The Spirit of Bondage and Adoption, Treatise 2 · Chapter 34
CHAP. XXXIV. The proof of the Theſis, from 1. Scripture. 2. Reaſon.
THe truth of this point is abundantly cleer Proof.from the Scripture, and Reaſon.
For Scripture. Take notice of the names by which the Spirit is ſet out to us in the Word.
(1) He is called the Comforter, John 14. 16. And this in his peculiar Office to the Saints. Now he would fail in the diſcharge of it, if ever he ſhould bring Gods adopted children into bondage againe. Therefore when our Saviour promiſeth the Comforter, he alſo engageth that he ſhall abide with the Saints, John 14 16. 'Tis true, their comforts are many times fleeting comforts; But the Spirit of God is not to be blamed for that. Ordinarily 'tis their own fault, and oftentimes Satans temptations eclipſe the comforts and refreſhments of the Spirit to the ſoule: Though their comforts be fleeting, the Comforter is not. To debaſe himſelf from being the Comforter, to the Divels imployment, the Accuſer of the Brethren, is diſhonourable to the Holy Spirit.
2 Beſides, he is called our Seal: and how long doth he continue ſo? unto the day of redemption, Eph. 4. 30. Hee will not to day ſcale an evidence of heaven to the ſoul, and tomorrow ſeal its Mittimus to hell.
3 Moreover, he is called our Earneſt: and can we think that God will give us an earneſt of heaven one day, and revoke it again the next; or ever deny the bargain which that Earneſt ſecures unto us? An honeſt man will not do ſo; far be it from God to do what common honeſty will keep man from. Rom. 11. 29.
4 He is the Spirit of Adoption, teſtifying to us that we are the children of God, ver. 16. of the chapter in hand. And can it be imagined, that he will ever tell a child of God, that he is become a child of the Divel?
There is no leſſe Reaſon: For,
Reaſ. 1. (I have ſhewed before, that) The Spirit and the Word never croſſe each others Teſtimony. Now the Word never pronounceth bondage to any one that hath received the Witneſſe of the Spirit; nay, not to any one that hath the leaſt grace of the Spirit. The Word every where ſpeaks comfort to ſuch: Iſa. 40. 1, 2. Rom. 8. 1, 34.
Reaſ. 2. That which is the badge of a falſe Prophet, and which God diſlikes in ſuch. cannot, without blaſphemy, be attributed to the holy Spirit of God: But to make the heart of the righteous ſad, is a badge and ſin of falſe Prophets, Ezek 13. 22.
Reaſ. 3. That ought not to be ſuppoſed to be wrought by Gods Spirit, which (as often as it is on our ſpirits) is our ſin and infirmity: but to doubt of the ſaving love of God, after enjoyment of the manifeſtation and feeling of it, is our ſin and infirmity, Pſal. 77. 20. And therefore the Spirit cannot be the Author thereof: becauſe the Holy Spirit cannot be the Author of ſin.
Reaſ. 4. That which hinders the moſt proper and peculiar work of the Spirit of Adoption, cannot be the work of the Spirit (except we ſuppoſe the Spirit ſo indiſcreet, as to counteract himſelf.) But if the Holy Spirit ever become a Spirit of bondage to the ſoule after taſtes of Gods love communicated thereunto, the Spirit would be guilty of counter-acting its moſt proper and peculiar work; which (as the next Doctrine from the laſt words of the Text ſhews you) is to embolden and enliven the heart in Prayer. For how can he call God Father with confidence, to whom the Spirit witneſſeth that God is an enemy?
Reaſ. 5. The Spirits Teſtimony (if it could ever become a Spirit of Bondage againe to an aſſured ſoul) would not be a ſure and infallible Teſtimony, contrary to the truth of the preceding Doctrine. When a man is found in two contrary tales, we know not which of them we may believe. A man could never, (this ſuppoſed) have ſolid comfort from the Teſtimony of the Spirit, ſeeing he knowes not how ſoon hee may recant it, and teſtifie the quite contrary.