Meditations on the holy sacrament of the Lords last Supper Written many years sinceMeditations on the holy sacrament of the Lords last Supper Written many yeares since

Fifthly, and lastly, I find the holy Ghost ⟨p. 196⟩compared unto^b fire, whose properties are, first, to be of a very active and working nature, which stands never still, but is ever doing something: and so the Spirit of God and his graces are all operative in the hearts of the faithful, they set all where they come on work. Secondly, the nature and proper motion of fire is to ascend, other motions whatever it hath, arise from some outward, and accidental restraint, limiting the nature of it: and so the Spirit of God, ever raiseth up the affections from earth, fasteneth the eye of Faith upon Eternity, ravisheth the soul with a fervent longing to be with the Lord, and to be admitted unto the fruition of those precious joys which here it suspireth after, as soon as ever men have chosen Christ to be their Head, then presently ascendunt de Terra, they go up out of the Land. Hos. 1. 11. and have their conversation above where Christ is. Thirdly, fire doth inflame and transform every thing that is combustible into the nature of it self: and so the Spirit of God filleth the soul with a divine fervour,² and zeal which purgeth away the corruptions and dross of the flesh, with the spirit of judgment, and with the Spirit of burning. Fourthly, fire hath a purifying and cleansing property, to draw away all noxious or infectious vapours ⟨p. 197⟩out of the Air, to separate all soil and dross from metals, and the like: and so doth the Spirit of God cleanse the heart, and in heavenly sighs, and repentant tears, cause to expire all those steams of corruptions, those noisome and infectious lusts which fight against the soul, Fifthly, fire hath a penetrating and insinuating quality, whereby it creepeth into all the pores of a combustible body, and in like manner the holy Spirit of God doth penetrate the heart though full of insensible and inscrutable windings, doth search the reins, doth pry into the closest nooks, and inmost corners of the soul, there discovering and working out those secret corruptions which did deceive and defile us. Lastly, fire doth enlighten, and by that means communicates the comforts of it self unto others: and so the Spirit being a Spirit of truth doth illuminate the understanding, and doth dispose it likewise to discover its light unto others who stand in need of it: