Influences of the Life of Grace, Part 4 · Chapter 4
CHAP. IIII.
Of other impediments of influences in particular coming from the mind, will, and ſome other conſiderable affections, and their cures. 1. Falſe and heretical light. 2. A corrupt will. 3 From hatred of Chriſt.
1. THe corrupt wiſedom and the wicked learning of men, who are carnal and deſtitute of the truth, can produce nothing, but doting about queſtions, and ſtrife of words; whereof cometh envy, ſtrife, railing, or blaſphemys, evil-ſurmiſings, foreign perverſe diſputing: theſe are the genuine fruits of the heretical ſpirit, 1 Tim. 6. 3, 4, 5. and of the wiſedom of men,Heretical light hinders the ſpirits breathings. which neither is ſubject to the law of God and his truth, foreign, neither can be ſubject, Rom. 8. 7, &c. of the carnal man, who neither receives the things of the Spirit of God, foreign, neither can he know them: and obſerve that the Holy Ghoſt in both places denies both the act and the poſſibility of the minds ſubjection to the truth where the judgement is rotten. Now as we may well ſay, the rock hath no natural power to receive an influence from God, for the growing of wheat on it; nor a thorn-tree to bring forth wine grapes, as our Saviour ſpeaks, Matth. 7. 16. ſo neither can the corrupt, and heretical mind produce ſound truths; nor can the Lord give influences, in a natural way, to a thiſtle to bring forth figs: indeed by a miracle, the Lord cauſed Aaron's dead withered rod to bloſſome and bring forth almonds: And Caiphas (I ſay not by a miracle) but in an extraordinary way, foreign, John 11. 51. not of himſelf, but by the Spirit, propheſied: and ſo did Balaam. But they did not ſpiritually, and with the light of faith, know what they propheſied; yea, I would crave leave to doubt, whether they literally knew that Chriſt God-man was the ſtar of Jacob, the light of the Gentiles, and to die for the Elect: as many Hereticks, yea, and the Divels literally know and believe theſe things with an Hiſtorical faith. If you would have breathings of the Spirit to know ſavingly and to aſſent to divine truths, motes and dirt and ſcales muſt be removed, and the mind renewed: then divine illumination is abſolutely needful.
2. Nor acts the Spirit in the polluted mind, and conſcience of the world, which cannot receive the Spirit. Now that power of receiving the Spirit, denyed of the world, John 14. 17. muſt be both a power natural, and a power acquired by wicked actings; for the elect & redeemed world by a natural power cannot receive the Spirit of truth.
2.A corrupt will hinders the ſpirits breathings. If the will be corrupt, that it will not come to Chriſt, John 5. 40. and will not have Chriſt to reign, Luke 19. 14. the man cannot lend a ſeat to the Spirit and his actings to obey and follow God, until the fallow-ground of the rocky will be plowed and broken, otherwiſe the man ſows among thorns, and labours a husbandry to the fleſh, and not to the Spirit; as Paul ſpeaks Gal. 6. 8. and the harveſt muſt be corruption and rotten fruit; judge then if the Spirit labours and tills a plot of ground to the fleſh; and if the Spirit from on high can ſend down influences and divine impreſſions of dew and warm ſun-beams upon the fleſhes plowed earth: or if nature intend that rain and Sun-heat ſhall make the rocks bring forth wheat. O how needful is a denyed will, when Saul ſpeaks of no will, but Chriſt's, and commits all to Chriſt's will, as if his own will were annil…ilated, though it was perfected, Acts 9. the man is fallen to the earth; And he trembling, and aſtoniſhed, ſaith, foreign ▪ Lord, what will thou have me to doe? There is a ſtrong Emphaſis in Lord, and in the word will; His own wicked will was playing the King or the Tyrant over the Saints; and when his will is down, and the will of Chriſt up, and the man hath been three days in this condition faſting and praying, then comes the ſpirit to take his own chop and to act in Panl. v. 17. Ananias ſaith, Brother Saul, the Lord (even Jeſus that appeared to thee in the way, as thou cameſt) hath ſent me to thee, that thou mayſt receive thy ſight, and be filed mith the holy Ghoſt; a humble broken will, deadned to ſelf, and to all things ſhall be rained on, and ſuch as is rebellious ſhall be a land of drought, Zech. 14. 16. And it ſhall come to paſſe that who ſo will not come up, of all the familys of the earth unto Jeruſalem, to worſhip the king the Lord of hoſts, even upon them ſhall be no rain.
3. There be ſtrong impediments that obſtruct influences of the ſpirit of grace from all the affections, if the heart be not with all watching watched over.
1.Hating of grace and of Chriſt hinders influences. The world that hates Chriſt, John 15. 18, 20. and perſecutes him and his ſervants is the ſame world which cannot receive the ſpirit of truth, John 14. 17. if ye hate Chriſt and the Godly, no influences of grace for you. Ye ſhal hew all your dayes, be ye miniſter, or profeſſor, upon hard timber without the Spirits tools; ye ſhall pray, preach, profeſſe, hear, ſing, praiſe in the letter, with out the Spirit and his influences; for ye can not receive the Spirit of truth, John 14. 17. and then muſt you be dry and withered in all your actings: whereas influences, and manifeſtations are promiſed to the lovers of Chriſt. Joh. 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 ſelfe to him.
Theſe ſure are the revelations and manifeſtations of the Spirit. John 15. 24.
Chriſt puts a ſtrong wall of difference between the hating world and the diſciples, v. 24. now they have both ſeene and hated both me, and my Father, but not ſo ye, v. 26. when the comforter is come, whom J will ſend unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he ſhall teſtifie of me. v. 27. and ye alſo ſhall beare witneſſe, becauſe ye have been with me from the beginning. Here are actings of the ſpirit in the diſciples who love the father, and Chriſt, that the ſpirit acteth them to bear witneſs of him to the world upon all hazards,Divers actings of the ſpirit in the ſpouſe ſick of love for Chriſt in Solomon's ſong of ſongs, ſpeak and hold forth influences of the ſpirit. even to death and torment. We ſee what workes and actings of the ſpirit is in the Spouſe ſick of love for Chriſt, which are in that ſong of ſongs to be ſeen, comparing, Cant. 2. 5. Cant. 5. 8. with other places of the ſong: theſe works of the ſpirit are ſeen,
1. A deſire to be kiſſed with the kiſſes of his mouth, Cant. 1. 2.
2. A ſpirituall ſmelling of his good oyntments, Cant. 13.
3. A prayer to be drawn, and a vow to run being drawn, Cant. 1. 4.
4. A reſolution to rejoyce in his love, with all the virgins and chaſte followers of Chriſt, Cant. 1. 4. to rejoyce more in his love then in wine.
5. A deſire to be where Chriſt dwelleth in the tents of the Shepherds, a ſound Miniſtry, Cant. 1. 7.
6. A profeſſion of intimate love to Chriſt, ſo as he lies as a bundle of myrrhe betwixt her breſts all the night, Cant. 1. 13, 16. an extolling of Chriſt as the apple-tree among all the trees of the forreſt, Cant. 2. 3. and a delighting to taſte the fruits of his love.
7. A ſpiritual feeling in being taken into his celler-houſe of wine, Cant. 2. 4. a deſire to be refreſhed and eſtabliſhed with the promiſes and comforts of the preached Goſpel. Cant. 2. 5. Stay me with flagons, and comfort me with apples, for I am ſick of love.
8. The feeling of his love-imbracements when they are on, v. 6. His left hand is under my head, and his right hand embraceth me.
9. Becauſe the whole ſong is a ſong of love, there is a charge given not to offend Chriſt, v. 7.
10. An eying of him by faith, in his approaches in the delivery of his people in his coming in the fleſh to ſave the world in the preached Goſpel, in all which his coming, leaping over the mountains, and skipping over the hills, ſaith, That no impediment of the enemies, and the powers of hell, and no evil deſerving of ſin can obſtruct his gracious motions to ſave and comfort his own, v. 8, 9.
11. The diſcerning of Chriſt's calling us in the Goſpel, v. 10, 11, 12. My Beloved ſpake and ſaid unto me, Riſe up my love, my fair one, and come away.
12. The diſcerning of his deſire of our worſhip of the Churches praying, doctrine and diſcipline, v. 14, 15. O my dove—let me ſee thy countenance, let me hear thy voice; for ſweet is thy vice, &c.
13. The Churches claiming of intereſt mutual betwixt Chriſt and his Spouſe, v. 16. My Beloved is mine, and I am his.
14. The obſerving where Chriſt is, his feeding among the lillies in his Church, which is clean and comely by his beauty. 16. He feedeth among the lillies, 17. untill the day breake, &c.
15. The Spouſes deſire of his company, v. 17. Turn my Beloved, and be thou like a Roe or a young Hart upon the mountains of Bether: a deſire of being with him for ever in glory, as Rev. 22. v. 17, 20.
16. The Spouſes careful ſeeking of Chriſt, and ſpiritual reſtleſneſs till ſhe find him. Cant. 3. 1, 2, 3, 4. I ſought him whom my ſoul loved, I ſought him, but I found him not, &c.
17. The ſweet ſpiritual ſmell of the ſo loved Church, v. 6, &c.
18. Chap. 5. The Spouſes diſcerning of his knock and voice though ſhe ſleep. 2. The acknowledging of her ſinful denying to let him in. 3. The Spirit of Chriſts acting upon her heart, till the bowels of love were ſtirred in her, v. 4. 4. The opening to him. 5. The ſmell of her obedience, which ſhe felt, like dropping myrrhe, v. 5.
19. The Spouſes ſwooning and falling dead at his departure.
20. The Spouſes praying and ſeeking him, when now he had withdrawn himſelf, and the miſſing of the ſweet actings of the ſpirit to her ſenſe, v. 6.
21. Her ſeeking of him at the watchmen, 1, 6, 7.
22. Her deſire that other profeſſors, the daughters of Jeruſalem, may in prayer hold forth to Chriſt her ſpiritual ſtate of love-ſickneſs, v. 8.
23. Her preferring of Chriſt to all other beloveds in Heaven or Earth, v. 9.
14. The Spouſes high exalting of Chriſt in all his parts, endowments, graces and lowlineſs, My Beloved is white and ruddy, v. 10, 11, 12, &c. all theſe, and many others the like teach that the ſpirit in ſuch excellent operations and graces, hath his dwelling and ſeat in an heart ſtrongly filled with the love of Chriſt.
But who hates Chriſt?
1.Hating of Chriſt. All perſecuters of his members. John 15. 18. If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before you; And it is exponed v. 20. If they have perſecuted me, they will alſo perſecute you. And whoever loves not the Brethren are not tranſlated, 1 John 3. 14. and they who love them not hate them, 1 John 3. 14. compared with v. 15. how carnal luſt and the love of glory from men hindereth influences of the Spirit to love Chriſt; See John 8. 42. If God were your father, ye would love me. 44. Ye are of your father the Divel, the luſts of your father foreign ye will do; he was a murderer from the beginning, v. 50. I ſeek not mine own glory. The ſtrong love of Chriſt in the heart is a chamber and a houſe for the Spirit to act in.
2. Not deſiring of God, but an abhorring, or a ſoul abhorring of God hinders influences of the Spirit.
1. Are there any who abhor God? ſuch a ſad word is ſpoken of the Jews,Soul-loathing of God obſtructs influences. Zech. 11. 8. Three Shepherds alſo I cut off in one month, and my ſoul loathed them, and their ſoul alſo abhorred me. Departing from God, as a whoriſh woman forſakes her huband, is charged upon the confederat people, harlotry upon every high hill, and under every green tree, Jer. 2. 20. even when they ſaid, We will not tranſgreſs. Hoſ. 4. 12. The ſpirit of whoredom hath cauſed them to erre, and they have gone a whoring from under their God, 13. And can the holy ſpirit of the Lord, the huſband act in a whoriſh ſpouſe, who grieves that ſpirit? See Pſalm 106. 39. Can refreſhings come from the fountain of living waters, to ſuch as Jer. 2. 13. forſake the fountain, and hew them out ciſterns, broken ciſterns that can hold no waters? or can the Spirit dwell and act in that ſoul which abhors God and the ſpirit of God and his operations? no man will lodge in an Inne in which he knows they lie in wait for his life. Iſa. 63. 10. They rebelled and vexed his holy Spirit.
2. There are who ſay, Job 21. 14. to God, Depart from us, for we deſire not the knowledge of thy ways; and who Prov. 1. 29.The Spirit gives influences where there is no knowledge. hate knowledge. Now the ſpirit of the Lord is a ſpirit of knowledge, and needs none to counſel him and teach him knowledge, Iſa. 40. 13, 40. And to one is given by the ſame ſpirit (ſaith the Apoſtle, 1 Cor. 12. 8.) the word of wiſedom, to another a word of knowledge by the ſame ſpirit; and he is, Epheſ. 1. 17. the ſpirit of wiſedom and revelation, who gives the knowledge of Chriſt; the Spirit then will not be a teacher to ſuch as hate the maſter teacher and all his inſtructions. Wil a man be an inſtructer to a Diſciple or Apprentice, who (to his knowledge) hates and flies from him, and abhors him? who abhors, mocks, and does deſpite to the Spirit? and will the Spirits going forth be as the pleaſant morning in ſuch a man? ſure the Spirit teacheth not, convinceth not, guideth not in all truth any, John 14. 26. John 16. 7, 13. but ſuch only as Chriſt ſendeth him unto, John 14. 16, 17. & 16. 7. I will ſend him unto you, v. 13. He ſhall guide you—He ſhall ſhew you things to come, John 15. 26. And therefore he comes to this, Pſalm 73. 25. Whom have I in heaven but thee? and (there is) none upon earth that I deſire beſides thee. What is ſuch a man? how is he known by another? There be three notes by which he is known, v. 23. 1. Nevertheleſs (though I be a beaſt and a tempted fool doubting of a providence) I am continually with thee. O bleſſed company! Then follow two obſervable actings and influences of the Spirit. 1. The confirming and upholding influence, the ſupernatural manutenentia, upholding of the Spirit, Thou wilt hold me faſt by my right hand. 2. There is the guiding, John 16. 13. and leading of the Spirit, Pſal. 143. 10. Pſal. 73. 14. Thou ſhalt guide me by thy counſel. So every element acts and moves moſt connaturally in its own place;Influences of the ſpirit are connatural to the ſpiritual man. the river moves moſt connaturally within its own channel; it's violent in its motion when it runs above and without its own banks: the wind moves naturally in the air, but moſt violently and unkindly in the bowels of the earth, for there it cauſes earthquakes, and ſwallows up houſes and Cities. The Spirit of the Lord acts and breaths ſweetly in a believer; but the ſpirit that moves in a poſſeſſed man, is proven to be the ſpirit of the Divel not of God, becauſe he moves moſt connaturally, and caſteth the poſſeſſed one, who is his houſe, in fire and water,Where there is ſoul-deſiring of God there be many influences. Mark 9. he is not a gracious gueſt who ſets on fire his own lodging. Iſa. 26. 9. With my ſoul I have deſired thee in the night; yea, with my ſpirit within me early will I ſeek thee: and that is a work of the ſpirit to learn righteouſneſs, when the Lords judgements are on the earth. v. 12. Lord, thou wilt ordain peace for us; for thou alſo haſt wrought all our works in us. The Spirit refers all acting on earth to God, for the good of his Church; and there follow many expreſſions of faith and livelineſs to the end of the Chapter. v. 13, 14. the Lords that ruled over us beſide thee are dead: the people (v. 16.) prayed to thee in trouble. v. 19. Our dead men buried in Babylon ſhall live and be delivered: Could we deſire and thirſt after God, the Spirit ſhould act more abundantly in us.
3.Senſuality and influences of the ſpirit cannot be together. From our joy or delight, and our ſadneſs and ſorrow, ariſe impediments of ſpiritual influences. As
1. Carnal ſenſual delights and the Spirit cannot be together, Jude v. 19. ſenſual, not having the ſpirit. The more men are drowned in ſenſual luſts, the leſs of the Spirit they have, or nothing at all. The Apoſtle, Phil 3. makes an oppoſition betwixt ſuch whoſe God is their belly, and mind earthly things, corn, wine, and oyl, and mind not ſpiritual things, and ſo benow nothing of the Spirit; and himſelf and ſound believers, who have their converſation in heaven, which muſt ſpeak much ſpiritual mindedneſs, and mighty influences of the Spirit, by which the mind, the apprehenſions and thoughts, the affections, hope, faith, love, delight, haunt heaven and eternity much. The Scripture calls ſome ſwine, 2 Pet. 2. 22. ſome other dogs, Rev. 22. 15. Does the holy Spirit dwell and breath in and through a prophane and unclean man, ſuch as are ſwine and dogs? It's ſtrange that the preaching of the Goſpel and Satan lodge together in Judas; Have not I choſen you twelve, and one of you is a devil? John 6. 7. Matth. 10. 1. And when he had called the twelve diſciples, he gave them power againſt unclean Spirits to caſt them out, and to heal all manner of ſickneſs. v. 7. Goe and preach.
2. Influences of grace, ſpiritual joy, perſevering to the end, can no more find good ſoil to grow in a rocky, ſtony, proud, and graceleſs heart, then corn can grow on ſtones and rocks, Matth. 13. 20, 21. though there be a receiving of the word with joy and delight, that joy is but falſe mettal. The only cure of this is, if we would have our ſpiritual deſires as touching grace, and glory, and other things annexed to this, is to liſten to that Pſalm 37. 4. Delight thy ſelf alſo in the Lord, and he ſhall give thee the deſires of thy heart. What was ſpoken of love-ſickneſs after Chriſt, the ſame is true of ſoul-delighting in Chriſt, that in any precious actings of the Spirit goes along with both, Pſalm 63. 7. The ſoules following hard after God Pſalm 63. is a fruit of the other v. 6. When I remember thee upon my bed, and meditate on thee in the night-watches, then v. 5. My ſoul ſhall be ſatisfied with marrow and fatneſs; my ſoul ſhall praiſe thee with joyful lips. Pſal. 51. 11. Take not thy ſpirit of holineſs from me. Why? what ſpecial fruit of that ſpirit doth he ſeek, v. 12. Reſtore unto me the joy of thy ſalvation, and firmly ſuſtain me with (thy) free ſpirit, a willing, a princely ruling ſpirit.
Joy hath a ſtrong impulſion,Spiritual joy ſpeaks ſtrong influences. and hath vehement expreſſions; as clapping of the hands, Pſalm 47. 1. Shouting, Pſal. 63. 7. In the ſhadow of thy wings I rejoyced. Heb. I ſhouted. And Matth. 5. 12. Rejoyce, foreign, rejoyce and leap for joy, as in a dance. It's excellent to ſtrong impulſions of the Spirit, to joyn ſtrong and vehement actings of ours. High-bended and fervent acts of obedience come not but from ſtrong habits of grace; but here I ſpeak of mighty ſtirrings of influences; here we would beware of ſtraining affectation of ſhouting, and expreſſion of delight;Literal crying ſhould not exceed the impulſion of the ſpirit within. ſome bring more out then is within, when literal crying and ſhouting does exceed the inward impulſion of the Spirit; it's dreadful to lye of the Holy Ghoſt, and of his impulſions: but to the point. Our actings would be proportioned to the Spirits ſtirring: Mighty rivers come from a huge arm of the Sea: ſome ſtreams flowing from little ſmall fountaines run ſcarce the fourth part of a mile. 1 Cor. 15. 10. Strong labouring c…mes from ſtrong and abundant grace. I laboured more abundantly then they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me. A ſtrong influence of the Spirit calls for a ſtrong virtual conſent, eſpecially when the Spirits impulſion of joy is ſtrong, Cant. 1. 12. While the King ſitteth at his table, and feaſts the Spouſe with quickening influences, and ſatisfies her ſoul as with marrow and fatneſs, my ſpikenard ſendeth forth the ſmell thereof. The ſpikenard is here the precious oyl or oyntment of ſpikenard, John 12. 1, 2, 3. that is, the ſmell of her actings of joy, delight, love, were ſtrong and exceeding ſavoury, as his table was a Kings table and fat, and the actings of his ſpirit ſtrong, then followes a ſuitable ſtrong expreſſion of delight, v. 13. A bundle of myrrhe is my beloved unto me, he ſhall lie (or lodge) all night betwixt my breaſts. And Cant. 2. 4. the King brought me into his houſe of wine, that is, into the chamber of the moſt ſpiritual and ſoul-delighting conſolations of the Goſpel, that rejoyce and cheer the heart as excellent wine doth one that is fainting, as Pſal. 104. 15. Prov. 31. 6, 7. compared with 2 Cor. 1. 6. 2 Theſs. 2. 18, 19. And the Spouſe joynes to this a moſt vehement diſpoſition of ſoul-ſickneſs of love for Chriſt, v. 5. Stay me with flagons, and comfort me with apples, for I am ſick of love. As alſo godly ſorrow for ſinne, 2 Cor. 7. 10, 11, 15. a ſpecial work of the Spirit, and princely and kingly gift of his Spirit who was raiſed from the dead to act this ſorrow in us, Acts 5. 31. as alſo ſwoooning and dying at the abſence and withdrawing of Chriſt the beloved,Godly ſorrow may help influences. Cant. 5. 6. is a fruit of the Spirit; and to ſleep, and eat, and drink, and rejoyce when the holy Spirit is ſa…ned, and when he withdraws his actings, is a diſmal and ſad token, though there may ſome influence of corruption be in ſorrowing, becauſe the Spirits actings are ſuſpended as they are our comforts or apples to delight children, and not as duties that we owe for Chriſts love to us, and conſcience of his command, which ſaith Phil. 4. 4. Rejoyce alwayes in the Lord, &c. and here we would beware of worldly ſorrow that cauſeth death. Sorrow and heart-breaking becauſe of the breaking of created comforts, as if God were not the ſoules portion and the Saints all in all, ſhould be eſchewed, this ſorrow blunts and deadens the ſoul from drinking in influences of glory as far, Luke 9. v. 32. alſo Law-ſadneſs, dumpiſh ſervile down-caſting, becauſe it deadens and kills as the Law doth, muſt be eſchewed: indeed ſadneſs that Evangelically mortifies and deadens to created ſpiritual comforts, may quicken the believer to a more vigorous delighting in Chriſt himſelf, who is more then comfort, Pſal. 119. My ſoul droppeth away for heavineſs; and that puts fire in the ſoul to pray. Strengthen thou me according to thy word. It appears to be ſpiritual ſorrow that breaks out in prayer, Matth. 26. 38, 39. Pſal. 18. 4, 5, 6. Pſal. 61. 2. Pſal. 102.
4.How hope and audacity promove or hinder influences. There are in the fourth Claſs two affections, hope and audacity, or fool-hardineſs, which would be taken heed unto.
Now with hope, which looks to good to come and hardly attained, we muſt take in faith, one of the fruits of the Spirit, Gal. 5. 22. Sometimes one affection in its carnality will counterwork another, Luke 24. 41. The diſciples believe not for joy and wondering. But the ſpecial ground is unbelief: the wide deſire of unbelief thinks God cannot be ſo abundantly good as to reſtore to them Chriſt from the dead, and the carnal reaſoning of wondring contradicts a poſſibility of the reſurrection; over-acting of one affection, to wit, of joy, when it's literal, counter-works the actings of the Spirit in the faith of the promiſes. Hence muſt Chriſt ſoften the heart with ſwaſory actings, before the man believe and conſider what Chriſt does morally, Luke 24.One affection counter-works another, and hinders faith. He opens the Scriptures to the two diſciples, Luke 24. 27. He rebukes their unbelief, v. 25. and as to his own diſciples, he ſent them word with eye-witneſſes who ſaw him, that he was riſen again, but their words ſeem idle tales to them, Luke 24. 11. And he upbraided them for their unbelief and hardneſs of heart, Mark 16. 14. 3. He appeared and ſpake to them. 4. He made their ſenſes witneſſes, by cauſing them ſee and touch his hands and feet. 5. He did eat with them, which was an action of life. 6. He wrought a miracle, of bringing multitudes of fiſh to their net, but all is to little purpoſe until he take a real and effectual way, by the working of the Spirit, Luke 24. 45. Then opened he their underſtanding, Moral acting cannot avail us without real influences of the ſpirit.that they might underſtand the Scriptures. Then the opening of the Scriptures, though in the mouth of Chriſt, avail little to faith, except the Spirit of Chriſt open another lock, even the heart. This is one of the firſt works of the Spirit, to convincethe conſcience of unbelief, John 16. 8, 9. and when the Spirit hath taken that caſtle, and brought the ſoul to be ſenſible of unbelief, he can eaſily take in the reſt of the works; frequent caſting to of new oyl to the lamp, keeps it ſhining, and new fewel cauſes the fire to flame. Frequent repeated acts of believing bring the diſciples to get the grace to doe greater works then Chriſt did, Frequent acts of faith promove influences of the ſpirit.becauſe Chriſt went to the Father, John 14. 14. Believe influences of grace, and have influences of grace abundantly furniſhed to you: ask the Spirit in faith, and the Father is as willing to give the Spirit, as a Father is to give bread to his hungry child; ſo here faith makes a fair wind, Luke 11. 9, 10, 11, 12, 13. It is not ſo in nature, the husbandmans natural faith, that it ſhall be a ſweet, warm, fruitful Summer, makes not a fruitful Summer: The Sea-mans natural faith, believing fair winds, and no ſtorms at all, makes it not to be ſo; for often faith here is but fancy, but faith acting dayly upon the precious promiſes of the word, brings ſtrong gales, and ſummer-influences of heart warmneſs of the Spirit, and in a manner creates new blowings of the North and South-wind, fainting under the breathings and knockings of the Spirit of Chriſt, makes him withdraw, Cant. 5. 2, 6. Here unbelief binds up the wind and breathings of the ſpirit, as it doth the mighty actings of Chriſt, Mat. 13. An unbeliever, as touching his ſtate is a Pagan, and doth the holy ſpirit dwell in an Heathen? Lively hope (for there is a dead and withered hope) is no leſs a fruit of the ſpirit then faith. This is a ſpecifick difference between an unconverted Pagan who wants the ſpirit, and a convert who hath the ſpirit. The former is one who has no hope, and ſo is without God, and without Chriſt, and without the Spirit of God in the world, and ſo is not capable of influences, Epheſ. 2. 12, 13, 14. and one whom the Lord according to his abundant mercy hath begotten again unto a lively hope by the reſurrection of Jeſus Chriſt from the dead, 1 Pet. 1. 3. For in ſuch a man there be many actings of the Spirit. As Faith. 2. Perſeverance therein, v. 4, 5. Rejoycing in God, v. 6. Patient believing in the furnace, v. 7. Love, v. 8. all which are fruits of the ſpirit,Hope promoves influences. Gal. 5. 22. And hope under deadneſs ſpreads abroad the ſailes, and hoiſes them up to receive and gather in the wind: it brings home influences of grace to lie at the tide and wait until the wind blow ſweetly and fairly from the Spirits earth. Hope is the onwaiter, expecting ſhowrs of influences in the conſcionable uſing of the means. The hope of him who purifies not himſelf, 1 John 3. 3. ſhall wither; hope to the end ſtill flouriſhing, growes on the right tree, and ſpeaks a communion with the ſpirit, which hath conjoyned with it the obedience of children, the not faſhioning our ſelves to former luſts, and holineſs like unto God who hath called us, 1 Pet. 1. 13, 14, 15, 16. otherwiſe the hope ſhall be a broken tree, and hath nothing to doe with the Spirit. Many ſay they hope well, and it's good to hope well, and live upon thoughts that they ſhall be ſaved, yet are profane and godleſs,Sinful boldneſs obſtructs influences. walking after their luſts; this is ſinful boldneſs, and the ſpirit dwells in none ſuch. There is a boldneſs of faith in acceſs to God, and in approaching to the throne of grace, Rom. 5. 1, 2, 3, 4. Heb. 4. 16. by which Davids ſoul makes her boaſt in the Lord, Pſalm 34. 2. It hath theſe undoubted graces of the ſpirit, faith, praying, glorying in tribulation, patience, the love of God ſpread abroad in the heart by the holy Ghoſt, which is given to us, Rom. 5. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5.
5. The fifth Claſs of impediments come from theſe two. 1. Deſpair and anger.
What workings and ſaving impulſions in the ſpirit can be in Cain, Saul, and Judas, is not conceivable. Hope that makes not aſhamed, Rom. 5. as is ſaid, dwells ſweetly with the ſpirit.
2. The violence of the paſſion of anger overclouds the ſoul,Anger hindereth influences. ſo that Eliſha is not capable to receive prophetical influences, and to propheſie, he was ſo incenſed againſt wicked Jehoram, 2 Kings 3. But when the min…rel played, the hand of the Lord came upon him, and he propheſied. Theodoret ſaith, with the ſweetneſs of the harmony of the Pſalms the mind of Eliſha was calmed and compoſed from the ſtorm of anger. How Eliſha could not propheſie by reaſon of anger.The ſound of muſick (ſaith Cajetan) makes an inward contracting and gathering together of the actings of the mind, and ſo an elevating of the heart to God. Here it is, as when blood runs out at mouth or noſe, the cutting of a vein in the arm makes a diverſion of the blood, and cauſes it run in its right channel. The ſweetneſs of muſick drawes the ſoul to a bended attention to conſider the harmony, that it may the more greedily drink in delectation. Peter Martyr on the place ſaith, As David by ſinging a ſpiritual ſong chaſed away the evil ſpirit from Saul, ſo would Eliſha waken up the good ſpirit by heavenly Pſalmes, as the ſounding of a Trumpet hath influences upon the mind of ſouldiers to valorous and heroick acts in warre. Now muſick ſpiritual, the matter being Pſalmes to God (and it's like Eliſha called for ſome of the Levites who could ſing pſalmes on the harp, as they were uſed in publick worſhip) can withdraw the ſoul in anger from acts of revenge to acts of ſpiritual attention… muſick.
2. That being done, the ſoul is ſetled, and the blood; for the Phyſical definition of anger is a kindling of the blood about the heart, the moral deſcription of it being a deſire of revenge to hold off a contrary, and to preſerve nature; and when the blood is ſetled and fallen from the heart, the organs of prophecying are in a little better frame then when the ſoul and heart is boyling like a pot in heat and flaming of anger.
3. By bending of the mind to a ſpiritual object the ſweet muſick in praiſing of God, the ſome of anger is removed, and a ſpiritual diſpoſition to praiſe, which is nearer by nature to ſpiritual prophetical influences, then the flamings of ſinful carnal anger, as aer inſitus, the air that is within in the ear fits the organs to receive the ſound, and lumen inſitum fitteth the eye to receive the ſpecies and images of colours, and ſo to ſee by the contrary the foming of anger within hinders the incoming of prophetical influences; as a contrary holds out a contrary. Intus apparens prohibet extraneum. So the Apoſtles wills us to put away anger if we would pray rightly, 1 Tim. 2. 1, 8. I will therefore that men pray every where lifting up holy hands, foreign, without wrath and doubting or contending. Anger drowns the ſoul, and renders it like green wet timber, unfit to receive the flaming and ſoulwarming influences of the ſpirit of adoption.
2.A meek ſpirit is a fit workhouſe of influences inſtanced in the man Chriſt, in Meſes, John. A meek quiet ſpirit, like that of Chriſts, is the fitteſt work-houſe of heavenly influences. Chriſt the moſt lovely and meek of men, and an infallible copy thereof, Mat. 11. 29. Iſa. 53. 6. Iſa. 40. 11. Iſa. 42. 2, 3. had the moſt frequent influences of the in-dwelling Godhead, as Iſa. 61. 1, 2 Pſalm 45. 7. John 3. 34.
2. Moſes was the meekeſt man on the earth, and much of the actings of the ſpirit were on his ſoul, and he had the moſt near manifeſtations of God: The Lord ſpake to him mouth to mouth, even apparently, and not in dark ſpeeches, he beheld the ſimilitude of the Lord, Numb. 12. 8. Deut. 34. 10. Exod. 34. 5, 6.
Q. What Prophet was fourty dayes in the mount with the Lord, and eat not, but Moſes? Exod. 33. 11. There aroſe not a Prophet like unto Moſes, &c.
3. John the diſciple of love, called the beloved diſciple, gets the name of divine, and he ſaw more glory and more of the viſions of God then Peter, who is the pretended Vicar of Chriſt, and Head of the Catholick Church (ſo doe Papiſts dream of an Head-ſhip.) For John ſaw Chriſt in his glory, Revel. 1. which made him fall dead at his feet. He ſaw a throne ſet in heaven, and one ſate on the throne, and he that ſate, was to look upon, like a Jaſper and a Sardine-ſtone, and there was a rainbow round about the throne, and four and twenty ſeats round about the throne, and four and twenty Elders, who caſt down their crowns before him that ſate upon the throne, c. 4. and the armies in heaven, in earth, and under the earth praiſing him. He ſaw in the viſions of God the ſeven Angels which poured the vials of the wrath of God upon the earth. He ſaw Babylons fall, the viſion of the laſt Judgment, the Bride the Lambs wife adorned with the glory of God. He ſaw the new Jeruſalem, the golden ſtructure of it, the ſtreet of gold, the twelve ports, the wall, the foundation of precious ſtones, the river of water of life, the tree of life. Moſes never ſaw ſuch glory.
3. Hence ſee we that there may be a ſinful incapacity on our part, and that the pure in ſpirit ſee God, Mat. 5. and that grace keeps the ſoul like a calm ſea, without ſtorm and wind; and that if we would be near God, we would keep the heart clean and pure. We are to beware of grudging, and act theſe three duties. 1. Truſt in the Lord. 2. Delight in the Lord. 3. Hope patiently for him, Pſalm 37. 1, 2, 3, 4. There may be an earthquake in the zeal of a meekned Elias; there was no godly men on earth left but himſelf, as his angry zeal ſaid to him, and the Lord knew 7000. beſides him.
The Lords way of appearing to Elias, 1 Kin. 19. taught him ſome other thing; for the Lord was neither in the ſtrong wind that brake in pieces mountaines and rocks, nor in the earthquake, nor in the fire, but in the ſtill ſmall voice, v. 11, 12. The Spirit was not of God which would call for fire from heaven in the diſciples to burn villages, and men women and children quick, becauſe they refuſe lodging to Chriſt and his diſciples: for therefore meekly, ſaith Chriſt, and gravely, Luke 9. 55. Ye know not what manner of ſpirit ye are of. 56. For the Son of man came not to deſtroy mens lives, but to ſave them. You know not that theſe flamings of the fleſhes wild-fire came not from heaven; for they ſmell not of the meek Son of man, nor ſavour they of his ſaving meſſage. No doubt the diſciples thought their ſparks were kindled at a fire from heaven; but that fire came not from God: ſeldom does the Lords Spirit dwell and act in his ſaving influences in an angry fiery ſpirit: grace meekens hell and helliſh paſſions in the renewed Saints. There are no paſſions in the glorified and perfectly meekned ones, who ſtand before the throne, but ſuch as are pure and unmixed fire for the everlaſting praiſes of God. Hence ſhowres of influences eternally rain on them night and day without ceaſing, Iſa. 6. 2, 3, 4 Rev. 4. 8.
The 6th. impediment of heavenly influences is from fear, 2 Tim. 1. 7. We are to ſtir up the grace of God in us, and his gifts not from a legal fear: For God hath not given us the ſpirit of fear, but of power, of love, and of a ſound mind, 2 Tim. 1. 7. Then we take up the Spirit of law-bondage and law-fear of our own will: that ſpirit of fear is not of Gods giving or chooſing, but it is of our chooſing, Rom. 8. Such as are led by the ſpirit of God are willing followers,Ʋnbelieving fear an impediment of influences. v. 15. For we have not received the ſpirit of bondage again to fear, but we have received the ſpirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. It's like the devils are uncapable of influences of grace, becauſe of the horrour and ſlaviſh trembling fear that is upon their conſcience: they be ever under the law of works, never under grace, no not ſo much as in offer, Matth. 8. 29. Jam. 2. 19. Faith and the ſpirit of adoption to pray, to believe, influences of grace is the remedy of this. So are we to believe perſeverance, and that God ſhall give influences of grace to the end, Pſalm 23. We ſhall have waterings, and the believers well ſhall never run dry, Pſal. 104. 33. I will ſing unto the Lord as long as I live, Pſal. 104. 33. Pſal. 146. 1. Pſal. 52. 8, 9. Then he knew of a ſtock and a new furniture in heaven, ſuppoſe his own well ſhould go dry.