Secondly, That we may do those things, that are proper to grieve him, though he be not passively grieved; our sin being no less therein, then if he were grieved as we are. Now how this is done, how the Spirit is grieved, the Apostle declareth in the contexture of that discourse, verses 21, 22, 23, 24. He presseth to a progress in Sanctification, and all the fruits of Regeneration vers. 25, 26, 27, 28, 29. He dehorts from sundry particular evils, that were contrary thereto, and then gives the general enforcement of the one and the other; and grieve not the Holy Spirit of God; that is by coming short of that universal Sanctification, which our planting into Christ doth require. The positive duty included in this caution, of not grieving the holy Spirit is this; That we pursue universal Holiness with regard unto, and upon the account of the love, kindness, and tenderness of the Holy Ghost. This is the foundation of our Communion, we have in general. When the soul considers the love, kindness and tenderness of the Holy Ghost unto him, when he considers all the fruits and acts of his love and goodwill towards him, and on that account, and under that consideration, ⟨p. 310⟩because he is so concerned in our ways, & walkings, to abstain from evils & to walk in all duties of Holiness, this is to have communion with him. This consideration that the Holy Ghost, who is our Comforter, is delighted with our obedience, grieved at our evils, and follies, being made a continual motive to, and reason of our close walking with God in all holiness, is, I say, the first general way of our Communion with him.
Secondly, That we may doe those things, that are proper to grieve him, though he be not passively grieved; our sin being no lesse therein, then if he were grived as we are. Now how this is done, how the Spirit is grieved, the Apostle declareth in the contexture of that discourse, verses 21, 22, 23, 24. He presseth to a progresse in Sanctification, and all the fruits of Regeneration vers. 25, 26, 27, 28, 29. He dehorts from sundry particular evills, that were contrary thereto, and then gives the generall enforcement of the one and the other; and grieve not the Holy Spirit of God; that is by coming short of that universall Sanctification, which our planting into Christ doth require. The positive duty included in this caution, of not grieving the holy Spirit is this; That we pursue universall Holinesse with regard unto, and upon the account of the love, kindnesse, and tendernesse of the Holy Ghost. This is the foundation of our Communion, we have in generall. When the soul considers the love, kindnesse and tendernesse of the Holy Ghost unto him, when he considers all the fruits and acts of his love and goodwill towards him, and on that account, and under that consideration, ⟨p. 310⟩because he is so concerned in our ways, & walkings, to abstaine frō evills & to walke in all duties of Holinesse, this is to have communion with him. This consideration that the Holy Ghost, who is our Comforter, is delighted with our obedience, grieved at our evills, and follies, being made a continuall motive to, and reason of our close walking with God in all holinesse, is, I say, the first generall way of our Communion with him.
