The Spirit of Bondage and Adoption, Treatise 2 · Chapter 18
CHAP. XVIII Three other Directions, And a Caſe of Conſcience concerning the diſcerning the Motions of the Holy Spirit from tentations, and the inclination of our owne hearts.
3 TAke notice of the leaſt approaches Direct. III.of the Spirit of God to the ſoul in a witneſſing way, and follow them by Meditation and Prayer. Sometimes the witneſſe of the Spirit is not full and through to the ſatisfaction of all our doubts, yet it ſpeaks ſomething tending that way: it ſpeaks many things ſeverally and by parcels, which laid together would amount to a ful Teſtimony. Now in ſuch caſes a ſoul muſt be very watchful to take and improve the leaſt hints of the Spirit. As in an humane Teſtimony, the witneſſes that witneſſe in a caſe before a Judge, do not all ſpeak point-blank to the caſe in queſtion, but ſometimes very faintly, brokenly, and imperfectly. Now a good Judg in ſuch a caſe, doth not ſlight ſuch Teſtimonies, as come not full up to a buſineſſe, but obſerves and retaines in memory every thing that is depoſed, though very defective as to a full proof; and at laſt, what one teſtimony did not ſufficiently clear in terminis, many teſtimonyes will make up a full proof of, if laid together by a skilful and judicious Lawyer.
This Art we find the Church uſing in deſertion. Cant. 29. There ſhe diſcovers Chriſt firſt at a diſtance, leaping upon the Mountains, removing the great impediments to the manifeſtation of himſelf; ſuppoſe conquering mountainous corruptions, and mountainous temptations; ſuppoſe, deadneſſe and flatneſſe of heart in duty, &c. which looks like a mountain of ſeparation betweene Chriſt and the ſoul, ver. 8. ſhe finds her ſelf unexpectedly enlarged and opened in her addreſſes to him: Thence ſhe concludes, he is a coming, he prepares his way (as 'tis ſaid in another caſe of John) he makes every mountain and hill low. Iſai. 40. 4. and every valley he exalts, that he may make his way ſmoother; then ſhe eſpies him behind the wall, looking in through the latteſs; neerer then he was, but yet he ſtands much undiſcovered: the wall and the latteſs here (it may be) are the obſtacles of prejudice, and doubting, and diſtruſt in our own hearts, which keep us from ſeeing Chriſt clearly when he comes to us; but yet ſomething of Chriſt ſhines through them, and the Church takes notice of theſe dark approaches, puts a [Behold] upon them all. Behold, he cometh, behold, he ſtandeth behind our wall. And at laſt he calls her forth into a pleaſant converſe and walk with him, v. 10. 11. and there fully manifeſteth himſelfe to her.
If God write thee a love-letter, though the hand in which it is written be but uneven, and it be not to be read but by ſpelling every word; wilt thou not take that pains, that thou mayſt underſtand it? The ſpirits teſtimony when it comes under Gods hand and ſeal to the heart, is oftentimes ſo obſcurely written, that a man is fain to ſpell and put together many words, experiences, providences to make it up. However, the evidence may be ſufficient, that is pick'd out of them altogether. Think then, ſuch a time, I was refreſht at a ſermon, enlarged extraordinarily in ſuch a Prayer, my heart was affected with an extraordinary meaſure of tenderneſſe in ſuch a Sacrament. I was even ready to deſpaire, and God ſtayed me by a promiſe; even ready at another time to make away with my ſelfe, and God ſtayed me with an unexpected providence, &c. All theſe put together, may perhaps make up as much as this. Fear not, I am thy Salvation, &c. Thy ſins are forgiven thee. God anſwers ſometimes Pſalm 85. 8in a ſoft voyce, in a whiſper, and it concerns us to obſerve narrowly, as Benhadads ſervants, 1 Kings 20 33
4. Labour aft…r more of the Spirit of ſanctification, and that is the way to get the Direct. IV.witneſſe of the Spirit of Adoption. The ſpirit that ſeals us up to an holy aſſurance, is an holy Spirit, Epheſ. 1. 13. This is certain, the more holineſſe, the more aſſurance. The promiſe runs ſo. Iſai. 32. 17. The work of righteouſneſſe ſhall be peace, and the effect of righteouſneſſe quietneſs and aſſurance for ever. I conceive the place intends inherent righteouſneſſe, comparing it with the former verſes, where it is attributed to the Spirit, as his work in barren hearts. The like promiſe we have from our Saviour, Jo. 14. 21. He that hath my Commandements, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me, and he that loveth me, ſhall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and manifeſt my ſelf unto him. I am confident, the reaſon why many perſons do not recover an evidence of the Spirit aſſuring their conſciences of their good condition, is either that in their judgments they preferre peace before grace, eaſe before holineſſe, and powre out many more prayers and tears for thoſe, then for theſe: or elſe, that they content themſelves with finding in themſelves ſome generalities of good deſires, and ſincerity in the main, and ſo ſit down in a forme of godlineſſe, contented to ſtand at that ſtay. Beloved, it will concerne us, to preſs hard after the Lord, to follow after, reach forward, and preſs on (they are the phraſes of the Apoſtle, Ph. 3 12, 13, 14.) that we may apprehend that for which we are apprehended.
1. If an evidence be never ſo faire yet if we be careleſſe of it, and let it gather duſt, or dirt, or filth, we may not be able to read it. And certainly ſuch a defiling, ſullying thing is the guilt of ſin. For ſin making a man obnoxious to the Law, occaſionally ingenders to See in the caſe of David, Pſalm 51. 12.bondage, Gal. 4. 24.
2. Nor will the glory of God permit him to ſeal aſſuring evidences of his love to ſuch, whoſe converſation would reproach him, for admitting them to ſo much intimacy. As to a Covenant-intereſt in God, ſo it is in Covenant peace when a wicked man claims it, God ſtands upon termes of defiance, Pſal. 50. 16. What haſt thou to do to take my Covenant in thy mouth, ſeeing thou hateſt inſtruction, and caſteſt my words behind thy back? To whom then will God indulge ſuch a boldneſſe? See ver. 5. Gather my Saints together, and verſ. 23. who ſo ordereth his converſation aright, to him will I ſhew the ſalvation of the Lord.
3. Regular aſſurance (as I have told you before) ariſeth from the diſcovery of grace. Now the more large the matter of my aſſurance is, the more muſt my aſſurance be. Me thinks the connexion of theſe four verſes, in Tit. 2. 11, 12, 13, 14. ſhews this. When grace that appears to us, teacheth us to deny ungodlineſſe and worldly luſts; &c. See what follows, then we are moſt likely to look for the bleſſed hope and glorious appearing of our Lord and Saviour Jeſus Chriſt. And that prayer of the Apoſtle for his Epheſians ſpeaks it as loudly. That God would grant them to be ſtrengthened by the ſpirit, &c. to be rooted and grounded in love. And what then? That Eph. 3. 16, 17, 18.ye may comprehend with all Saints, the length and breadth of the love of God.
5. Follow the guidance and conduct of the Direct. V.Spirit in all things. Stifle not any motion of the ſpirit. Quench not the Spirit. 1 Theſ. 5. 19. Grieve not the Spirit, by unkind repulſes. And that is preſſed upon this ground. Eph. 4. 30. by which ye are ſealed to the day of redemption. Certainly if wee ſadden the Spirit, the Spirit will not comfort us. And there is nothing that ſaddens the Spirit of God more, then the diſhonour, and unkindneſſe of a repulſe. Great men, if they ſhew extraordinary favours to us, they expect we ſhould obſerve them and be ready to ſerve them at every nodd and beck.
1. He that will be a favourite in a Princes Court, and enjoy his conſtant ſmiles, muſt be very carefull of all punctilio's of obſervance. If you will obtain the holy Spirits ſmiles, you can (ſurely) do no leſſe, then obſerve every breathing of the Spirit, and follow him where ever he leads. See v. 14. of this Chapter in connexion with my Text. They that are led by the Spirit of God, thoſe are they that receive this Spirit of Adoption, to call God Father.
2. The Spirit beſt knows the mind of God towards thee, and the ſeaſon and way wherein the Love of God will break out to thee: and if thou miſſe of following any motion of the Spirit, thou mayſt put thy ſelfe out of that very way wherein thou mighteſt have found comfort, and aſſurance. The Spirit (it may be) urgeth ſuch or ſuch a duty, and thou neglect'ſt it. How knoweſt thou, but hadſt thou been guided by the Spirit in ſuch a motion, thou mighteſt have obtained that that thou longeſt for? When the Spirit blowes, thou muſt hoiſe thy ſailes, and be aſſured, that gale can carry thee no whither, but to the region of peace and comfort.
When the Angel conducted Peter out of Priſon, he follows his deliverer, ſtep-by-ſtep: So when the Spirit comes toward thee, to deliver thee from the Spirit of Bondage, take heed thou leave him not one ſtep. And the caution which God gives to the Iſraelites when he brought them out of Egypt is very uſefull here. Exod. 23. 20, 21. Behold, I ſend an Angell before thee to keep thee in the way, and to bring thee into the place which I have prepared. Beware of him, and obey his voyce, povoke him not, &c. Apply it to the preſent caſe. If God ſend his Spirit before you, beware, obey his voyce, &c.
Qu. But how ſhall I know the motions of the Spirit of God from temptations, and the motions of my own heart?
Anſw. 1. Thus, The Spirit of God always moves according to the Word. If I leave the word in any thing, I cannot follow the Spirit.
'Tis clear, that that Spirit is a Spirit of truth, and therefore cannot contradict Joh. 14. 17.himſelfe; and thoſe things which he delivers in the Word, hee cannot deliver 2 Pet. 1. 19, 20. 21.the contrary to them in my heart. The true evidence of the Spirit of God in the heart, is dependance on the Word of God. 1 John 4. 6.
2. The Spirit of God alwayes preſſeth to ſome Duty or other, ſome exerciſe of holineſſe or other. And when any motions ariſe in our hearts, prejudicing it againſt any ordinance or duty of Religion, this prejudice is no motion of the Spirit. We receive the Spirit in hearing, Gal. 2. 1, 2. Pray by the Spirit, Eph. 6. 18.
3. The Spirit moves regularly, and orderly, makes not duties and ordinances to claſh and enterfere. The preſent opportunity of an ordinance, is the ſeaſon of the Spirit. If the Spirit come in a private ordinance, it is in its ſeaſon; if in a publick, in its ſeaſon. Publick ordinances ſeparated from, are not the badge of the perſons that have, but that want the Spirit. Jude 19.