1The Text saith, by the Spirit: For, as Christ justified himself,2 that is, declared himself to be as he was, by his Spirit; so every Christian hath the Spirit of Christ, or else he is none of his: and by ⟨p. 89⟩this Spirit of Christ, he is able to justify his profession; not only to justify Christ to be the true Head, &c. but all things he doth, must be done by the Spirit, or not at all. For as Christ, when he became man, and was in the World, he did all by the direction of the Spirit; He was led into the Wilderness by the Spirit; he taught by the Spirit; the Spirit that sanctified him in the Womb, guided him in all his life: so a Christian is guided by the Spirit, God doth all to him by the Spirit; he is comforted, and directed, and strengthened by the Spirit, and he again doth all to God by the Spirit: he prays in the Spirit, and sighs and groans to God in the Spirit, he walks in the Spirit, he doth all by the Spirit. Therefore, by the Spirit let us justify and declare our selves what we are; that there is somewhat in us above nature, that we have love above carnal men, and patience and meekness above the ability and capacity of other men: We justify our profession, when we do somewhat more then nature, or when we do common ordinary things in a spiritual holy manner. Religion is not a matter of form, but of Spirit: Let us not show our Religion only by word, but by the fruits of the Spirit; by love, and mercy, and meekness, and zeal, when occasion serves. The whole life of a Christian (as far as he is a Christian) it gives evidence that he is a Christian; the whole life of a carnal formal man, evidences that he is not a Christian, because he hath nothing in him above other men: as our Saviour Christ ⟨p. 90⟩saith; What peculiar thing do ye, to distinguish your selves from other men?3 So let us ask our selves. We profess our selves to be the children of God, the Heirs of Heaven, What peculiar thing do we? How do we justify our selves? A true Christian can answer; I can justify it by the Spirit: I find, I do things from other Principles, and motives, and inducements, then the World doth; who only respect terms of Civility, and aims of the World, or to content the clamour of conscience: but I find, I do things out of assurance that I am the child of God, and in obedience to him. Let us see, what peculiar thing we do.
1The Text sayth, by the Spirit: For, as Christ justified himselfe,2 that is, declared himselfe to be as he was, by his Spirit; so every Christian hath the Spirit of Christ, or else he is none of his: and by ⟨p. 89⟩this Spirit of Christ, he is able to justifie his profession; not onely to justifie Christ to be the true Head, &c. but all things he doth, must be done by the Spirit, or not at all. For as Christ, when he became man, and was in the World, he did all by the direction of the Spirit; He was led into the Wildernesse by the Spirit; he taught by the Spirit; the Spirit that sanctified him in the Wombe, guided him in all his life: so a Christian is guided by the Spirit, God doth all to him by the Spirit; he is comforted, and directed, and strengthned by the Spirit, and he againe doth all to God by the Spirit: he prayes in the Spirit, and sighes and groanes to God in the Spirit, he walkes in the Spirit, he doth all by the Spirit. Therefore, by the Spirit let us justifie and declare our selves what we are; that there is somewhat in us above nature, that we have love above carnall men, and patience and meekenesse above the abilitie and capacitie of other men: We justifie our profession, when we do somewhat more then nature, or when we doe common ordinarie things in a spirituall holy manner. Religion is not a matter of forme, but of Spirit: Let us not shew our Religion onely by word, but by the fruits of the Spirit; by love, and mercie, and meekenesse, and zeale, when occasion serves. The whole life of a Christian (as farre as he is a Christian) it gives evidence that he is a Christian; the whole life of a carnall formall man, evidences that he is not a Christian, because he hath nothing in him above other men: as our Saviour Christ ⟨p. 90⟩sayth; What peculiar thing doe ye, to distinguish your selves from other men?3 So let us aske our selves. We professe our selves to be the children of God, the Heires of Heaven, What peculiar thing doe we? How doe we justifie our selves? A true Christian can answer; I can justifie it by the Spirit: I finde, I doe things from other Principles, and motives, and inducements, then the World doth; who onely respect tearmes of Civilitie, and aymes of the World, or to content the clamour of conscience: but I finde, I doe things out of assurance that I am the child of God, and in obedience to him. Let us see, what peculiar thing we doe.
- 1Answer.
- 2How to justify our profession.How to justifie our profession.
- 3Christians do things above other men.Christians doe things above other men.
