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

And hereby may we know, whether we have our selves received of this anointing. Some would fain put it off unto what was peculiar unto the Times of the Apostles, and would suppose another kind of Believers in those days, than any are now in the World, or need to be; though what our Saviour prayed for them, even for the Apostles themselves as to the Spirit of Grace and Consolation, he prayed also for all them who should believe on him through their Word unto the End of the World. But take away the Promise of the Spirit, and the Privileges thereon depending, from Christians, and in truth they cease so to be. Some neglect it, as if it were an empty Expression, and either wholly insignificant, or at best intended somewhat wherein they need not much concern themselves; and whatever it be, they doubt not but to secure the pretended Ends of it in their Preservation from Seduction by their own Skill and Resolutions. On such Pretences are all the Mysteries of the ⟨p. 76⟩Gospel by many despised, and a Religion is formed wherein the Spirit of Christ hath no Concernment. But these things are otherwise stated in the Minds of the true Disciples of Christ. They know and own of how great Importance it is to have a share in this Unction; how much their Conformity unto Christ, their Participation of him, and the Evidence of their Union with him; how much their Stability in Profession, their Joy in believing, their Love and Delight in Obedience, with their Dignity in the sight of God and all his Holy Angels, do depend thereon. Neither do we look upon it as a thing obscure or unintelligible, that which no Man can know whether he hath or no. For if it were so, a thing so thin, aerial and imperceptible, as that no Spiritual Sense or Experience could be had of it, the Apostle would not have referred all sorts and degrees of Believers, Fathers, Young Men, and little Children unto it for their Relief and Encouragement in the times of Danger. Wherefore it evidenceth it self in the way and manner of its Acting, Operation and Teaching before declared. And as by those Instances they satisfy themselves as unto what Experience they have of it; so it is their Duty to pray continually for it's Increase, and further Manifestation of it's Power in them: Yea, it is their Duty to labour that their Prayers for it may be both fervent and effectual.

And hereby may we know, whether we have our selves received of this anointing. Some would fain put it off unto what was peculiar unto the Times of the Apostles, and would suppose another kind of Believers in those days, than any are now in the World, or need to be; though what our Saviour prayed for them, even for the Apostles themselves as to the Spirit of Grace and Consolation, he prayed also for all them who should believe on him through their Word unto the End of the World. But take away the Promise of the Spirit, and the Priviledges thereon depending, from Christians, and in truth they cease so to be. Some neglect it, as if it were an empty Expression, and either wholly insignificant, or at best intended somewhat wherein they need not much concern themselves; and whatever it be, they doubt not but to secure the pretended Ends of it in their Preservation from Seduction by their own Skill and Resolutions. On such Pretences are all the Mysteries of the