First That the efficient cause of it is only God. The Spirit of God is called the Comforter, as you heard, because he alone poureth it into the heart, as the Heavens only give rain, and it's called Gal 5.22. The fruit of the Spirit, which doth imply, that it comes solely by Gods Spirit, and that there is excellent sweetness in it: Lusts are called the works of the flesh, but this with other Graces, The fruit of the Spirit. Hence it is, that as in respect of Regeneration, the Spirit bloweth where it listeth: So also in respect of Consolation, How many of Gods children walk with much consolation, and abound in much joy. And others again, go bowed down, and greatly tempted, not obtaining comfort, though they would give a world for it: So that as the Husbandman cannot have rain when he would, nor the Merchant wind when he would, neither can the godly have comfort when they would, as appeareth by David, praying so earnestly for the Joy he had lost; It's the fruit of the Spirit; Therefore joy doth not flow from Graces exercised, as by a natural resultancy, as heat doth from the fire, and light from the Sun, but by Gods voluntary dispensation of it. The Schoolmen use to say, That a man doth not merit (that is their proud ⟨p. 409⟩phrase) by rejoicing in God, or good things, but by his Love, which was antecedent, and from which joy (they say) floweth by a natural necessity; But the Scripture makes these two, Love and Joy, two distinct works of Gods Spirit, and that they are separable, experience confirmeth it; for many men that are high in Grace, are low in Comfort. As the tall Mountains have few flowers on them, or Mines of Gold little grass covering them.
First That the efficient cause of it is onely God. The Spirit of God is called the Comforter, as you heard, because he alone poureth it into the heart, as the Heavens onely give rain, and it's called Gal 5.22. The fruit of the Spirit, which doth imply, that it comes solely by Gods Spirit, and that there is excellent sweetnesse in it: Lusts are called the workes of the flesh, but this with other Graces, The fruit of the Spirit. Hence it is, that as in respect of Regeneration, the Spirit bloweth where it listeth: So also in respect of Consolation, How many of Gods children walk with much consolation, and abound in much joy. And others again, go bowed down, and greatly tempted, not obtaining comfort, though they would give a world for it: So that as the Husbandman cannot have rain when he would, nor the Merchant winde when he would, neither can the godly have comfort when they would, as appeareth by David, praying so earnestly for the Joy he had lost; It's the fruit of the Spirit; Therefore joy doth not flow from Graces exercised, as by a natural resultancy, as heat doth from the fire, and light from the Sunne, but by Gods voluntary dispensation of it. The Schoolmen use to say, That a man doth not merit (that is their proud ⟨p. 409⟩phrase) by rejoycing in God, or good things, but by his Love, which was antecedent, and from which joy (they say) floweth by a naturall necessity; But the Scripture makes these two, Love and Joy, two distinct works of Gods Spirit, and that they are separable, experience confirmeth it; for many men that are high in Grace, are low in Comfort. As the tall Mountains have few flowers on them, or Mines of Gold little grasse covering them.
