The Fountain of Life Opened

Secondly, But in the next place see that you abuse not the Spirit, whom Christ hath sent from Heaven at his ascension; to supply his bodily absence among us, and is the great pledge of his care for, and tender love to his people. Now take heed that you don't vex him by your disobedience. Nor grieve him by your unkindnesses. Nor quench him by your sinful neglects of duty, or abuse of light. O deal kindly with the Spirit and obey his voice. Comply with his designs, and yield up your selves to his guidance and conduct. Methinks to be entreated, by the Love of the Spirit, Rom. 15.30. Should be as great an Argument as to be entreated for Christs sake. Now to persuade all the Saints to be tender of grieving the Spirit, by sin; let me urge a few Considerations, proper to the point under hand. And Consid. 1. First, He was the first and principal mercy that Christ received for you, at his first entrance into Heaven. It was the first thing he asked of God, when he came to Heaven. So he speaks, Joh. 14.16, 17. I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter; that he may abide with you. No sooner had he set foot upon the place but the first thing, the great thing that was upon his heart to ask the Father for us, was that the Spirit might be forthwith dispatched, and sent down to his people. So that the spirit is the first-born of mercies. And deserves the first place in our hearts, and esteems. Consid. 2. Secondly, The Spirit comes not in his own name to us (though if so, he deserves a dear welcome for his own sake, and for the benefits we receive by him which are inestimable) but he comes to us in the name, and in the loves both of the Father and Son. As one authorized and delegated by them. Bringing his Credentials under both their hands, and seals, Joh. 15.26. But when the Comforter is come whom I will send to you, from the Father. Mark I will send him from the Father, and in Joh. 14.26. The Father is said to send him in Christs name. So that he is the messenger that comes from both these great and holy persons. And if you have any Love for the God that made you, any kindness for Christ that died for you; show it by your obedience to the Spirit that comes from them both; and in both their names to us: and who will be ⟨p. 573⟩