The souls exaltation A treatiseThe soules exaltation A treatise

Conclus. 1 The first conclusion is this, know that the spirit of God, the holy Ghost, the third Person in the glorious Trinity, he doth really, and inseparably accompany the whole word: (that is the ⟨p. 27⟩general) but he doth more specially accompany the precious promises of the Gospel: the Spirit of the Lord is in these in a more special manner, though he be a God every where in regard of his providence, yet he is in a more special manner going with, and accompanying of his Word; and in a more special and particular fort he is in the promises, the soul comes to be one with Christ, and to be knit unto him principally by the promise; the law prepares the soul, and the promise that calls the soul, and knits it unto Christ; God hath appointed his Word, and specially the promise for the converting of a sinner; and therefore the Spirit of God goes therewith, and works thereby, and gives a blessing thereunto, according as he in his wisdom thinks fit: for he is a voluntary agent, and therefore may use the word as he will, and when he will; the Spirit doth always work in the word, but not always after the same manner. You make nothing of the Gospel, and of the Scripture; I tell you the Spirit of the Lord God, blessed for ever, is there after an extraordinary manner, and hardens the hearts of the reprobates, and humbles, and converts and comforts the souls of his servants: and when? not when I will, or you will, but when the Spirit of the Lord will. This is that I take to be the best expression of it; look as it was with the brazen Serpent set up in the wilderness, there was an healing virtue inseparably accompanying of that brazen Serpent; and it was as possible that hardness should be separated from the brass, ⟨p. 28⟩as his healing virtue: for whosoever looked upon it, healing virtue did undoubtedly and inseparably go with it, because God had appointed this; therefore he did bless this, and undoubtedly work by this: Just so it is with the good Word of the Lord; the Spirit of the Lord, though he be God every where, yet he doth bless this Word especially, and goes with it, and hath appointed it for the salvation of his servants: therefore when the sound comes to the ear, and the sense to the mind, the Spirit goes with the Word when thou hearest it, either to convert thee, or to confound thee:

Conclus. 1 The first conclusion is this, know that the spirit of God, the holy Ghost, the third Person in the glorious Trinitie, he doth really, and inseparably accompany the whole word: (that is the