A golden mine opened, or, The glory of God's rich grace displayed in the…

3. But here in these words when it is said, They were made Partakers of the Holy Ghost, it is spoken chiefly in respect unto external actual Operations.

1. They partake of the Holy Spirit in the common Operations of it themselves; they tasted the Heavenly Doctrine as it was administered by others, as it is hinted before: but here is a Reception, or a partaking of the Holy Spirit, whereby it had some great and visible Operations upon their Hearts and Lives, though not saving Operations, not such that changed them into a State of Grace.

1. They partake of the Holy Spirit in the common Operations of it themselves; they tasted the Heavenly Doctrine as it was administred by others, as it is hinted before: but here is a Reception, or a partaking of the Holy Spirit, whereby it had some great and visible Operations upon their Hearts and Lives, though not saving Operations, not such that changed them into a State of Grace.

2. Nay they partake not only of common Gifts, but common Grace also, even such Grace that doth reform their Lives, bridle, restrain, and curb their inordinate Lusts and Passions; so that through the Knowledge of Jesus Christ, they esteeming him as their Blessed Saviour, they are said to escape the Pollution of the World, as Peter plainly declares, though afterwards they are again ¹entangled therein and overcome.

2. Nay they partake not only of common Gifts, but common Grace also, even such Grace that doth reform their Lives, bridle, restrain, and curb their inordinate Lusts and Passions; so that through the Knowledg of Jesus Christ, they esteeming him as their Blessed Saviour, they are said to escape the Pollution of the World, as Peter plainly declares, though afterwards they are again