And let us not grieve the Spirit, but give way to his motions. The Spirit is now among us in his Ordinance knocking at our hearts, and desiring entertainment, let us give way, and not quench the good motions that he stirs up, and the Spirit shall be given more and more to us; The Holy-Ghost is given to them that obey him. And let us beg the Spirit, God will give his holy Spirit to them that ask him, Luk. 11.1 As if he should say, the Spirit is the best thing that God can give, you that are evil, can give good things to your children: but your heavenly Father hath one good thing instead of all, he will give his Spirit. Therefore, when we find our hearts dead, and d•ll, and earthly, and base-minded, think thus: Alas, I am a lump of flesh now, where is the Spirit of God? certainly if I had the Spirit in me, I could not be as I am. If we love our souls, we will take this course, we trifle with Religion else. God doth all by the Spirit, the Spirit is Christs Vicar: here is no need of a Ministerial head between the Spouse and Christ, the Spirit and the Spouse are so near together: there is such a conjunction between Christ and his Church, that where the Spirit is, he stirs up desires of his coming. Only let us attend upon the means, and Ordinances, that he hath left in his Church. And let us consider we are not for this life, we are not to live here alway: the child in the womb is not for that life, and when it is in the world, it is not for this life, ⟨p. 126⟩there is a third life that we are for. An imperfect state rests not till it come to perfection: our best is behind: let those that are naught, fear the second coming of Christ. Let Herod, and Judas, and the beast of Rome fear, that shall be cast into the burning lake. Let Felix tremble, the corrupt Judge, and all that live in corrupt courses. But we that profess our selves to be Christians, and hope for better things in another world, let us labour to banish base fears: and to this end, let us labour to be spiritual, and not to be lead by the flesh, Whosoever is Christs, hath the Spirit of Christ, or else he is none of his, as it is sweetly, and largely, and heavenly proved, Rom. 8. We have nothing to do with Christ, unless we have his Spirit, to stir up motions, and desires of better things then this world can afford.
And let us not grieve the Spirit, but give way to his motions. The Spirit is now among us in his Ordinance knocking at our hearts, and desiring entertainement, let us give way, and not quench the good motions that hee stirres up, and the Spirit shall be given more and more to us; The Holy-Ghost is given to them that ebey him. And let us beg the Spirit, God will give his holy Spirit to them that aske him, Luk. 11.1 As if hee should say, the Spirit is the best thing that God can give, you that are evill, can give good things to your children: but your heavenly Father hath one good thing instead of all, he will give his Spirit. Therefore, when wee find our hearts dead, and d•ll, and earthly, and base-minded, thinke thus: Alas, I am a lump of flesh now, where is the Spirit of God? certainely if I had the Spirit in me, I could not be as I am. If we love our soules, we will take this course, wee trifle with Religion else. God doth all by the Spirit, the Spirit is Christs Vicar: here is no need of a Ministeriall head betweene the Spouse and Christ, the Spirit and the Spouse are so neere together: there is such a conjunction betweene Christ and his Church, that where the Spirit is, hee stirres up desires of his comming. Onely let us attend upon the meanes, and Ordinances, that hee hath left in his Church. And let us consider wee are not for this life, we are not to live here alway: the child in the wombe is not for that life, and when it is in the world, it is not for this life, ⟨p. 126⟩there is a third life that we are for. An imperfect state rests not till it come to perfection: our best is behind: let those that are naught, feare the second comming of Christ. Let Herod, and Iudas, and the beast of Rome feare, that shall be cast into the burning lake. Let Felix tremble, the corrupt Judge, and all that live in corrupt courses. But wee that professe our selves to be Christians, and hope for better things in another world, let us labour to banish base feares: and to this end, let us labour to be spirituall, and not to be lead by the flesh, Whosoever is Christs, hath the Spirit of Christ, or else he is none of his, as it is sweetly, and largely, and heavenly prooved, Rom. 8. We have nothing to doe with Christ, unlesse we have his Spirit, to stirre up motions, and desires of better things then this world can afford.
- 1Luke 11.
