Two discourses concerning the Holy Spirit, and His work the one, Of the Spirit…

3. AND this Inhabitation is that which principally our Lord Jesus Christ directeth his Disciples to expect in the Promise of him. He dwelleth with you, and shall be in you, John 14. 17. He doth so who is the Comforter, the Spirit of Truth: Or as it is emphatically expressed, Chap. 16. 13. He the Spirit of Truth. He is promised unto, and he inhabits them that do believe. So it is expressly affirmed towards all that are Partakers of this Promise. Rom. 8. 9. Ye are not in the Flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be the Spirit of God dwells in you. Ver. 11. The Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the Dead dwelleth in you. The Holy Spirit dwelleth in us, 1 Tim. 3. 14. He that is in us, is greater than he that is in the World, 1 John 4. 4. And many other express Testimonies there are unto the same purpose. And whereas the Subject of these Promises and Propositions is the Holy Ghost himself, the Person of the Holy Ghost, and that so expressed as not to leave any Pretence for any thing else, and not his Person to be intended: And whereas nothing is ascribed unto him that is unreasonable, inconvenient unto him in the Discharge of his Office, or inconsistent with any of his Divine Perfections, but rather what is every way suitable unto his Work, and evidently demonstrative of his Divine Nature and Subsistence: It is both irrational and unsuitable unto the Economy of Divine Grace to wrest these Expressions unto a lower, meaner, figurative Signification: And I am persuaded that it is contrary to the Faith of the Catholic Church of True Believers so to do. For however some of them may not have exercised their Minds about the manner of the Abode of the Holy Spirit with the Church, and some of them when they ⟨p. 58⟩hear of his Personal Indwelling, wherein they have not been duly instructed, do fear it may be, that indeed that cannot be, which they cannot comprehend, and that some Evil Consequence may ensue upon the Admittance of it, although they cannot say what they are: Yet it is with them all even an Article of Faith, that the Holy Ghost dwelleth in the Church, that is, them that truly believe; and herein have they an Apprehension of such a Personal Presence of his as they cannot conceive.