A treatise of delighting in God from Psal. xxxvij. 4. Delight thy self also…

9. That it's an offence against the Spirit of Grace, whose dictates are herein slighted and opposed; for surely with the tendencies of the new creature he concurs: It is maintained by him as well as produced, continually depends on him as to its being, properties, and all its operations. Nothing therefore can be cross to the inclination of a renewed Soul, as such, which is not more principally so to the Holy Ghost himself. And particularly the disposing of the Soul unto delight is most expressly ascribed to him;¹ that very disposition being it self joy in the Holy Ghost: And we find it numbered ⟨p. 271⟩among the fruits of the Spirit. ²You may possibly be less apprehensive of your sin in this, because you find him not dictating to you with that discernible Majesty, Authority and Glory that you may think agreeable to so great an Agent. But you must know, he applies himself to us in a way much imitating that of nature. And as in reference to the conservation of our natural beings, we are assured the First Cause co-operates with Inferior Causes (for we live, move,³ and have our being in him), though the Divine influence is not communicated to this purpose with any sensible glory, or so distinguishably, that we can discern what influence is from the superior Cause and what from subordinate; our reason and faith certainly assure us of what our sense cannot reach in this matter: So it is here also, The Divine Spirit accommodates himself very much to the same way of working with our own, and acts us suitably to our own Natures. And though by very sensible tokens we cannot always tell which be the motions that proceed from him; yet Faith teaches us from his Word, to ascribe to him whatever spiritual good we find in our selves; inasmuch as we are not of our selves sufficient to think a good thought. And if by that Word we judg of the various motions that stir in us, we may discern which are good and which not; and so may know what to ascribe to the Spirit, and what not. Whereas therefore that Word commands us to delight in God, if we find any motion ⟨p. 272⟩