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

Thus you have heard, what the phrase doth imply. Now let us proceed to show, How the Spirit of God dwells in his Church, and afterwards, Wherein his dwelling doth manifest it self. For, as original corruption is always breaking out; it's not a dull, idle sin; it's Peccatum actuosum, though not actual: So the Spirit of God is compared to fire, because of the powerful and active nature it hath in the people of God: Fire doth assimilate every thing to it self: Thus men filled with the holy Ghost, are made exceeding spiritual, endeavouring to make all like themselves.

Thus you have heard, what the phrase doth imply. Now let us proceed to shew, How the Spirit of God dwels in his Church, and afterwards, Wherein his dwelling doth manifest it self. For, as original corruption is alwayes breaking out; it's not a dull, idle sinne; it's Peccatum actuosum, though not actuale: So the Spirit of God is compared to fire, because of the powerfull and active nature it hath in the people of God: Fire doth assimulate every thing to it self: Thus men filled with the holy Ghost, are made exceeding spiritual, endeavouring to make all like themselves.

Now several ways we may consider of the Spirits dwelling in the people of God.

Now several wayes we may consider of the Spirits dwelling in the people of God.

First, There is an essential dwelling, or a gracious dwelling, by a special manifestation of more peculiar favours; we do not speak here of an essential dwelling, for so the Spirit of God is every where, Whither can I fly from thy presence? Psal. 139.7. Thus he hath the same divine Attribute, as God the Father and the Son have. Thus he filleth the whole world; But we speak of his gracious presence. Now how to make a difference between his essential presence, and his gracious presence, is impossible for men to express, because our knowledge of God is only apprehensive, not comprehensive. We see all the Schoolmen, labouring to this very day, to show how an Angel is present, and yet they have not waded out of those deeps. Only thus much we may in sobriety say, That though the Spirit of God be every where, yet he is said to be in his Church, because of those peculiar and gracious operations, which he produceth in them, and no where else. Even as God is said to be in Heaven, though he be in Earth, and no where else, because there is a peculiar manifestation of more glory and power from him. Thus then we are first to conceive of his presence. But.