2 There are two workings of Gods spirit in us: the one inferior, which bringeth but ⟨p. 13⟩some fruit of the spirit, without any special fruits of grace: the other superior and more1 certain, when the spirit worketh an infallible sanctification: the first may totally be darkened and fully quenched: the other hath but a particular Eclipse, and in measure may be dimmed, as it was in David, Psalm. 51. but this is not finally quenched. As God made man so that he might fall, though afterwards he had mercy upon him: so he regenerateth us so, that we may fall, so as afterwards he may raise us again, and will. And it is fearful enough, that there may be such particular decays of grace in us, as after sin, to feel less comfort in the word, less fear of sin, less care of well doing, less zeal in praying, less fruits in the means: so that all our actions are turned to be bitter, which were sweeter unto us then any worldly increase unto the worldly man, or honey can be2 to them that love it. These are evident tokens of the sanctifying spirit, to love good, because it is good; and to hate sin, because it is sin: the more we grow in gifts, the more to hunger, the more to complain of our unworthiness: the more being humbled3 in our selves, the more meekly to judge of others: when we are most quiet with all things,4 then to think our selves least quiet, and then most to fear our selves: so to feel the graces5 of God in us, as that yet our sense and feeling is not lessened, and to fear and quake6 at the first degree and motions of sin; not least they fully quench, but least they cool7 the heat of the spirit in us. Here, I say, let us not forget to fear, for if it be so, that thou8 being the child of God, canst not finally fall, yet consider how will this grieve thee, if thy sin break out to the dishonour of so loving a Redeemer? or though he keep thy sin from flaming out, yet that thou shalt feel such a burden in thy self, or such vile corruption or matter as shall cool the heat of all Gods graces in thee.
2 There are two workings of Gods spirit in vs: the one inferiour, which bringeth but ⟨p. 13⟩some fruit of the spirit, without any speciall fruits of grace: the other superiour and more1 certaine, when the spirit worketh an infallible sanctification: the first may totally be darkened and fully quenched: the other hath but a particular Eclipse, and in measure may be dimmed, as it was in Dauid, Psalm. 51. but this is not finally quenched. As God made man so that hee might fall, though afterwards hee had mercie vpon him: so he regenerateth vs so, that we may fall, so as afterwards hee may raise vs againe, and will. And it is fearefull enough, that there may be such particular decayes of grace in vs, as after sinne, to feele lesse comfort in the word, lesse feare of sinne, lesse care of well doing, lesse zeale in praving, lesse fruits in the meanes: so that all our actions are turned to be bitter, which were sweeter vnto vs then any worldly increase vnto the worldly man, or honie can bee2 to them that loue it. These are euident tokens of the sanctifying spirit, to loue good, because it is good; and to hate sinne, because it is sinne: the more wee grow in gifts, the more to hunger, the more to complaine of our vnworthinesse: the more being humbled3 in our selues, the more meekly to iudge of others: when we are most quiet with all things,4 then to thinke our selues least quiet, and then most to feare our selues: so to feele the graces5 of God in vs, as that yet our sense and feeling is not lessened, and to feare and quake6 at the first degree and motions of sinne; not least they fully quench, but least they coole7 the heate of the spirit in vs. Here, I say, let vs not forget to feare, for if it be so, that thou8 being the childe of God, canst not finally fall, yet consider how will this grieue thee, if thy sinne breake out to the dishonour of so louing a Redeemer? or though he keepe thy sinne from flaming out, yet that thou shalt feele such a burthen in thy selfe, or such vile corruption or matter as shall coole the heate of all Gods graces in thee.
- 1Two works of Gods spirit.
- 2Evident tokens of true sanctificationEuident tokens of true sanctification
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