The Scripture directory for church-officers and people, or, A practical commentary upon the whole…

Fourthly, In that the Spirit of God is said to dwell, it denoteth, A permanent and constant abode in his people. For this you must know, The Spirit of God is many times working, where yet he doth not dwell. There is a great difference between transient motions, and constant mansions of Gods Spirit. Hypocrites and reprobates have the former, but not the latter. They that wrought miracles had the Spirit of God moving in them, but not dwelling in them: Even Balaam in that prophetical passage about Israel, had a transient motion, or a blast of this Spirit; but the Spirit of God did not abide in him: Yea hereby Caiaphas, being high Priest that year, was moved to say what he did, It's expedient for one to die for many; but yet he knew not what he said. So that there is a great difference between the transient motion of Gods Spirit, and his constant inhabitation. Thus many, not truly sanctified, have the common gifts of Gods Spirit; they have abilities in prayer, enlargements, some joys, all which are of Gods Spirit moving in them, not dwelling in them. And truly this is a dangerous Rock, upon which many split themselves, taking transient gifts of Gods Spirit for permanent graces; sometimes they are hardly discerned, as the Rocks that are under water. But of this necessary point more.

Fourthly, In that the Spirit of God is said to dwell, it denoteth, A permanent and constant abode in his people. For this you must know, The Spirit of God is many times working, where yet he doth not dwell. There is a great difference between transient motions, and constant mansions of Gods Spirit. Hypocrites and reprobates have the former, but not the latter. They that wrought miracles had the Spirit of God moving in them, but not dwelling in them: Even Balaam in that prophetical passage about Israel, had a transient motion, or a blast of this Spirit; but the Spirit of God did not abide in him: Yea hereby Caiaphas, being high Priest that year, was moved to say what he did, It's expedient for one to die for many; but yet he knew not what he said. So that there is a great difference between the transient motion of Gods Spirit, and his constant inhabitation. Thus many, not truly sanctified, have the common gifts of Gods Spirit; they have abilities in prayer, enlargements, some joyes, all which are of Gods Spirit moving in them, not dwelling in them. And truly this is a dangerous Rock, upon which many split themselves, taking transient gifts of Gods Spirit for permanent graces; sometimes they are hardly discerned, as the Rockes that are under water. But of this neccessary point more.