Influences of the Life of Grace, Part 4 · Chapter 2
CHAP. II.
The Lord keeps an order in ſending influences. 2. He maketh ſhort work on ſome. 3. There is a confluence of influences at one time, and in one work. 4. Deſpiſing of the Word. 5. Refuſing of Ordinances. 6. Perſecuting of the Prophets. 7. Reſiſting of the operations of the ſpirit, do all obſtruct influences. 8. Praying and praiſing promove influences. 9. Hardening of the heart, 10. Not profiting by means. 11. Remaining in nature. 12. Actings in wrath, rancor, malice, bitterneſſe, and inordinate paſſion, obſtruct influences. 13. Keep the oyl of the ſpirit clean, if ye would have influences. 14. We are to act morally and phyſically with the ſpirit. 15. Prayers obſtruct not ſoveraigntys acting.
THe Lord's ordinary way of working is here to be obſerving; the ſpirit confers not upon Peter's hearers, Acts 2. influences of faith, and of gladly receiving of the word, v. 41. at the firſt, before he beſtow influences to the pricking of the heart for ſin, v. 37. nor does the ſpirit act upon Saul, Acts, 9. and the Jayler, Acts 16. for their rejoycing in the Holy Ghoſt and believing, and applying Chriſt and the promiſes at the firſt,The order of the Lord in conferring of influences. until firſt a law-ſpirit humble and make the proud to tremble. Then the ſpirit muſt uſe divers inſtruments, and ſhoot arrowes and influences of law and wrath, and wound the heart with arrows of love: as the Artiſt, the Carpenter uſeth ſundry tools according to the diverſity of timber that he works on, and the Lord here accommodates his influences according to the nature of the ſoyl. It's like Chriſts ſpirit made ſhorter and more expedite work on the hearts of James & John; for when Chriſt ſaid unto them, Follow me, Matth. 4. 19, 22. they foreign ſtraigthway or immediately leave their nets and their father, and follow him. It's as little time betwixt Chriſts word to the man ſick of the palſie, Ariſe, take up thy bed and walk, and his walking Mark 2. 12. for immediately foreign he took up his bed, and went forth before them all: It's like Matthew's converſion is of the ſame nature, Matth. 9. 9. Luke 5. 27, 28. in which the Lord gives proof, that as ſome Caſtles fall at the firſt ſhooting of the Canon, ſo there is no ſtanding out, nor reſiſting of Chriſt; for when he adds ſtrength of omnipotency, the work of humiliation, of conviction, of ſaving faith, or repenting, are all quickly done: as if tilling, ſowing, and harveſt were all in one day, or one hour.
2. We ſee alſo that gracious influences are threeded (as it were) upon gracious influences;A confluence of heavenly influences at one time and in one work. every beating of the ſmiths hammer brings forth at once many ſparkles of fire, and a ſhour of rain is the falling of millions and hoſts of drops of rain at once. So in fervent prayer, there muſt be a cluſter of gracious influences; in every ſigh and groan there is an acting of the ſpirit, Rom. 8. 26. The work of the ſpirit muſt be maimed, imperfect: if godly watching, 2. Prayer, 3 Fervent deſire, 4. Humble ſenſe of unworthineſs, 5. Faith on the promiſe, 6. Love to our Father, have not every one their ſeveral influences of grace. When the ſeven ſtars ariſe above the Horizon, if ſix aſcend, the ſeventh muſt alſo aſcend; in all which, the poor ſinner is far below the influences of grace, they are ſent out as ſoveraignty thinks fit; and here the Lord rains down ſhowrs of grace, and a ſhowre is made up of a multitude of drops: yet in the general may ſinners counter-work and reſtrain as it were the influences of grace; they may reſiſt the word, Zech. 7. 12. They made their hearts like an Adamant ſtone, leſt they ſhould hear the Law. Now the Lord cannot give influences out with the preached word where men turn away their ears from the Law,Reſiſting of the Word hinders not influences. Prov. 28. 9. and Act. 7. 57. they ſtop their ears. Wicked men cannot be avenged on the Spirit in his perſon, or in his ſeveral operations of ſaving grace; yet they avenge themſelves on the meſſage, and break in pieces the chariot that carries the Spirits operations, and trample upon his word; be in love with the word to count it your heritage, Sweeter then the honey and the honey-comb; and you as David upon ſuit, ſhall have influences to be kept from preſumptuous ſins. Pſal. 19. 7, 8, 9. compared with v. 13. and Pſalm 119. 40. Behold, I have longed after thy precepts, therefore Quicken me in thy righteouſneſs.
2.Refuſing of Ordinances h…nders not influences. Men can refuſe to come and partake of Ordinances and to be Baptized, as the Phariſees do Luke 7. 29, 30. and ſo reject the counſel of God; and refuſing to be among the golden Candleſticks, and the Aſſembly of his Saints, comes neer to trampling on the blood of the Covenant, doing deſpite to the Spirit of grace, Heb. 10. 25, 26, 29. Rejoyce to ſtand within Jeruſalem, Pſal. 122. for the Church is his vineyard: love a room in his Church, for it lies neer to the Sun, and is under the watering and ſhowres of grace. So Chriſt ſpeaks to the Spirit, Cant. 4. 16. Awake O North-wind, and come thou South, blow upon my garden, that the ſpices thereof may flow out. So there is a commiſſion given that the Spirit in its efficacy blow upon the plants and flowers that grow there; the Church is alſo his garden of red wine which he waters every moment, Iſa. 27.
3. Acts 7.Deſpiſing and perſecuting of the Prophets obſtruct influences. 51. Ye do alway reſiſt the holy Ghoſt, then muſt they obſtruct the gracious actings of the holy Ghoſt: & this proves it to be true that Steven ſaid, that they reſiſted the holy Ghoſt: Which of the prophets have not your fathers perſecuted? and they have ſlain them which ſhewed before of the coming of that juſt one, of whom ye are murtherers, (ſaith he) they who caſt down the lodging they injure the indweller; the godly prophet is the houſe and lodging of the holy Ghoſt. 2 Chro. 36. 12. Zedekiah humbled not himſelf before Jeremiah the Prophet, (ſpeaking) from the mouth of the Lord. Now the Spirit acted on the Prophets when they ſpoke, 2 Pet. 1. 12. then eſteem the feet of the meſſengers of God to be pleaſant upon the mountains, for they bring glad tidings of peace, and that they only do who have theſe gifts of the Spirit to pray and believe, Rom. 10. 14, 15.
4.Reſiſting of the operations of the Spirit is …o obſtruct influenences. The ſpeaking againſt the manifeſt operations of the Spirit of the Lord, by which Chriſt caſt out divels, draws ſo deep as the ſin againſt the holy Ghoſt, Matth. 12. and ſuch are deprived of pardon, of faith to lay hold on pardon; and ſuch having done deſpite to the ſpirit of grace, muſt indite war againſt the Spirit and all his operations; therefore cheriſh and obey the Spirits actings, be willing to be led by him, cloſe with the counſels and breathings of the Spirit; ſpeak to edification, that which miniſters grace to the hearers,Praying and praiſing promove the Spirits influences. and that cheriſhes the ſealing of the Spirit, Eph. 4. 29, 30. So ſinging Pſalms and Hymns, and ſpiritual Songs, with making melody in the heart to the Lord, is a proclaiming that there is ſome fulneſs of the Spirit; if the Spirit could ſpeak in the Saints, the two native languages of the Spirit would be praying (for that is the cry of the Spirit, Rom. 8. 15, 23, 26.) and ſinging praiſes, Eph. 5. 18, 19, 20. The way to have influences of the Spirit is to pray continually and fervently, and to give thanks always for all things unto God the father in the name of our Lord Jeſus, Eph. 5. 20.
5.Hardning of the heart obſtructs influences A wicked hardening of the heart, is as if ye would caſt water on a weakly ſmoaking fire of green timber, that cannot be a ſeat, an office-houſe to the Spirit and his actings, ſuch are interdited of the ſpiritual ſeeing, and of the Spirits hearing of the Spirit. Rom. 11. 8. God hath given them the ſpirit of ſlumber; eyes that they ſhould not ſee, and ears that they ſhould not hear to this day. It's dreadful when Prophets preach ſome ſtark blind and dead: one of the chief and noble operations of the Spirit, is illumination, and he is a ſeeing, and an enlightning, and a hearing ſpirit.
1. Wink not before the ſhining beams of the Sun; yield heartily to the convictions of the Spirit, John 16. 7. ſuch as waſte away the light of conſcience and the convictions of the Spirit, are not entruſted again with new actings of the Spirits enlightning.
2. Be tender, and ſtand in awe of ſmaller ſins: it ſpeaks much of the ſpirit in David, to be ſmitten with the renting of the lap of Saul's garment.
6.Not profiting by means obſtructs influences. Some make themſelves uncapable of the actings of the Spirit, who ſeeing great temptations, ſigns and miracles, have plenty of means, yet remain blind and hard-hearted, and dull of hearing, Deut. 29. 2, 3, 4. Heb. 5. 11, 12. Joh. 12. 37, 38, 39, 40. if we would improve the actings of the Spirit, and delight in the Lords way, we ſhould have new influences to walk in his paths, Pſalm 119. 35. and God teacheth David good judgements; for (ſaith he) I have believed thy commandments, v. 66. So are they-far from new influences who abuſe ſo many plagues and ſo many deliverances from theſe plagues, as Pharaoh did, and cruſh the motions of a trembling conſcience, as Felix did; a doubt it may be if ever the like acting of a Law-ſpirit viſit ſuch men again.
7.Remaining in nature obſtructs influences. All ſuch who remain in the ſtate of unrenewed nature are uncapable of the actings of the Spirit: nor does the Spirit lodge in ſenſual and beaſtly men, Jude v. 19. nor can the world receive the Spirit of truth, John 14. 17. no more then the ſpirit and breathing of a horſe can lodge in a…piſmire. It's true, John Baptist was full of the holy Ghoſt from the womb. Luke 1 15. and the Spirit acts him with joy, v. 41. when Mary ſaluted her; but John Baptiſts ſin Original was both then pardoned, as touching the damnation thereof, and ſubdued as touching the dominion of it. Otherwiſe another ſpirit acts and works by nature in the ſons of diſobedience, Eph. 2. 2. and theſe two ſtrong ones can remain and dwell both in one caſtle; then ſeek tranſlation, and to be with Chriſt, if ye would have the Spirit and his influences; multitudes no more complain of the want of the influences of the Spirit then a dead mans corps complains of cold, of hunger, of thirſt, or of influences of life from the living ſoul; nor complain they of ſickneſs. Oh, it ſpeaks life to be pained for the wa… of the Spirit and his influences: what wonder that ye cannot perſwade a ſleeping man that he ſleeps?
8.Actings of bitterneſs, wrath, malice, …ancor, ſadden the ſpirit. Some actings of bitterneſs, wrath, clamour, anger and malice in the Saints may ſadden the Spirit of God, darken the evidence of the Spirits ſealing unto the day of redemption, Eph. 4. 30, 31. It muſt be a ſort of ſuffering to the Spirit, and a caſting water on the fire, and a deadning to David, as touching vigorous and lively operations, that he acted adultery and murther, which moves him to pray for the reſtoring to him again the joy of the Lords ſalvation, and to be upholden by the Lords free ſpirit, Pſal. 51. 12. Can a King dwell even in a palace when it is burning and ſmoaking about his ears? therefore holy actings, teaching of ſinners, praying, praiſing, Pſalm 51. 13, 14. 15. to be kind one to another, and tender-hearted, to forgive one another, as Chriſt did, Eph. 4. 32. and to act as the Spirit, and to be holy and heavenly in one walk, puts the Spirit in a ſweet compoſed temper to act and breath abundantly in his flowings of love and grace.
9. It would be obſerved that influences of the Spirit are contempered with the actings of grace, with which they concur;Influences of the ſpirit are contempered according to the habit of grace. the ſpirit of adoption acts in the grammer of prayer, to cry Abba Father; and he comes down to the language of children learning to ſpeak, and to ſay Abba; and the Spirit helps our infirmities. O, it muſt be great help that the Spirit yields; it muſt be creating of new heavens, or removing of mountains, or dividing of the ſea, or ſomething like (ſay ſome:) nay the Spirit helps us with a groan; his influences come down to ſigh and weep, and mourn like a dove in a Saint, Rom. 8. 26. Cant. 2. 14. Ezech. 7. 16. and if ſo, it's no wonder that the Spirit breaths not on our wild fire anger. Well, does the Spirit breathe on Chriſts holy anger? he was angry and grieved, Mark 3. 5. and was ſaddened at the offending of God. To be angry at the ſin of offenders, and yet ſo as to compaſſionate the ſoul of the offender, this is to fix a fit ſeat for the influences of the ſpirit; nor can we receive the influences of that ſpirit who applieth and intimateth pardon and forgiveneſs when our anger is ſuch to theſe who injure us as we cannot forgive them; and if anger lodge and take chamber in the boſome and breſt of a fool, can the Spirit breathe ſupplications in ſuch a breſt? when the fountain is troubled and muddy with clay, it gives no repreſentation of the face and image to the beholder. Pſalm 119. 135. Make thy face to ſhine on thy ſervant: but the ſoul is a duſty and muddy glaſſe moſt unfit to receive the irradiations and beams of ſuch a tranſcendent ſun of glory;Sorrow worldly obſtruct influences. yea, it's ſome way fitted, v. 136. rivers of water run down mine eyes, becauſe they keep not thy Law. Then a ſoul mourning for ſin is fit to be ſhined upon by the Lord: when the man Chriſts ſoul is exceeding ſorrowful, even to the death, Matth. 26. 38. then is his ſoul fit to receive dartings of the ſpirit, to pray moſt humbly with his face on the ground, v. 39. moſt believingly, O my Father, foreign.O my Father; moſt fervently with tripple praying, 44. more earneſtly, Luke 22. 44. or more bendedly; then cannot a ſoul filled with helliſh and diveliſh ſorrow, ſuch as was the caſe of wakened Judas, receive influences of the Spirit to ſee a pierced Lord, and to be in bitterneſs as one is for his only ſon, Zech. 12. 10. but muſt deſpair, and receive influences of hell for hardneſs and impenitency.
Obj. But we ſee the Church lament, 3. very unbelievingly quarrelling with God. v. 8. When I ſhout and cry, he ſhutteth out my prayer. 10. He was unto me as a Bear lying in wait, and as a Lion in ſecret places: And v. 18. I ſaid my ſtrength and my hope is periſhed from the Lord. Yet verſe 24. The Lord is my portion, ſaith my ſoul, therefore will I hope in him: then doth not unbelief and ſorrow of ſad and half deſpairing, ſo incapacitate and deaden the ſoul to receive influences of believing?
Anſw. There is a far other conſideration of a ſoul under prevailing corruption, that is either yet not converted, and of a converted man under a ſtrong prevailing temptation: when two contrary champions, the fleſh and the ſpirit,We cannot expeditely change our ſpirit from carnal diſpoſitions to ſpiritual, but the Spirit can go and come with great celerity. are ſtanding in battel array in the fields, each one enemy attending the motions of another, as in the former conſideration: there is a great difference betwixt green timber & dry & withered fewel, or betwixt dry fire-wood & fewel, though dry, yet ſoaked ſome days in water; in this eaſe influences of the ſpirit from heaven, & influences of the fleſh from hell, do not ſo quickly exchange lodgings, and go and come to and from divers ſubjects; neither an unrenewed man, nor a David under prevailing luſt, are ſuch fitly diſpoſed fields for ſhowres of influences, as in a moment they can caſt off deadneſs and put on a ſpiritual diſpoſition to receive influences of grace, though there be an active celerity on the Spirits part, for he can go and come quickly, and this is to be ſeen in a ſoul under ſpiritual exerciſe, even now there is a ſad complaining, I ſaid in my haſte, I am …aſt out from before thy face; and yet with the ſame breath, nevertheleſs thou heardeſt the voice of my ſupplication. Then under ſenſe of being caſt out of Gods favour, there are alſo influences to pray, and to pray in faith, and when the Chriſtian fainting ſaith, My ſtrength and my hope is periſhed from the Lord, Lam. 3. 18. ſhe alſo ſaith, The Lord is my portion, ſaith my ſoul, v. 24. It's clear then that fainting and feeling are neer to other, and ſo influences for the one and for the other are neer to other; the quickneſs and celerity of influences is evident in the ſuddain ups and downs of the ſoul, as the ſhining of the Sun in March and the ſhowring of the clouds are ſo neer to other, he comes in his ſhinings as a fire-flaught in the midſt of our ſad louring and dumpiſh deadneſs, and when the Lord pleaſeth his viſits are ſpeedy and ſwift.