Sermons preached

(3.) When these Motions are not obeyed, and this Power is not exercised, God is provoked to withdraw the quickening Grace. Though the Spirit here spoken of is the new Nature, yet the Holy-Ghost is the Super-intendent of it, and doth move, guide, direct, and quicken by it. The new Nature inclineth, but he giveth Strength to its Motions. Now the Spirit withdraweth when this Work is slighted, and we wilfully run into Sin. Psal. 51. 11. Take not thy holy Spirit from me.

(3.) When these Motions are not obeyed, and this Power is not exercised, God is provoked to withdraw the quickning Grace. Though the Spirit here spoken of is the new Nature, yet the Holy-Ghost is the Super-intendent of it, and doth move, guide, direct, and quicken by it. The new Nature inclineth, but he giveth Strength to its Motions. Now the Spirit withdraweth when this Work is slighted, and we wilfully run into Sin. Psal. 51. 11. Take not thy holy Spirit from me.

(4.) There is another Mischief; his sanctifying Work is not only obstructed, but his certifying and sealing Work is obscured, and so our Day is turned into Night. Eph. 4. 30. Grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed to the Day of Redemption.

Use 1. It showeth what Necessity there is, that we should look after Conversion to God, or a Work of Grace wrought ⟨p. 205⟩in us by the holy Spirit; for the Apostle supposeth they had the Spirit. There is no walking without living, for otherwise our Motions are but the Motions of Puppets, not proceeding from internal Life, but acted from Springs and Engines; no subduing the Flesh, without setting up an opposite Principle. Therefore we must give up our selves to the Holy Spirit, first to be sanctified, then governed by him; first renewed, then guided, ordered and directed by him in all our Actions, and the Flesh dieth away insensibly.