Page images
PDF
EPUB

of our days affirm alfo pretend the fame. Let us briefly try them by fome of the effects mentioned, which Christ hath promifed to give the Holy Ghost for.

The first general effect, as was obferved, was this; that he fhould bring to remembrance the things that Chrift fpake for our guidance and confolation. This was to be the work of the Holy Ghoft towards the apostles, who were to be the pen-men of the fcriptures: this is to be his work towards believers to the end of the world. Now the things that Chrift hath spoken and did, are written that we might believe, and believing have life through his name, John xx. 30. They are written in the fcripture. This then is the work of the Spirit, which Christ hath promifed, he fhall bring to our remembrances, and give us understanding of the words of Christ in the fcripture for our guidance, and confolation. Is this now the work of the fpirit, which is abroad in the world, and perverteth many? Nothing lefs, his business is to decry the things that Christ hath spoken which are written in the word; pretend new revelations of his own; to lead men to from the written word, wherein the whole work of God, and all the promises of Christ are recorded.

Again, the work of the Spirit promised by Chrift, is to glorify him, He ball glorify me, for he fhall take of mine and fhew it unto you, John xvi. 14. him who was to fuffer at Jerufalem, who then fpake to his difciples; it was to make him glorious, honourable and of high efteem in the hearts of believers, and that by fhewing his things, his love, kindness, grace, and purchase unto them,

M m

this

fpirit, that is gone abroad, is to glorify itself, to decry, and render contemptible Chrift that fuffered for us under the name of a Chrift without us, which it flights and defpifeth, and that profeffedly." Its own glory, its own honour is all that it aims at: wholly inverting the order of the divine dispensations. The fountain of all being, and lying in the Father's love, the Son came to glorify the Father.. He ftill fays, I feek not my own glory, but the glory of him that fent me. The Son having carried on, the work of redemption, was now to be glorified with the Father. So he prays that it might be,. John xvii. 1. The hour is come, glorify the Son, and that with the glory which he had before the world, when his joint council was in the carrying on the Father's love. Wherefore the Holy Ghoft, is fent, and his work is to glorify the Son; but now, as I faid, we have a spirit come forth, whofe whole bufinefs is to glorify himself; whereby we may eafily know whence he is.

Furthermore, the Holy Ghost Sheds abroad the love of God in our hearts (as was declared) and thence fills them with joy, peace, and hope; 'quiet ng and refreshing the hearts of them, in whom he dwells, giving them liberty and reft, confidence and the boldness of children. This fpirit whereof men now boast is a spirit of bondage, whofe utmost work is to make men quake and tremble, cafting them into an unfonlike frame of fpirit, driving them up and down with horror and bondage, and drinking up their very natural fpirits, and making their whole man wither away. There is fcarce any one thing that more evidently manifefteth the fpirit whereby fome are now acted, not to be the

Com

Comforter promifed by Chrift than this, That he is a fpirit of bondage and flavery, in them in whom he is, and a fpirit, of cruelty and reproach toward others, in a direct oppofition to the Holy Ghost in believers, and all the ends and purposes, for which as a Spirit of adoption and confolation, he is beftowed on them.

To give one inftance more, the Holy Ghost beftowed on believers, is a Spirit of prayer and fupplication, as was manifefted. The fpirit wherewith tve have to do, pretends the carrying men above fuch low and contemptible means of communion with God. In a word it were a very eafy and facile task to pafs through all of the eminent effects of the Holy Ghost, in and towards believers; and to manifeft, that the pretending fpirit.of our days comes in a direct oppofition, and contradiction to every one of them. Thus hath Satan paffed from one extream to another from a bitter wretched oppofition to' the Spirit of Chrift, unto a curfed pretending to the fpirit, fill to the fame end and purpose.

I might give fundry other inftances of the contempt and abuse of the difpenfation of the Spirit. Thofe mentioned are the extreams whereunto all other are, or may be reduced; and I will not farther divert from that which lyes directly in my aim.

CHAP. VI.

Of particular communion with the Holy Ghoft. Of preparation thereunto. Valuation of the benefits we receive by him. What it is he comforts us in, and againft, wherewith, how.

T

HE way being thus made plain for us, I come to fhew how we hold particular com

[blocks in formation]

munion with the Holy Ghoft, as he is promifed of Christ to be our Comforter, and as working out our confolation by the means formerly infifted on. Now, the first thing I fhall do herein, is the propofal of that, which may be fome preparation to the duty under confideration; and this by leading the fouls of believers, to a due valuation of this work of his, towards us, whence he is called our Comforter.

To raife up our hearts to this frame, and fit us for the duty intended, let us confider thefe three things.

1. What it is he comforts us against.

2. Wherewith he comforts us.

3. The principle of all his actings, and operations in us for our confolation.

1. There are three things in the whole course of our pilgrimage, that the confolations of the Holy Ghost are ufeful and neceffary in.

1. In our afflictions. Affliction is part of the provifion that God hath made in his houfe for his children, Heb. xii. 5, 6. The great variety of its causes, means, uses, and effects is generally known. There is a measure of them appointed for every one. To be wholly without them is a temptation, and fo in fome measure an affliction. That which I am to fpeak unto is, that in all our afflictions, we need the confolations of the Holy Ghoft. It is the nature of man to relieve himself, when he is entangled, by all ways and means. According as mens natural fpirits are, fo do they manage them felves under preffures. The fpirit of a man will bear his infirmity, at least it will struggle with it.

There are two great evils, one of which does generally feize on men under their afflictions, and

keep

keep them from a due management of them. The apostle mentioneth them both, Heb. xii. 5. Defpife not the chaftifement of the Lord; neither faint when thou art reproved. One of thefe extreams do men ufually fall into; either they defpife the Lord's correction, or fink under it.

First, Men defpife it. They account that which befalls them to be a light or common thing. They take no notice of God in it. They can fhift with it well enough; they look on inftruments, fecond caufes, provide for their own defence and vindica-tion, with little regard to God, or his hand in their affliction. And the ground of this is, because they take in fuccours in their trouble, that God will not mix his grace withal. They fix on other remedies than what he hath appointed, and utterly loose all the benefits and advantage of their affliction. And fo fhall every man do that relieves himself from any thing, but the confolations of the Holy Ghost.

4

Secondly, Men faint and fink under their trials, and afflictions, which the apoftle farther reproves, ver. 12. The firft difpife the affiftance of the Holy Ghoft through pride of heart: the latter refufe it through dejectedness of fpirit, and fink under the weight of their troubles. And who almoft is there, that offends not on one of thefe hands?? Had we not learned to count light of the chaftife-ments of the Lord, and to take little notice of hiss* dealings with us; we fhould find the feafon of ours afflictions to comprize no fmall portion of our pilgrimage.

Now there is no due management of as unwls under any affliction, fo that God may have the glo ry of it; and ourselves any fpiritual benefit or im--

Mm-3

Pro

« PreviousContinue »