A practical commentary, or an exposition with observations, reasons, and uses upon the first…

Doct. That such as love one another, to them God hath given of his Spirit.

What is meant by this, that God hath given us of his Spirit?

1 It implies that God hath given us that spirit of grace that accompanies salvation; this branch of that spirit that dwelleth in God, Numb. 11.25. Moses spirit was not diminished, though God did communicate it to the seventy Elders, God did cause it to be enlarged in them, that were in the place of Magistracy with him; so who so loves, dwells in God, and the same spirit of love do they communicate to their brethren, so that they walk by the ⟨p. 310⟩same rule, and aim at the same end. The fruit of the Spirit is love, Gal. 5.27. But the works of the flesh are adultery, &c. They that walk in love, have received of the Spirit; they have received of the Spirit of the holy Ghost, for the Spirit lusts against envy, Judg. 9.22, 23.

1 It implies that God hath given us that spirit of grace that accompanies salvation; this branch of that spirit that dwelleth in God, Numb. 11.25. Moses spirit was not diminished, though God did communicate it to the seventy Elders, God did cause it to be inlarged in them, that were in the place of Magistracy with him; so who so loves, dwels in God, and the same spirit of love do they communicate to their brethren, so that they walke by the ⟨p. 310⟩same rule, and aim at the same end. The fruit of the Spirit is love, Gal. 5.27. But the works of the flesh are adultery, &c. They that walk in love, have received of the Spirit; they have received of the Spirit of the holy Ghost, for the Spirit lusts against envy, Judg. 9.22, 23.

Object. But many of Gods servants bring forth sour fruit, which will neither benefit themselves, nor others, therefore how is it said that Gods Spirit is in them?

Object. But many of Gods servants bring forth sowr fruit, which will neither benefit themselves, nor others, therefore how is it said that Gods Spirit is in them?

Answ. They have sour Oil distilling from the old stock, for there are many branches in us that suck sourness from the old stock; though there be a spirit of love in Gods children, yet many times it doth not run forth: But when you see Christian love expressing it self, it springs not from nature, but the Spirit of God.

Answ. They have sowr Oyl distilling from the old stock, for there are many branches in us that suck sowrnesse from the old stock; though there be a spirit of love in Gods children, yet many times it doth not run forth: But when you see Christian love expressing it self, it springs not from nature, but the Spirit of God.

2 A ground of much comfort to any soul that doth find his spirit suppled with any compassion; If you can find your spirits mourning for the evil case of your brother, it is a sign that Gods Spirit is in you.

2 A ground of much comfort to any soul that doth finde his spirit suppled with any compassion; If you can finde your spirits mourning for the evill case of your brother, it is a signe that Gods Spirit is in you.

3 Labour we to preserve our hearts in brotherly love, for love is a fruit of the Spirit of God; so much as a mans heart runs sour and hard, so much doth he damp the lively Spirit of God which the Lord hath shed abroad in his heart; therefore as we desire that God would for ever keep us in a good estate, and that his Spirit should not be grieved by us, we must keep this Spirit of love, that is, the Comforter; when we grieve the Spirit of God, we shall have grief enough: If the Spirit of comfort that is in us be uncomfortable, how great is that dis-comfort?

3 Labour we to preserve our hearts in brotherly love, for love is a fruit of the Spirit of God; so much as a mans heart runs sowr and hard, so much doth he damp the lively Spirit of God which the Lord hath shed abroad in his heart; therefore as we desire that God would for ever keep us in a good estate, and that his Spirit should not be grieved by us, we must keep this Spirit of love, that is, the Comforter; when we grieve the Spirit of God, we shall have grief enough: If the Spirit of comfort that is in us be uncomfortable, how great is that dis-comfort?

Doct. That such to whom God hath given of his Spirit of love, they maintain mutual, entire, and constant fellowship with God, and they know it.

God dwells in us, which is more then to have God to dwell with us: if God did but dwell with us, it would argue much happiness; but this is more, for God to dwell in us; We are not only near one another, and branches one of another, but one body with another, he abides in us as the head, we in him as the members.

God dwels in us, which is more then to have God to dwell with us: if God did but dwell with us, it would argue much happinesse; but this is more, for God to dwell in us; We are not onely near one another, and branches one of another, but one body with another, he abides in us as the head, we in him as the members.

Quest. What is this, We know it?

Answ. This act of knowledge is more then an act of faith, men may believe more to be true, then they know, Heb. 11.3. By faith we understand the world was made, faith understands a thing to be done, and so we may be persuaded of the truth of a thing. Something we know by reason, which by sense we cannot know; if it be not evident by sense and reason, we cannot know it; the meaning is, we have evident sense and evident reason for it.

Answ. This act of knowledge is more then an act of faith, men may believe more to be true, then they know, Heb. 11.3. By faith we understand the world was made, faith understands a thing to be done, and so we may be perswaded of the truth of a thing. Something we know by reason, which by sence we cannot know; if it be not evident by sence and reason, we cannot know it; the meaning is, we have evident sence and evident reason for it.

Reason 1. Is taken from the evidence of sense; when God hath shed abroad into our hearts a spirit of love, we shall see and feel the favour of God shining in our hearts, the mercy of God pacifying our souls; so that now we do not only believe the promises belonging to us, but the feelings of Gods love is a manifestation of Gods grace, John 14.21, 22. If any man love me, saith Christ, and keep my Word, my Father will love him, and we will come in to him, and make our abode with him: As we grow in love, so the comforts of Gods Spirit grow in us. The ground of this reason is taken from Gods nature, who is love; God is not said to be faith or hope, but love; and the more any man hath received of love, the nearer doth he come to God, and the readier is he to be doing good offices, and to be helpful.

Reason 1. Is taken from the evidence of sence; when God hath shed abroad into our hearts a spirit of love, we shall see and feel the favour of God shining in our hearts, the mercy of God pacifying our souls; so that now we do not onely believe the promises belonging to us, but the feelings of Gods love is a manifestation of Gods grace, John 14.21, 22. If any man love me, saith Christ, and keep my Word, my Father will love him, and we will come in to him, and make our abode with him: As we grow in love, so the comforts of Gods Spirit grow in us. The ground of this reason is taken from Gods nature, who is love; God is not said to be faith or hope, but love; and the more any man hath received of love, the nearer doth he come to God, and the readier is he to be doing good offices, and to be helpful.

Reas. 2. From the cause of love we know; God dwells in us, and we in ⟨p. 311⟩him, because we have received a Spirit of love. We could not receive a spirit of love, if we did not receive a spirit of faith, Gal. 5.6. We could not love our brethren, if we had not faith to believe in Christ: Now where faith is, there Christ dwells, Ephes. 3.17. This reason is from the cause of love.

Reas. 2. From the cause of love we know; God dwels in us, and wee in ⟨p. 311⟩him, because we have received a Spirit of love. We could not receive a spirit of love, if we did not receive a spirit of faith, Gal. 5.6. We could not love our brethren, if we had not faith to believe in Christ: Now where faith is, there Christ dwels, Ephes. 3.17. This reason is from the cause of love.

Use 1. Of consolation to loving Christians, they have manifest experience and knowledge of Gods love; Hereby we know that God dwells in us, and we in him. The benefit of a loving spirit is this; that it keeps fellowship with God, and that entire fellowship: A loving man doth not only believe that he hath fellowship with God; but he knows it, he hath evident reason for it.

Ʋse 1. Of consolation to loving Christians, they have manifest experience and knowledge of Gods love; Hereby we know that God dwells in us, and we in him. The benefit of a loving spirit is this; that it keeps fellowship with God, and that entire fellowship: A loving man doth not onely believe that he hath fellowship with God; but he knows it, he hath evident reason for it.

2 To teach such as want the goodness of the promises; they are not sensible of Gods favour, they have no sensible experience of it, they may be persuaded that God will show them mercy at the end, but yet they do not know it: If thou wilt know the fellowship between God and thy soul, then pray more that the Spirit of love may dwell in thee; as thy love grows, so shalt thou grow in sensible experience of Gods love to thee; God crowns faith with trust and confidence, and assurance, but he crowns love with experience; If you want experience of Gods love, then think surely there is some weed of envy wrath and hatred; from which if thou cleanse thy heart, thou shalt not only have assurance, but experience.

2 To teach such as want the goodnesse of the promises; they are not sensisible of Gods favour, they have no sensible experience of it, they may be perswaded that God will shew them mercy at the end, but yet they do not know it: If thou wilt know the fellowship between God and thy soule, then pray more that the Sprit of love may dwell in thee; as thy love grows, so shalt thou grow in sensible experience of Gods love to thee; God crowns faith with trust and confidence, and assurance, but he crowns love with experience; If you want experience of Gods love, then think surely there is some weed of envy wrath and hatred; from which if thou cleanse thy heart, thou shalt not onely have assurance, but experience.