this account is he said so often to come forth from the F3ther, because he comes in pursuit of his Love, and to acquaint the Hearts of Believers therewith, that they may be comforted and aftablished. By perfwading us of the eternal, and unchangeable Love of the Father, he fills us with Confolation. And indeed all the effects of the Holy Ghost before mentioned, have their tendency this way. Of this Love, and its tranfcendent excellency you heard at large before. Whatever is defireable in it, is thus communicated to us by the Holy Ghoft. A sense of this is able, not only to relieve us, but to make us in every condition to rejoice with joy unfpeakable, and glorious. It is not with an increase of Corn, and Wine, and Oil; but with the fhining of the countenance of God upon us, that he comforts our fouls, Pfal. 4. 6. The world bateth me, (may fuch a foul as hath the fpirit fay,) but my Father loves me. Men defpife me, as an Hypocrite, but my Father loves me, as a Child. I am poor in this world, but I have a rich inheritance in the love of my FaEther. I am ftraitned in all things,but there is bread enough in my Fathers houfe. I mourn in fecret, under the power of my lufts, and fin, where no eye fees me; yea, but the Father fees me, and is full of compaffion. With a fenfe of his kindness, which is better then life, I rejoyce in tribulation, glory in affliction, triumph as a conquerour. Though I am killed all the day long, All my forrows have a bottom that may be fathomed; my trials have bounds that may be compaffed but the breadth, and depth, and height of the love of the Father, who can exprefs? I might render glorious this way of the Spirits comforting us, with the Love of the Father, by comparing it with all other caufes, and means of joy and confolation whatever. And fo difcover their emptiness, its fulness, their nothingness, its being all, as alfo by revealing the properties of it before rehearsed.

§. 12. Again, He doth it by communicating to us, and acquainting us with the Grace of Chrift. All the fruits of

his

his Purchase, all the defirableness of his Perfon, as we are Interested in him. The Grace of Chrift (as I formerly difcourfed at large) is referred to two Heads. The Grace of his Perfon; and of his Office, and Work. By both thefe doth the Holy Ghoft adminifter Confolation to us, John 14. 15. He glorifies Chrift, by revealing his Excellencies, and defirableness to Believers, as the chiefeft of Ten thoufand, altogether lovely. And then he fhews them of the Things of Chrift; his Love, Grace, all the Fruits of his Death, Suffering, Refurrection,and Intercession, and with thefe fupports their Hearts and Souls. And here whatever is of refreshment in the Pardon of Sin, deliverance from the Curfe, and Wrath to come, in Juftification, and Adoption, with the innumerable Priviledges attending them in the Hope of the Glory given unto us, comes in on this Head of account.

S. 13. Thirdly, The Principle, and Fountain of all his actings for Confolation, comes next under confideration to the fame end, and this leads us a little nearer to the Communion intended to be directed in. Now this is his own great Love, and Infinite Condefcenfion. He willingly proceedeth, or comes forth from the Father to be our Comforter. He knew what we were, and what we could do, and what would be our dealings with him. He knew we would grieve him, provoke him, quench his Motions, defile his dwelling place; and yet he would come to be our Comforter. Want of a due Confideration of this great Love of the Holy Ghoft, weakens all the Principles of our Obedience. Did this dwell, and abide. upon our Hearts, what a dear valuation must we needs put upon all his Operations and actings towards us? Nothing indeed is valuable, but what comes from Love and goodwill. This is the way the Scripture takes to raise up our Hearts, to a Right and due Estimation of our Redemption by Jefus Chrift. It tells us that he did it freely, that of his own Will he hath laid down his Life, that he did it out of Love. Herein is manifefted the Love of God, that be laid

down

down bis Life for us,he loved us, and gave himself for us, He loved us, and washed us with his own Blood. Hereunto it adds our State and Condition, confidered as he undertook for us, Sinners, Enemies, Dead, Alienated, then he loved us, and dyed for us, and washed us with his Blood. May we not hence also have a Valuation of the Difpenfation of the Spirit for our Confolation. He proceeds to that end from the Father; he Distributes as he Will, Works as he pleaseth. And what are we towards whom he carrieth on this Work? Froward, perverfe, unthankful, grieving, vexing, provoking him. Yet in his Love and tenderness, doth he continue to do us good. Let us by Faith confider this Love of the Holy Ghoft. It is the Head and fourse of all the Communion we have with him in this Life. This is, as I said, spoken only to prepare our Hearts to the Communion propofed: And what a little Fortion is it, of what might be spoken? How might all these confiderations be aggravated? What a numberless Number might be added? It fuffices that from what is fpoken it appears, that the Work in Hand is amongst the greatest Duties, and most excellent Priviledges of the Gospel.

CHAP. VII.

The general ways of the Saints acting in Communion with the Holy Ghost.

A

S in the account of the Actings of the Holy Ghost in us, we manifefted the general adjuncts of his actings, or the manner thereof; fo now in the defcription of the Returns of our Souls to him, I shall in the first place, propofe the general actings of Faith, in reference to this Work of the Holy Ghost, and then defcend unto particulars: Now there are three general ways, of the Souls Deportment in this Communion, expreffed all negatively in the Scripture, but all including pofitive Duties.

§. 2. 1. Now thefe are First. Not to grieve him. 2. Secondly, Not to quench his motions.

3. Thirdly, Not to refift him.

§. 3. Three Things confiderable in the Holy Ghost. 1. First, His Perfon, as dwelling in us.

2. Secondly, His actings by Grace, or his motions.

3. Thirdly, His working in Ordinances of the Word, and the Sacraments; all for the fame end and purpose. To these three, are the three Cautions before fuited.

1. First, Not to grieve him, in respect of his Perfon dwelling in us.

2. Secondly, Not to quench him, in respect of the actings and motions of his Grace.

3. Thirdly, Not to refift him in refpect of the Ordinances of Chrift and his Gifts, for their Administration. Now because the whole general Day of Believers in their Communion with the Holy Ghoft, is comprised in thefe three things; I fhall handle them severally.

S. 4. The First Caution concerns his Perfon immediately, as dwelling in us. It is given Eph. 4. 30. Grieve not the Holy Spirit of God. There is a complaint, Ifa. 63. 10. of them who vexed, or grieved the Spirit of God. And from thence doth this Caution feem to be taken. That it is the Perfon of the Holy Ghoft which is here intended, is evident. First, from the Phrafe, or manner of expreffion, with a double Article 7ò d'μa Toäior; that Holy Spirit: And also,

2. From the Work affigned to him in the following Words, of Sealing to the Day of Redemption. Which (as hath been manifefted, ) is the Work of the Holy Ghost. Now whereas this may be understood of the Spirit in others, or in our felves, it is evident that the Apoftle intends in the latter fenfe, by his addition of that fignal, and eminent Priviledges which we our felves enjoy by him, he Seals us to the Day of Redemption.

Let us fee then the tendency of this expreffion, as comprizing the first General Rule of our Communion with the Holy Ghost. Grieve not the Spirit.

The

3

The term of grieving, or affecting with forrow, may be confidered either Actively, in refpect of the Perfons areiving, or Paffively in refpect of the Perfons grieved. In the latter fenfe the expreffion is Metaphorical; the Spirit cannot be grieved, or affected with forrow, which infers alteration, difappointment, weakness, all incompatible with his infinite perfections: yet men may actively do that which is fit and able to grieve any one that stands affected towards them, as doth the Holy Ghost. If he be not grieved,it is no thanks to us, but to his own unchangea ble nature.

on.

So that there are two things denoted in this expref

Firft, That the Holy Ghoft is affected towards us, as one that it loving, careful, tender, concerned in our good, and well-doing,and therefore upon our miscarriages is faid to be grieved. As a good friend of a kind, and loving nature is apt to be fo on the miscarriage of him whom he doth affect. And this is that we are principally to regard in this caution as the ground and foundation of it; the Love, Kindness, and Tenderness of the Holy Ghost unto us. Grieve him not.

Secondly, That we may do thofe things, that are proper to grieve him, though he be not paffively grieved; our fin being no lefs therein, then if he were grieved as we are. Now this is done, how the Spirit is grieved, the Apostle declareth in the contexture of that Difcourse, verses 21, 22, 23, 24. He preffeth to a progrefs in Sanctification, and all the Fruits of Regeneration, ver. 25, 26, 27, 28, 29. He dehorts from fundry particular Evils, that were contrary thereto, and then gives the general enforcement of the one and the other; and grieve not the Holy Spirit of God; that is by coming fhort of that univerfal Sanctification, which our planting into Chrift doth require. The pofitive Duty included in this caution, of not grieving the Holy Spirit is this, That we pursue univerfal Holiness with regard unto, and upon the account

of