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

(§ 6.) 5thly, THE great End for which the Spirit is thus promised, administered and communicated under the Gospel, is, the continuance and preservation of the Church in the World. God hath promised unto the Lord Christ that his Kingdom in this World should endure unto all Generations with the course of the Sun and Moon, Psal. 72. 5. and that of the Increase of his Government there should be no End, Isa. 9. 7. And the Lord Christ himself hath declared his preservation of his Church, so as that the Gates of Hell should not prevail against it, Mat. 16. It may therefore be enquired whereon the Infallible Accomplishment of these Promises, and others innumerable unto the same End, doth depend; or what is that means whereby they shall be certainly Executed. Now this must be either some work of God or Man. If it be of Men, and it consist of their Wills and Obedience, then that which is said amounts hereunto; namely, that where men have once received the Gospel, and professed subjection thereunto, they will infallibly abide therein in a Succession from one Generation unto another. But besides, that it must be granted that what so depends on the Wills of Men, can have no more certainty than the undetermined Wills of Men can give security of, which indeed is none at all; so there are confessed instances without number, of such Persons and Places, as have lost the Gospel and the Profession thereof. And what hath fallen out in one place may do so in another, and consequently in all places where the Reasons and Causes of things are the same. On this supposition therefore there is no security that the Promises mentioned shall be infallibly accomplished. Wherefore the Event must depend on ⟨p. 249⟩some Work of God and Christ. Now this is no other but the Dispensation and Communication of the Spirit. Hereon alone doth the continuance of the Church and of the Kingdom of Christ in the World depend. And whereas the Church falls under a double consideration, namely, of its internal and external Form, of its internal Spiritual Union with Christ, and its outward Profession of Obedience unto him; the Calling, Gathering, Preservation and Edification of it in both respects belong unto the Holy Spirit. The first he doth, as hath been proved at large, by his Communicating Effectual Saving Grace unto the Elect;