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

On this occasion it was, that this Great, and Learned, and Holy Person, the Author of these Discourses, ⟨image 3⟩took up Thoughts of writing concerning the Blessed Spirit, and his whole Economy, as I understood from Himself sundry years ago, discoursing with Him concerning some Books then newly published, full of Contumely and Contempt of the Holy Spirit and his Operations. For as it was with Paul at Athens, when he saw the City wholly given to Idolatry; so was Doctor Owen's Spirit stirred in him, when he read the Scoffs and Blasphemies cast upon the Holy Spirit, and his Grace, and Gifts, and Aids, in some late Writers.

On this occasion it was, that this Great, and Learned, and Holy Person, the Author of these Discourses, ⟨image 3⟩took up Thoughts of writing concerning the Blessed Spirit, and his whole Oeconomy, as I understood from Himself sundry years ago, discoursing with Him concerning some Books then newly published, full of Contumely and Contempt of the Holy Spirit and his Operations. For as it was with Paul at Athens, when he saw the City wholly given to Idolaty; so was Doctor Owen's Spirit stirred in him, when he read the Scoffs and Blasphemies cast upon the Holy Spirit, and his Grace, and Gifts, and Aids, in some late Writers.

Had not Pelagius vented his Corrupt Opinions concerning the Grace of God, it is like the Church had never had the Learned and Excellent Writings of Augustine in Defence thereof. It appears from Bradwardin that the Revival of Pelagianism in his Days, stirred up his Zealous and Pious Spirit to Write that Profound and Elaborate Book of his, De Causa Dei. Arminius, and the Jesuits endeavouring to Plant the same Weed again, produced the Scholastic Writings of Twiss and Ames, (not to mention Foreign Divines) for which we in this Generation have abundant Cause of Enlarged Thankfulness unto the Father of Lights. The occasion which the Holy Ghost laid hold on to carry forth Paul to Write his Epistle to the Galatians, (wherein the Doctrine of Justification by Faith is so fully cleared) was the bringing in among them of another Gospel by Corrupt Teachers, after which many in those Churches were soon drawn away. The obstinate adherence of many among the Jews to the Mosaical Rites and Observances, and the Inclination of others to Apostatize from the New Testament Worship and Ordinances, was in like manner the occasion of the Epistle to the Hebrews. The Light which shines, and is held out in those Epistles, the Church of Christ could ill have wanted.