Influences of the Life of Grace, Part 2 · Chapter 7
CHAP. VII.
Characters of a ſpiritual diſpoſition are theſe. 1. To be willing to be under the guidance of the ſpirit. 2. Four expreſſions in the Scripture hold forth oppoſing of the ſpirit. 3. We are to acknowledge and adore the ſpirit in his actings, and joyn hearty conſent thereto. 4. Self-denial. 5. In a bewildered condition to deſire to be led by the ſpirit. 6. Spiritual facility in acting. 7. To act much in publick works, in the ſpirit. 8. Much watching and praying. 9. To converſe with ſpiritual men. 10. To be much in ſpiritual conference are all characters of a ſpiritual diſpoſition.
THe third particular is, what ſpeaks a ſpiritual man and ſpiritual influences?
Anſ. He who puts himſelf under the guidance of the ſpirit, is a ſpiritual man: the will of the Guide ſhould be maſter of the journey.
The Prophets, Acts 13. Paul and Silas, Acts 16. Philip, Acts 8. accurately obſerve the command of the ſpirit, as being as binding as the command of the Father and the Son. The commands of God to the men of God were more legal in the Old Teſtament; but the commands of the ſpirit now in the New Teſtament have more of free grace and perſwaſive leading,Obedience is to be yielded to the ſpirit, as to the Father and the Son. Acts 10. 19. Acts 11. 12. Acts 18. 9, 10, 11. John 14. 16, 26. John 16. 13. We ſhall ſpeak hereafter of the lying under and obedient receiving of the breathings and influences of the ſpirit; only here where there is a ſtrong benſil of will and much freedom in obedience, there is much of the ſpirit:Much renewd will is a note of a ſpiritual diſpoſition. backdrawing in ſpiritual works proclaims much carnality; but who had the anointing above meaſure, was all will, and all heart, and all ſpirit to obey and ſuffer, John 10. 17, 18. Pſal. 40. 8, 9.
2. The leading and drawing of the ſpirit, when it bringeth forth running, and is ſtrongly cloſed with, ſpeaks a ſpiritual man, Cant. 1. 4. Pſal. 119. 32. Cant. 3. 4. I held him and would not let him go. Is not this violence? ſweet feelings and high commending of him follows; when the ſpirits violence in drawing, and the ſpouſes violence in running meet, there is a ſpiritual cloſing, Cant. 1. 4. The King hath brought me into his chambers; and what follows, we will be glad and rejoyce in thee, we will remember thy love more then wine. See ver. 12, 13. Cant. 2. 3. I ſate down under his ſhadow, and his fruit was ſweet in my mouth. Delighting in him is followed with his delighting in the Spouſe, ver. 6. His left hand is under mine head, and his right hand doth embrace me.
2. Here, if in any, it's true, to him that hath ſhall be given: he that is willing to be led ſhall be led; and keeping of the Commandments of Chriſt makes room for the Father and the Son to come hither and dwel; fire makes more fire.
3. A ſtate of tranſlation is to be gone about; The man hath not the ſpirit till he be once over the water tranſlated to the Kingdome of the dear Son of God. Chriſt is not owner of the man that hath not the ſpirit: If any have not the ſpirit, he is none of Chriſt's, Rom. 8. 9. Chriſt and the Spirit cannot be ſever'd; the ſpirit that is in the firſt heir is in all the reſt; and we ſhould take it hard to be called, or to be none of Chriſt's,
3. Heed muſt be carefully taken that none of the Organs or parts of the new creation be broken.Four expreſſions in Scripture of wrongs we doe to the ſpirit. A ſpiritual man cheriſheth the ſpirit in all his operations, he loves and honours his guide and leader. The Scripture notes in four words the wrongs we doe to the ſpirit, Iſa. 63. 10. They vexed his ſpirit of holineſs; the word is, Pſal. 56. 6. they painfully wreſted: as they gave another figure or faſhion to my words,Vexing of the ſpirit and violence done to his actings. Epheſ. 4. 30. Grieve not the holy ſpirit. The word foreign is to ſadden rather then to anger, Matth. 14. 9. Matth. 17. 23. Matth. 26. 22. Can a friend lodge in a houſe, where he is every hour ſadned? is not this to chaſe him away? and eſpecially to ſadden the King in the act of ſealing your Writs and Evidences of Heaven,Saduing of the ſpirit and the ſigns of it. is not this dreadful? Ye ſhall know the ſpirit to be ſadned when he acts deadly and lently; as the man who rides on a lame and halting horſe advances little in the way, the fault is not in the Rider; So when the man is ſtraitned in praying, and he knocks faintly, life and liberty and godly boldneſſe is away; the tools of the worker being broken, how unhandſome is the work?
2.Quenching of the ſpirit. There ſhould be an eike made to the working of the ſpirit; there is needful a ſort of helping of the ſpirit by widening, opening and enlarging the heart; the extending of love, deſires, faith, fear to their outmoſt borders: there is an opening of the mouth wide commanded, Pſal. 8. 10. Pſal. We are to make a ſort of eike to the ſpirit.24. 7. Lift up your heads and be ye lift up ye everlaſting doors. Cant. 5. 2. Open to me my ſiſter, my love, my dove, &c. And this is needful under the actings of the ſpirit, that we ſtretch the ſoul beyond it ſelf and make an eike to the ſpirit of his own. Hence that charge 1 Theſ. 5. 19. Quench not the ſpirit. The word is, Matth. 12. 20. Matth. 25. 8. Our lamps are out, or quenched, Mark 9. 44, 46. Some caſt water upon the fire and holy flamings of the ſpirit: this makes a cold hearth-ſtone, and mightily obſtructs the working of God; whereas we ſhould adde new fewel to his fire, and blow away the aſhes and wreſtle againſt deadneſſe, dulneſſe, faintneſſe, and ſtir up the grace of God, 2 Tim. 1. 6. as ſmiths with the bellows blow up and quicken the flame: do not quench it in your ſelf by unbelief and uncheerful walking; and break not one another, know that ſo doe the enemies of Chriſt: He truſted in the Lord that he would deliver him; Let him deliver him, ſince he delighted in him, Pſal. 22. 8. That is to act Satans office, when men caſt water on the flamings of the ſpirit and cruſh the ſpirit and his actings in others.
3.Tempting of the ſpirit. Acknowledge and adore the holy ſpirit as God, and follow not Ananias to play the divel to the Holy Ghoſt, to try if the holy Spirit ſhall find out hypocriſie, Acts 5. Satan is the great foreign, Matth. 4. 3. who tempted the Son; And a man may ride ſo neer the rotten margin on the bank of a mighty River, as he will try the higheſt of free grace; why but I may doe this and be pardoned? Nay, the holy Spirit never ſaid, Sin at will with greedineſs, thou waſt once a believer. It's dreadful to put a tryal upon the worth of an infinite ranſome. 2. Upon the moſt noble and tranſcendent actings of the ſpirit: this God hath done in me, therefore I have liberty to ſin. Tempted free grace is a tranſgreſſion with ſo loud a cry, its heard all Heaven over.4 Reſiſting of the ſpirit and perſecuting of godlineſs.
4. Joyn hearty conſent to all the actings and influences moral or phyſical of the Holy Ghoſt, and be not beaten from that. There is an anger outed in the Father as the offended Law-giver purſuing all that are out of Chriſt. Ah, who can drink unmixt wrath, as Chriſt did, and live? and who may ſtand when he is angry? then reſiſting is terrible.
2. There is vengeance in readineſſe, and grinding of men to powder, and everlaſting burning for ſuch as ſo far reſiſt the Son, as they ſay, This man ſhall not reign over us.
3. But there is a vengeance beyond a vengeance, and fiery indignation, and more then an ordinary hell to ſuch as reſiſt the ſpirit in the Prophets, and doe deſpight to the Spirit of grace, Heb. 10. 28, 29, 30. Matth. 12. 31, 32. Killing of the Prophets and ſlaying of them is a ſort of killing of the ſpirit in men, as the Jews killed the Lord of glory in the man Chriſt, & wiſhed there were neither in the world, God nor the Spirit, nor God incarnate: and this is juſt as if men would put hands in ſo much of God and of the Spirit as they find acting any thing of God in others or themſelves: this hateful perſecuting of godlineſſe is the dreadful national ſin of this age. Find ye not the actings of the ſpirit ſweet and heaven-like? if ſo, it ſpeaks a ſpiritual diſpoſition.
4.The ſpirit above ſelf ſpeaks a ſpiritual one; he who is leaſt his own is moſt God's. Much of ſelf-denial ſpeaks much of the ſpirit: he who will be leaſt his own is moſt God's, and partakes moſt of the divine nature. The ſpirit loves the room of ſelf; I live not, but Chriſt (by his Spirit) lives in me, Gal. 2. and the ſpirit, to ſpeak ſo, is the full predominant element in the acting (not that nature ſinleſs is wholly dead and paſſive, as Familiſts and others tea…h) and ſelf appears to be ſunk into nothing, and is denyed: as Matth. 10. 20. It's not ye that ſpeak, but the ſpirit of your Father that ſpeaks in you. Though they be living perſons in their nature and being, Peter and John ſpeaks: and yet the ſpirit ſo diſcourſes and lays aſide the creature called ſelf, and ſets up God, that as if ſelf were annihilated and not there at al (I mind no Libertine annihilation) the ſpirit as the predominant ſpeaks in the man and acts in him, rather then the man. And the Spirit of the Father, prayeth, preacheth, reigneth, actech, diſputeth, confeſſeth in the believer. 1 Cor. 15. 10. But I laboured more abundantly then they all; then muſt I in Paul be preferred and exalted above John the beloved Diſciple, and all the eminent Apoſtles? O not; I laboured more abundantly; yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me. Acts 6. 10. And they were not able to reſiſt the wiſedom and the ſpirit by which Steven ſpake. He ſaith not they were not able to reſiſt and diſpute againſt the ſinful man Steven. Acts 4. 8. Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghoſt, ſaid unto them, & made anſwer to the perſecuting Rulers; this is a far other thing then if he had ſaid, then anſwered Peter the Apoſtle; for Peter was before this, filled with the Holy Ghoſt, but now the Holy Ghoſt in a new fulneſſe and flowing of heavenly influences in the man Peter is Maſter-ſpeaker. In the Prophets this is cleer from 2 Pet. 1. 21. Prophecie came not of old by the will of man; (though the Prophet was not compelled to prophecie, nor his will Phyſically ſunken down to nothing) but holy men of God ſpake as foreign, acted by the Holy Ghoſt. 1 Pet. 1. 11. The Spirit of Chriſt ſpake in the Prophets before hand of the ſufferings of Chriſt and the glory that ſhould follow. Though there be a difference betwixt the ſpeaking of a Prophet, and the acting of a believer; there is much of ſelf in the Prophets, who bite with the teeth and cry peace. Micah ſets himſelf againſt ſuch, cap. 3. 8. But truly (ſaith he) I am full of power, by the ſpirit of the Lord, and of might, and of judgement to declare unto Jacob his tranſgreſſions and to Iſrael his ſin. 3. There is little of ſelf in children; the children of God (foreign, the word given to ſucking children of two years old, Matth, 2. 18. Acts 21. 21.) are like ſuch as are learning to walk; there is little ſelf-wiſedom or of ſelf-deſignes in the motions of young children. So doth the ſpirit act with facility and without reſiſtence in the ſons of God; Who may not ſee the colour of ſelf, and feel ſome ſavour of the creature & of ſelf in men? O if we could ſavour in looking, ſpeaking, acting, of the ſpirit! The rivers, loths, and fountains iſſue themſelves in the Sea and be mixed therewith; its the ſalt Sea and not the rivers which ebb and flow: the under-acting of ſinleſſe nature in ſpiritual actings hindereth not the work to be denied of the man and affirmed of the ſpirit; So as we ſay not the man, but rather God in the man acts and ſpeaks. Indeed things are not denominate from their externals; a veſſel of copper waſhed over with ſilver, or a cup of braſſe over-gilded and luſtered with gold, is not, nor is named a veſſel of ſilver or a cup of gold. Though we name things by their skin and out-ſide, yet when the hypocrite prays, the Lord ſays the man prays, Pſal. 18. 41. but the Spirit of God prays not in him. Nor doth the Lord name Magus a true believer from his profeſſion, only the Holy Ghoſt ſaith, he believed. It's good when the converſation ſpeaks heaven, and the ſpirit is viſibly ſeen acting in the behaviour and walk of men. It's true, there is much of renewed ſelf, (as 1 Cor. 15, 9, 10. Gal. 2. 20. Rom. 7. 17, 22. 1 Cor. 9. 20, 21.) in ſpiritual actings, and this heightens the excellency of the actions: corrupt ſelf renders the act of praying and preaching wider and bigger, but not better and excellenter; eſpecially in publick renewed ſelf rendereth it excellenter.
And 5. Not unlike unto that touched before is a character of a ſpiritual man,To doubt as a bewildered man of all ways and to deſire to be led of God is a ſpiritual character. when the man is ſpiritually bewildered, and doubts of all ways he walks in, except the way he is ſure to be of God, Pſal. 143. 10. Teach me to doe thy will, thy ſpirit is good, lead me into the land of uprightneſs. Hence theſe three follow. 1. The ſpiritual man doubts of all ways, and knows that he is a bewildered and ignorant traveller of himſelf, and knows not by his own light, 1. The way. 2. The home and lodging. Or 3. The guide. It ſaith, the ſpiritual man judgeth the ſpirit of God a good leader and guide: it's no ſophiſme à diviſis, thy ſpirit is good, thou art a leader; therefore the ſpirit is a good leader and guide: it's much to have the faith fixed upon influences of dayly guiding by God. 3. It ſays I am willing to commit my goings to thee; Take the guiding of me; be father, guide, leader, tutor, king to me. All theſe ſpeak ſpiritual bewilderedneſſe; And thoſe two are well joyned. 1. Senſe of bewilderedneſſe; and 2. Praying to the one onelyonly guide in heaven and earth: Pſal. 119. 19. I am a ſtranger on earth: hide not thy Commandments from me. The Commandments are the way, and a hid and covered way is a miſery to a ſtranger or pilgrim. A frequent ſight of ignorance and errors, and a being in love with the ſpirits leading is good. Though a man could get the work through, be it praying, hearing, reading, warring, governing, eating and drinking, yet he is not ſatisfied with the bulk of the work, except the ſpirit be the doer. This gracious ſpirit looks not ſo much to praying as to praying in the Holy Ghoſt; nor to hearing as to hearing in the ſpirit of faith; nor to fighting, though David be ſtronger then the enemy, except the ſpirit of the Lord lead the army, Pſal. 60. 1, 2, 9, 10. Pſal. 140. 7, 8. Pſal. 18. 29, 30, 31. Nay it's not enough to eat and drink except the ſpirit act the man to eat and drink for God. Men ſpend and waſte away their actings, and call not for the ſpirit to get them compaſſed about. We are men abundance to build the Temple, and mighty Kings favour us, and work-men have ſtrength in legs and arms to lay ſtones in the wall: O but that will not doe it, Zach. 4. 6. Not by might, nor by power; but by my ſpirit ſaith the Lord of hoſts; and ſo only is the Temple builded.
6.Spiritual facility is a ſpiritual character. There is a ſpiritual facility in the ſpiritual actings of a ſpiritual man. 1. The acting is connatural and eaſie when it comes from an inward principle; the ſtream naturally without violence flows from the fountain, and ſo doth heat from the fire: nor is it any pain to the earth to fall down and deſcend, or for the light bodies, fire and air to aſcend; it's neither toyl nor labour to the Sun to give light: for all theſe come from principles internal. There is violence in the motion of an Horologue, and therefore the wheels ſhall be worn out by time; but the actings of the ſpirit are ſweet and facile; grace makes the Commandments not grievous; its no pain but eaſie to a gracious paſtor to love Chriſt; it breaks neither leg nor arm to deſire Chriſt and be ſick for him, and to feed his flock for love to the chief ſhepherd. 2. Pſal. 25. 9. The meek will he guide in judgement, the meek will he teach is ways. It's eaſie for God, to guide any man, to guide and lead Lions and Unicorns; but in the very object there is a facility to counſel a broken and danted ſpirit. If a man be in his flower and prime, and rich and mighty, healthy and proſperous, readily he will doe but what he will; but if the man be in chains and broken and meekned with the rod of God, he is eaſily bowed and counſelled to what is good; as iron red hot will bow and yield to the ſmitings of the hammer: i'ts hard to lead a Lion. The Lord ſpeaks like the Lord to Job, cap. 39. 9. Will the Ʋnicorn be willing to ſerve thee? or abide by thy cribs? Canſt thou bind the Ʋnicorn with his band in the furrows? or will he harrow the valleys after thee? but it is eaſie to bind a lamb. Meekneſſe is eaſily led and drawn: when the ſpirit comes in, the man is made pliable for counſel; he is a plowed and a broken man, who ſaith, Acts 9. foreign, Lord what wilt thou have me to doe? There was no pride in him, but the fulneſſe of the ſpirit of the anointing above all his fellows and all mankind, who ſaid, not my will, but thy will be done. And if any living man ſhould have had his will or a piece of his will, it was a man whoſe holy will could never crook; and it was now when ſinleſſe, holy, harmleſſe nature was debating the greateſt queſtion that ever Heaven or Angels knew. But the fulneſſe of the ſpirit bids him quit his will, and ſo he did. The ſweet paſſive tractableneſſe of the ſpirit of grace will enjoyn the man to be ranged, bridled and led of God: there be ſome, whom God can neither lead nor drive: any inſpiration fals upon him, a moral influence, this I ſhould and ought to doe; but I ſhall not, I will not doe it let God doe his beſt; and it is as if a burning cole were caſt into the ſea or river, will it burn the ſea? will it be welcomed and received? no, its preſently quenched. An unbroken Tyrant void of the ſpirit, when he heard that charge, Let my people goe; They are my ſervants (ſaith the Tyrant) not thy people. Exod. 5. 2. Who is the Lord that I ſhould obey his voice, and let Iſrael goe? Let his influences be lodged with meekneſſe. O wreſtle not againſt warnings, but yield to them! So are all gracious influences ſweet, delectable and eaſie; is it pain, nay its ſweet and pleaſant for a field of Roſes, of Vine-trees to receive ſhowers and ſummer influences from the Sun and Heaven. It was ſweet for the baptiſed man Chriſt to receive and lodge the Holy Ghoſt who came down in the form of a Dove on him in all his influences.
7.A publick ſpirit declares a ſpiritual man. To act much in the ſpirit brings more abundance of the ſpirit. 1. The more publick the work be, the more is the man under the ſpirit. Chriſt muſt have been under mighty flowings of the ſpirit, who for the publick Catholick duty of redeeming mankind was willing to be ſuſpended from the influences of his perſonal comfort, and to be under that ſad cloud of being forſaken of God that God might embrace us. It's the proper work of the ſpirit to glorifie God, John 16. 14. He ſhall glorifie me (ſaith Chriſt of the ſpirit) for he ſhall receive of mine. Then the more we glorifie God and Jeſus Chriſt his Son we teſtifie we partake the more of the flowings of the ſpirit. The Church hath ſo much the more of the ſpirit that ſhe is willing to bear the Lord's indignation, becauſe ſhe hath ſinned, Mic. 7. 9. and bear publick ſufferings to illuſtrate the glory of his juſtice.
2, We are alſo with Magdalen and other godly perſons ſo far to be dead to the private comforts of love to Chriſt and his preſence, and waiting about the grave to anoint his body, that we are to wait upon the more publick duties of reſting in, and of ſanctifying of the Sabbath; though otherwiſe, the reſcuing of the life of an oxe be mercy above this ſacrifice. If we have much of the ſpirit, we ſhall patiently ſubmit to the Lord's diſpenſation of his ſoveraign withdrawing of influences of comfort, yea and delight in other inferior duties. What though he will not feaſt me with the apples of the tree of life, and ſuſpend his comforts? what if he withdraw joyful influences of believing, of glorying, and rejoycing in the Lord, and feed the poor ſinner with abſence and exerciſe him with ſad deſertions?
3.How to improve ſpiritual feelings. It's a ſpiritual condition, when Chriſt caſts in feelings, and diſcernable motions of the ſpirit, and not only knocks, but Cant. 5. 2, 4. puts in his hand by the hole of the door, if this follow, my bowels were moved for him. And it's a ſpiritual condition when the ſoul fails, and the ſpouſe falls a ſwoon at theſe words, Open to me, my ſiſter, my love, &c. Cant. 5. 2, 6. And theſe leſſer feelings would be turned into conſent, and into fixed reſolutions; as the ſpouſe, I opened to my welbeloved; I ſought him, but I found him not; I called him, but he anſwered me not: And that came from the feeling of his hand, put in by the hole of the door, ver. 4. compared with ver. 6. For that word, Quench not the ſpirit, 1 Theſ. 5. 19. includes an affirmative; that is, cheriſh kindly and yield ſweetly unto the flowings and ſweet influences of the ſpirit.
8. A watching condition is a ſpiritual condition. The Spirit of God is much ſeen in keeping the ſoul watching. Epheſ. 6. 18. Praying with all prayer and ſupplication in the ſpirit is joyned with watching; For it's added, and watching thereunto with all perſeverance: and Jude conjoynes praying in the Holy Ghoſt, with ver. 21. looking for or watching after the mercy of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt unto eternal life. The ſpirit is willing (Matth. 26. 4. forward, watchful, ſo is the …enewed part,) but the fleſh is weak, ſleepy, and lazy; And as much as the man hath of the ſpirit, ſo much holy watchfulneſſe hath he; and Matth. 25. 26. the evil ſervant that digged his Maſters talent in the earth, is called wicked and ſlothful, foreign ſleepy, in oppoſition to the watching and painful ſervant, who ver. 20. gained five talents to five talents. Drowzineſs counter-works the knockings and gracious influences of the Spirit of Chriſt's calling, Cant. 5. and anſwers Chriſt's piercing words Open to me, my ſiſter, my love, &c. with a carnal excuſe from drowzineſſe; it's not time of night for Chriſt to ſeek lodging; I have put off my coat, how ſhall I put it on? I have waſhed my feet, how ſhall I defile them? Cant. 5. 3. The fleſh is a ſleeping thing, and a dead:Watching is a ſpiritual condition and near to receive gracious influences. were we more diligent and painful we might be richer; leſſer motions cloſed with become the ſeed of larger motions. The moving of the bowels at Chriſt's ſpiritual ſtirrings that he makes upon the heart grows to this, I roſe to open to my welbeloved. Watching guards againſt ſleeping, and watchfulneſſe puts the ſoul upon a reſolution to watch: ſleeping guards no more againſt watching, then then the privation fences off the habit, or doth ſet a man to work againſt life. We ſit not watchfully upon the motions of the ſpirit, to warm them and to draw life out of them, as the Hen by careful ſitting upon dead Eggs bringeth forth living birds. Who would think a tree and a huge tree can come from a ſorry plant? or ſixty or an hundred grains of wheat in harveſt to be in one ſingle grain caſt in the earth in ſowing time? Can the fleſh wait for the Lord? is not hope an act of life? Yea, it's lively hope oppoſite to a dead and rotten hope: and waking is nearer to life, and influences of life, then ſleeping, which is the death of the man as touching the exerciſe of the ſenſitive life: Then ſince the ſpirit is a ſpirit of life, and a quickning and living ſpirit, Rom. 8. 1 Cor. 15. the more watchfulneſſe in any, the more of the ſpirit; For when the ſpirit enters in the dry bones, they become an army of living men, whereas before they were farther from life and ſpirit then ſleeping bones. Let us not ſleep as do others: but let us watch, and be ſober. For they that ſleep, ſleep in the night, 2 Theſ. 5. 6, 7. The night is far ſpent, let us walk honeſtly, as in the day, not in rioting and drunkenneſſe, not in chambering and wantonneſſe, nor in ſtrife and in envying, Rom. 13. 13. This is like the putting on of the Lord Jeſus, which is a work of the ſpirit; for ſleeping men put not on their garments. Miniſters eſpecially are to watch, yea to watch in all things: then in ſleeping they muſt watch, 2 Tim. 4. 5. And hardly can fighting, and enduring hardneſſe, as a good ſouldier of Jeſus Chriſt, commended to the Miniſter, 1 Tim. 6. 12. 2 Tim. 2. 3. conſiſt with ſleeping, if we know how near Satan the roaring Lion (who ſleeps not) is to our quarters and camp, 1 Pet. 5. 8. Who can ſleep and be ſecure, and reſiſt Satan? or ſtand againſt him ſtedfaſt and fixed in the faith? ver. 9. Chriſt is much upon this, by Matthew, Marke, and Luke, Watch, Watch, and pray; and leſt it ſlip them again, I ſay to you, Watch, Matth. 26. 38, 40, 45. Matth. 24. 42. Matth. 25. 13. Mark 13. 23. Mark 14. 38. Luke 17. 26, 27, &c. Luke 21. 8, 38. cap. 2. 2, 46. How can ſleeping men receive influences of grace? doth the Lord caſt influences upon ſleeping mens boſomes? So are we to act as our acting way be fathered on the ſpirit; as the Spirit of the Lord came upon Gideon, upon Sampſon, and they fight, and the Spirit of the Lord upon Zechariah the ſon of Jehojadah, and he prophecied, 2 Chro. 24. 20. Luke 1. 64. the father of John Baptiſt was filled with the Holy Ghoſt and prophecied. Simeon came by the ſpirit into the Temple. This acting in the ſpirit is oppoſed to acting in the fleſh, and in the ſpirit of Satan; as Bullinger of one brother who ſlew his brother, and pretended the ſpirit: and Pareus tels us the like. As the Lord the Father and Son never ſpake to Abraham, Moſes, to Patriarks or Prophets, but he made them know it was the Lord; ſo neither does the ſpirit act in any, though the way ſeem violent, as in Phineas and Samuel, their executing of juſtice, but the Spirit makes it known that it is the Spirit, and that he is not in the mighty wind, nor in the fire, but in the calm voice. So Samuel leiſurely and adviſedly convinceth Agag ere he kill him, and gives a reaſon to his conſcience from divine juſtice, 1 Sam. 35. 32, 33. though Samuel then had laid down the ſword. It's an uſeful word Jude 20. Praying in the Holy Ghoſt; and Epheſ. 6. 18. Praying always, with all prayer and ſupplication in the ſpirit. What, is there a praying in the fleſh? yea, if preaching may be from a principle of the fleſh, out of envy and ſtrife, Phil. 1. 15. ſo may praying be from ſome rotten principle of fleſhly preſumption. Lord, Lord, open to us. Which us? to us workers of iniquity, Matth. 25. 11. Luke 13. 25, 26. And 2. ſome prayer flows from fleſhly deſpair, and not from the ſpirit. Rev. 6. 16. Mountains and rocks fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that ſitteth on the throne. And 3. The enemies of David cry to the Lord out of fleſhly fear and unbelief, not in the ſpirit, Pſal. 18. 41. There is a praying out of deadneſs and from the fleſh, not from the ſpirit: and often the meer office and the letter not the ſpirit prays and preacheth out of the man; it's far from that praying Rom. 8. 26. And learn to diſcern the literal fair influences in praying in the fleſh,To converſe with the Saints is a mark of a ſpiritual condition. and the ſweet, calm, fiery alſo, and ſpiritual paining influences of love-ſickneſſe, Cant. 5. 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, &c.
10. Converſing with ſpiritual men, born of the ſpirit of the ſame Father, John 5. John 3. 1 John 3. 14. Pſal. 119. 63. with Elias, leaning on Chriſt's boſome, in whom is fulneſſe of the ſpirit, declares a ſpiritual man. None of the Diſciples ſaw more ſpiritual and glorious viſions then John in the book of the Revelation: he would have deſired to lean on and dwell in Chriſt's heart, as in his boſome. Brethren love one another; the common nature and ſpirit of their Father dwels in them. Fowls of the ſame feathers and colours haunt together. Drunkards, malignants, ſwearers, love to be together: beware of wearying to haunt with the ſpirit and ſpiritual men, and to loath a ſpiritual Miniſtery, and to look upon ſpiritual doctrine as upon fancies: If it be ſo with you, you ſhall back to the fleſh-pots of Egypt again: its a living near to the fountain to haunt much with the Saints; and as the ſtreams are one in the well, ſo do the ſtreams run in the ſame channel, and love to ſtick together: Natures of the ſame kind, lambs with lambs love to live together, Pſal. 119. 13. I am a companion of all them that fear thee, and of them that keep thy Precepts. A part of the Air keeps its being beſt in the whole Element, whereas a part of the Air is corrupted in the bowels of the Earth, where it is out of its own Element: a part of water is beſt preſerved in being in the element of water; put it in a pit or hole of the earth it's alone, and it becomes rotten and unſavoury. The Saints keep their ſpiritual being with the excellent ones in whom is all their delight, Pſal. 16. 2. as being in their own element: and no wonder if it be their woe to dwell long in Meſech, and in Kedars tents with ſuch as hate peace, Pſal. 120. 5, 6. Pſal. 57. 4, 10. nor is this to flatter ſuch as ſeparate from Chriſt and his Ordinances; nor to ſay, Stand by thy ſelf, come not near me; for I am holier then thou, Iſa. 65. 5. and yet they themſelves remain among the graves and lodge in the monuments. Be rather frequenting Hoſpitals of ſick ones, making it your work to gain many; it's like to Chriſt, Luke 16. 6, 7, 10. Matth. 9. 10, 11, 12, 13. Luke 15. God ordinarily ſhowers influences and promiſeth influences to the flocking together of the godly, and the pouring of his ſpirit on them, Jer 50. 4, 5, 6. Zech. 8. 21, 22, 23. Mal. 3. 16. and two ſpeaking of Chriſt, Jeſus himſelf comes in as third man, Luke 24. 15, 16, 17, &c. and as if they were the fit ſoyl, he rains down influences of warmneſs and burning of heart on them while he opens the Scriptures to them,Spiritual conference frequently uſed ſpeaks a ſpiritual condition. v. 32. ſee Acts 2. 1, 2, 3, &c. Joh. 20. 19. It's a ſpiritual condition to talk of ſpiritual purpoſes: when the well is full it muſt run over; when there is a treaſure and abundance in the heart, the ſpirit comes to the tongue in Zachariah and Simeon, Luke 2. 25, 27. and grace ſeeths and boyls up to the tongue, when the conceptions of the King Chriſt are the good matter indited by the heart, Pſal. 45. 1. ſo to be filled with the ſpirit, Epheſ. 5. 18, 19. ſaith Paul, ſpeaking to your ſelves in Pſalms and Hymns, and ſpiritual ſongs:—Giving thanks always for all things to God is the ſpirit's work in his abundant influences. There is a ſpirit in men ſeen in language; the ſea-man talks of winds; the husband-man of oxen and plowing; the ſouldier of battels and wounds; and the ſhepherd of flocks; and the ſpiritual man of Chriſt, redemption, imputed righteouſneſs: and as the pilgrims heart, and the pilgrims tongue, the pilgrims thoughts are all upon his way and his home; ſo is the ſpiritual man much upon Eternity, Heaven, Chriſt: for the three noble Conferrers, the transfigured man Chriſt, glorified Moſes, and Elias, ſpeak of the celebrious heavenly ſubject, the foreign and out-going of Chriſt when he was to leave the world. The man hath been full of God who could not refrain from ſpeaking of the Lord's teſtimonies before Kings; and Princes have no great liſt to hear but of State matters & of conquering new Kingdoms, Pſal. 119. 46. the rotten, unſavoury, worldly and carnal ſpeeches of many, bewray how little of the ſpirit is within them. It was Chriſt who had the fulneſs of the anointing of the ſpirit within him, Pſal. 48. 8. I delight to doe thy will, O my God, thy law is within my heart. In Sea and Land, and Houſe and Field, by the way ſide journeying, at every table when he ſhould have eaten he made good that word, ver. 9. I have preached righteouſneſs in the great Congregation: lo, I have not refrained my lips thou knoweſt, O Lord. 10. I have not hid thy righteouſneſſe within my heart, I have declared thy faithfulneſs and thy ſalvation: I have not concealed thy loving kindneſs from the great Congregation. Influences of grace are required for this; as pag. 45.