1 Theſ. 5.19. Thirdly, To live in the Spirit, Gal. 5.25. That is, as we live a natural life by him, ſo to live a ſpiritual life to him, that we may be fitted to enjoy an Eternal Life with him. Fourthly, To walk in the Spirit, Gal. 5.16.25. That is, to follow the Direction of the Spirit, Verſ. 18. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, are the Children of God, Rom. 8.14. Fifthly, To enter upon, and perform all duties, in, and by the aſſiſtance of the Spirit, Eph. 6.10. To pray in the Holy Ghoſt, Jude 20. Eph. 6.18. To preach in the evidence, and demonſtration of the Spirit, 1 Cor. 2.4. To love in the Spirit, Col. 1.8. and exerciſe all Graces in the manifeſtation of the Spirit, 1 Cor. 12.7. and rejoyce in the comforts of the Spirit, Acts 9.31. Sixthly, Labour to be filled with the Spirit, Eph. 5.18. Not to content your ſelves with any meaſure of grace, but ſtill labouring to grow in grace, and gracious practiſes, 1 Cor. 15. laſt. To be filled with peace, and joy in believing, and abound in the hope of glory, through the Power of the Holy Ghoſt, Rom. 15.13. Seventhly, To preſerve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace, Eph. 4.3. that is, to endeavour it, though we cannot effect it, as we would, becauſe of the many and great remainders of corruption in the beſt, that oppoſe and obſtruct it, yet (I ſay) t… endeavour it, as the Apoſtle exhorts, Phil. 1.27. & 3.15. Laſtly, To ſow in the Spirit, Gal. 6.8. that is, lay out your ſubſtance and worldly good to ſpiritual uſes, for the maintenance of Chriſt'… Miniſtry, and Ordinances, the providing of th… Goſpel, and incouragement of others in the way of holineſs, if you refuſe to honour the Lord wit… your ſubſtance, and beſtow it only upon your ſelve… and yours, you do but ſow to the fleſh, and of th… fleſh ſhall reap corruption; but he that ſoweth … the Spirit, ſhall of the Spirit reap life everlaſting Verſ. 8. Laſtly, What grace you have receiv'… above others, or you have been enabled to exerci… above others, or good duties you have been enabled to do above others, when you have been mo… enlarged in it above others, take heed of arrogating any thing to your ſelves, remember to g… wholly out of your ſelves, and to give the Spir… the glory of his grace to you in it, as the Apoſtle, 1 Cor. 15.10. and be ſtill careful to walk the more humbly before God, and Man, Micah 6. So much of the Spirit: Nextly,