It is therefore a great part of a Christians wisdom and work, to observe the accesses and assistances of the Spirit, and its withdrawings; and to take more notice to God in his thankfulness of the gift of the Spirit, than of all other benefits in this world: And to lament more the retiring or withholding of Gods Spirit, than all the calamities in the world: And to fear this more as a punishment of his sin: Lest God should say as Psal. 81.11, 12. But my people would not hearken to my voice, Israel would none of me: so I gave them up to their own hearts lusts, to walk in their own counsels: And we must obey God through the motive of this promise and reward, Prov. 1.23. Turn you at my reproof; behold, I will pour out my Spirit unto you, I will make known my words to you, Joh. 7.39 He spake this of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive, Luke 11.13. God will give his holy Spirit to them that ask it. And we have great cause when we have sinned, to pray with David, Cast me not away from thy presence, and take not thy holy Spirit from me. Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit in me. Restore to me the joy of thy salvation, and stablish me with thy free Spirit, Psal. 51.10, 11, 12. And as the sin to be feared is the grieving of the holy Spirit, Ephes 4.30. so the judgement to be feared, is accordingly the withdrawing of it, Isaiah 63.10, 11. But they rebelled and vexed his holy Spirit; therefore he was turned to be their enemy, and fought against them. Then he remembered the days of old, Moses and his people, saying, Where is he that brought them up—Where is he that put his holy Spirit within them? The great thing to be dreaded, is, lest [those that were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost—should fall away, and be no more renewed by repentance—Heb. 6.4 6.
It is therefore a great part of a Christians wisdom and work, to observe the accesses and assistances of the Spirit, and its withdrawings; and to take more notice to God in his thankfulness of the gift of the Spirit, than of all other benefits in this world: And to lament more the retiring or withholding of Gods Spirit, than all the calamities in the world: And to fear this more as a punishment of his sin: Lest God should say as Psal. 81.11, 12. But my people would not hearken to my voice, Israel would none of me: so I gave them up to their own hearts lusts, to walk in their own counsels: And we must obey God through the motive of this promise and reward, Prov. 1.23. Turn you at my reproof; behold, I will powre out my Spirit unto you, I will make known my words to you, Joh. 7.39 He spake this of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive, Luke 11.13. God will give his holy Spirit to them that ask it. And we have great cause when we have sinned, to pray with David, Cast me not away from thy presence, and take not thy holy Spirit from me. Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit in me. Restore to me the joy of thy salvation, and stablish me with thy free Spirit, Psal. 51.10, 11, 12. And as the sin to be feared is the grieving of the holy Spirit, Ephes 4.30. so the judgement to be feared, is accordingly the withdrawing of it, Isaiah 63.10, 11. But they rebelled and vexed his holy Spirit; therefore he was turned to be their enemy, and fought against them. Then he remembred the daies of old, Moses and his people, saying, Where is he that brought them up—Where is he that put his holy Spirit within them? The great thing to be dreaded, is, lest [those that were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost—should fall away, and be no more renewed by repentance—Heb. 6.4 6.
