The Voice of the Spirit, Chapter 20
CHAP. XX. Of the ſoules Enjoying the leadings of the Spirit, and when.
Qu: VVHen doth a ſoule enjoy the leadings of the Spirit?
Anſw. 1. When a Complyance with the will of Chriſt becometh naturall to the ſoule: as there is a propenſitie in light things to moove upward, and in heavie things to moove downward, ſo in the ſoule to moove Chriſt-ward. Suppoſe there were no wrath as the Conſequences of diſobedience; nor no reward as the effect of Goſpell obedience; yet, the ſweetnes of the wayes themſelves, & the reſpect it oweth to the will of Chriſt, would be as the heart unto an owning of Chriſt therein. Pſal. 119.30.173. I have [choſen] the way of truth &c. And v. 35. for therein I delight. So, Rom. 7.22. & Rom. 8. v. 1, 2. For, the law of the Spirit of life hath made me free, from the law of ſin and death.
Carnall men, in their hearts, call a libertie for ſin, freedome: but ſuch as are indeed freed from condemnation, and walke after the Spirit, they call this their libertie, to be free for Chriſt, and from the law of ſin; and reckon obligations to ſin the greateſt bondage and thraldome in the world. The Spirit raiſeth an admirable freenes in the ſoule to walke in the wayes of Chriſt. 2 Corin. 3.17. Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is libertie: And hence the Spirit of Adoption is oppoſed unto the Spirit of bondage. Rom. 8.15. A man may exerciſe himſelfe in the externall part of all duties that a Chriſtian is engaged to, and yet be without the leadings of the Spirit. He may have many carnal enforcements hereunto: but, unleſſe there be a libertie of heart to theſe wayes; that he would not but be imployed in them, and accounteth it a high favour from the Lord that he will uſe him in any ſervices for himſelfe: and findeth more delectation in theſe, then in any other wayes; that it becometh even meate and drinke to him, to doe the Lord ſervice, and it is a matter of great complaint and lamentation, that he can doe no more for the Lord; that he findeth a backwardnes in himſelfe, or any contrary principles, which ſeek to obſtruct and hinder his following the Lord in his wayes. Rom. 7.22, 23. Then he injoyeth the leadings of the Spirit.
2. When it hath corroborations or aſſiſtances againſt thoſe impediments that would hinder it, in walking in the wayes of Chriſt: or the Spirit leadeth by remooving theſe: Carnal men wonder that any ſhould complaine for want of ſtrength unto duties, they can eaſily come up to them. But, it ariſeth partly from Satans not moleſting them in the performance of duty, becauſe they looke not beyond the externall part of it; they ſtrive not to act in a right manner, or for right ends: or becauſe they are inſenſible of the working of corruption, when yet it doth act. But a gracious heart, findeth, that if it be not ſtrengthened by a power beyond its owne, it cannot act any grace, or performe any duty in an acceptable way to the Lord: and hence the Apoſtle prayeth, Epheſ. 3.16. That they might be [ſtrengthened with might by his Spirit] in the inner man.
Iſrael is ſaid to be led by the Spirit of the Lord. Iſai. 63. v. 11, 12, 13, 14. And how doth he lead them? it is by dividing the water before them, and keeping them that they ſhould not ſtumble —. i.e. the Lord threw up and remooved impediments out of their way, and took away what might cauſe them to fall, and this was his leading of them. So, if thou haſt been eagerly purſued by Satan, and he hath raged againſt thee like a Lyon ſpoyled of his whelpes, that thou wert beſet with temptations, and did'ſt finde many and ſtrong luſtings of the fleſh, to hinder thy following of the Lord Chriſt in the wayes of his appointment. And, if ſuch mountaines have been made plaines, and corruption borne downe; when thou haſt found thy heart ſo full of deadnes, hardnes, unbeliefe, and all manner of diſtempers, that thou haſt even deſpaired of acting in the duty, as, prayer &c. in any acceptable way to the Lord, and (like the Iſraelites) thou haſt cryed out, that thy deſtruction was at hand.
Yet, if theſe ſpirituall enemies have been conquered, and thy heart let out more then at other times towards Chriſt; here are the leadings of the Spirit. Rom. 8.13. If ye by the Spirit mortifie — v. 14 For, as many as are led by the Spirit — The particle [For] argueth mortification to appertain unto the leadings of the Spirit. And, ſo, Gal. 5. v. 16.18. Thoſe that are led, and doe walke by the Spirit, they [ſhall not fulfill the luſts of the fleſh]. Not as if they were perfect, and had no ſin in them, for he addeth, v. 17. The fleſh luſteth againſt the Spirit. It doth not quite hinder the ſtirrings, no nor the prevailings of ſin, for he ſaith [ye cannot doe what ye would]. i.e. ye cannot act ſo ſpiritually, and ſo circumſpectly, as ye would. Ye cannot, yet ye would. The will prevaileth againſt, and getteth the upper-hand of corruption, even when duty is hindred, or ſin acted by the ſoule; that corruption is not predominant in the ſoule. Then they are the fruits of the ſpirit, when thy love to Chriſt is predominant, and ordinarily prevaileth againſt thy ſinfull love to other things below Chriſt: and thy Joy in the Lord is predominant or beareth ſway againſt thy ſinfull and carnall joy in creatures, or luſts: and thy peace, by the blood of Chriſt, helpeth thee to ſee that falſe peace which thou hadſt taken up from other grounds: and thy faith is predominant againſt thy unbeleife, which diſcovered it ſelf formerly, in cauſing thee to chooſe and imbrace other objects beſides Chriſt, or in thy not coming up to a hearty accepting of him; and ſo for all other fruits of the Spirit, v. 22, 23. There is an oppoſition made between the works of the fleſh, and of the Spirit, v. 19.22. to ſhew that when the works of the fleſh are kept underneath, and prevailed againſt, then a ſoule enjoyeth the leadings of the Spirit, as v. 16.18.
3 When the heart is under powerful drawings Chriſt-ward in being exerciſed in the wayes of Chriſt.
1 There muſt be drawings. The word foreign ſignifieth to be moved, acted, guided, &c. it may be taken from blind men, that ſtand in need, not onelyonly of directions by word of mouth, but of a hand to lead, helpe and uphold in a way. Or from weake perſons, as young children, that need a hand to ſuportand ſuſtaine; yea, an arme to carry them. Men cannot goe alone in the wayes of Chriſt, they may pray and heare &c. but they cannot mixe faith with theſe, or act ſpiritually, if the Spirit hath not a greater ſtroake in ſuch actions, then themſelves. Joh. 15.5. Without me (ſaith Chriſt) ye can doe nothing. i. e. nothing in a pleaſing or acceptable way to God. Pſal. 17.5. And, the Spouſe cryeth out. Cant. 1.4. Draw me: it denoteth impotency and unaptnes in the ſoule for ſuch a motion. No running after Chriſt, without drawings from him.
2. They muſt be heart-drawings: if the heart be wanting, though a man performeth never ſo many duties, yet he is deſtitute of the leadings of the Spirit. Deut. 4. v. 29. & 6. v. 5 & 10. v. 12. All love, or ſervice that findeth acceptance with the Lord is [with all the heart]. i. e. with the ruling, or prevailing part of it. Rom. 7. v. 22, 23. There is a Law in the minde. i. e. powerfull obligations and engagements laid upon that towards Chriſt. Rom. 6.17. The loweſt duties require the heart to the right performance of them. Eph. 6. v. 5, 6.
3. The drawings of the heart muſt be Chriſt-ward: A man may be furniſhed with eminent gifts, and may have ſutable aſſiſtances in the laying out of thoſe gifts, from the Spirit, and yet may be without the leadings of the Spirit, as Saul. 1 Sam. 10.10. And Chriſt ſhall ſay, depart from me, to many that have propheſied and caſt out Devils, in his name, Math. 7.22, 23.
A man may have preaching gifts, and praying gifts, yea wonder-working gifts, and may lay out theſe to the admiration of others: and all theſe are from the Spirit. 1 Corin. 12. v. 8, 9, 10, 11. and yet be without Son-ſhip, and therefore without the leadings of the Spirit which witnes adoption, Rom. 8.14. Theſe are rather for the profit of others, then for his that hath them. Gifts exerciſed cannot ſuppreſſe corruptions in a mans owne heart, and hence, though they uſed their gifts, yet they are called workers of iniquitie. Math. 7.23. Gifts doe not carry out the heart towards Chriſt, but graces doe. And, if in the improvement of preaching, or praying gifts, thy heart hath been carryed out Chriſt-ward, though thou haſt found more ſtreightnings in expreſſion then at other times, yet thou haſt injoyed the leadings of the Spirit. Jerem. 30. v. 21. I will cauſe him to draw neer — for, who is this that engageth his heart to approach unto me — Then a man is cauſed by the Lord to draw neer unto him in any ſervices, when there are reall engagements upon his heart towards God: and ſuch the Lord will owne as his. v. 22. And ye ſhall be my people, and I will be your God. It a man hath had never ſo much enlargedneſſe in expreſſions in prayer, yet if his heart hath not been under drawings towards Chriſt, it is not witneſſing, Cant. 1.4. Iſai. 29.13, 14. But if a duty hath been of advantage that way, then thou haſt had the leadings of the Spirit, how meane ſoever the duty hath ſeemed to be. Epheſ. 6.6.
4. When it hath been enabled to owne the mediation of Chriſt, and Goſpel promiſes in its actings: A mans heart may really goe out after ſome enjoyments, and faine he would have theſe; as riches, freedomes from affliction &c. he may pray earneſtly for them; and yet he may be without the leadings of the Spirit. It is the worke of a faithfull Leader to carry a man in the right way: and the Spirit is promiſed, to ſpeake from God to us, for direction into the way we ſhould chooſe, Iſa. 30. v. 21. Thine ears ſhall heare a voyce behinde thee, ſaying, This is the way, walke ye in it — The Lord doth not account himſelfe glorified by the beſt, and moſt ſhineing ſervices a ſoule can performe, nor doth not accept of them, if it dealeth not with him, by the Mediatour. Eph. 1.6. & 3. v. 12. 1 Pet. 2.5. To offer up ſpirituall ſacrifices, acceptable to God, [by Jeſus Chriſt]. Many in words doe make uſe of Chriſt for acceptation with God: but unles your hearts have been holden up and ſtrongly drawne to make uſe of the name of Chriſt, and the ſufferings and interceſſion of Chriſt; you have not the leadings of the Spirit. And thoſe that attaine unto this, doe finde acceptance with God. Joh. 14. v. 13, 14. & 15. v. 16. & 16. v. 23. Coloſs. 3.17.
And Goſpell promiſes are the Caskets, wherein the jewell Chriſt Jeſus is layd up. The Chariots whereby a ſoule may ride to that King of glory in triumph. The Ships wherein it may imbarke it ſelfe, and goe full ſaile to him, for all the mercies it ſtands in need of. 2 Pet. 1.4. 2 Corin. 1.20. And when it heartily maketh uſe of Chriſt by theſe; then it injoyeth the leadings of the Spirit of promiſe.
5. When Spirituall things are thoſe which the heart is moſt affected and taken up with, and maketh out moſt after. Rom. 8.5. They that are after the Spirit, do minde the things of the Spirit. i. e. minde them, as if they had nothing elſe to minde: or they minde theſe, farre more then any other things. They can ſee but little excellency in duties that others may highly eſteeme of; if they finde not the breathings of the Spirit in them. Phil. 3. v. 3. We worſhip God in the Spirit. They worſhipped God in the fleſh before, in a carnall way, but now in the Spirit. Joh. 3. v. 6. What ſoever is of the Spirit is Spirit. i. e. is Spirituall.
When the Spirituality of any wayes, is the great attractive and drawing inducement to affecting of, and walking in, them. When a ſoule doth ſo ſavour the things of the Spirit, that there is a readines of heart to cloſe with things, becauſe ſpirituall, and never thinketh it ſelfe ſpirituall enough &c. this argueth the leadings of the Spirit. And hence, beleevers are deſcribed, by ſpirituality. 1 Corin. 2.15. He that is ſpirituall. i.e. a belee ever, oppoſed to the naturall man. v. 14.
6. When it is enabled to act for ſpirituall and Goſpell ends, in Goſpell duties: when it would not aime at ſelfe-advancement, or its owne name and glory, as they did. Math. 6. v. 1.5. But when the great things it eyeth, or would eye in all actings are, the mortification of corruption, and the attainement of Communion with God and Chriſt, and increaſe of all grace, growth in faith, love, ſelfe-denyal &c. And when it ſeeketh for outward mercies in a ſubordination to theſe, and in a way of ſubſerviency to the intereſt and deſignes of Chriſt. And when, as the ultimate end of all, it ſeeketh the glory of God. 1 Cor. 10.31. Then it injoyeth the leadings of the Spirit, and thereby hath its Adoption witneſſed to it.
And thus I having diſcovered particularly, How a ſoule may know that the Spirit hath witneſſed Adoption. 1. By it ſelfe. 2. By Blood. 3. By Water.